Why aren't glue traps banned yet?

Question

Having seen what these traps can do to small animals (may it be rats, mice, birds or nontarget animals such as pets), shouldn't these traps be classified as torturous cruelty to animals? By definition it is illegal to torture any animal, so why aren't this barbaric traps banned?

I have also heard many horror stories about them on the internet. Mice ripping skin off trying to escape, rats getting their faces lodged in and suffocating, limbs being chewed to try and escape, high pitches screams of pain, all those horrible things. And I've even read stories of people throwing them - ALIVE - into the bin where they slowly die of their wounds, starvation or fear itself.

Are the use of these traps justifiable at all? People will say "it's just a mouse/rat" but nothing deserves to suffer like that. If anti-animal cruelty is so big in today's society why aren't these traps abolished? It doesn't make sense.

There are more humane alternatives that are more effective, but should they be banned?

Answer 1

They're not banned because the outcry against them hasn't been big enough. It's also because of profit the companies get from these glueboards, and the people either responsible for their manufacture and distribution or have the power to put in new laws probably don't have much sympathy for pest animals.

It's quite sad really. There are laws which prohibit inhumanely disposing and/or torturing verterbrates and yet these stupid things are on the market. It's a typical double standard from humanity (it's wrong to be cruel to animal A but perfectly acceptable for animal B, even though the action in itself is immoral).

Personally I believe animal cruelty laws should emcompass all animals - otherwise why have them if you're going to be hypocritical and only apply them if it's for convienence? Glue traps fall under animal cruelty as far as I'm concerned - sure, sometimes you cannot avoid cruelty, but this is beyond cruelty (it's being lazy and a lack of compassion, or a general disrespect to life).

Why go down the cruel route if you can do the same job doing it humanely? IMO cruelty should be avoided whenever possible, rather than encouraged by people with no moral conscience.

Not justifiable, immoral, evil, sadistic... and cruel. Hopefully they come to their senses and use some common sense - ban them. I'm sure that majority of people here would agree that needless cruelty for any animal is not OK.

Answer 2

Rats pose an enormous health problem, and can potentially give you disease. When they enter your home or if there are too many of them, you have to eliminate them. Then there's the question of how.

I draw the line on glue traps for the reasons already stated. They are not only disgusting, but the stressed animal will be excreting urine and feces at an incredible rate due to fear. That makes the trap an even bigger health risk than the rat itself. Not to mention that pets can also get hurt being stuck on one.

If you want to be rid of rodents, use snap traps, zappers, poison, ultrasoinc devices, live trap + humane kill or get a cat.

And to the answer to your question, yes, they should ban them. These traps torture them, and really, there's no excuse for that. If they can ban the gin trap and steeljawed snares, then they can ban glue traps.

Answer 3

Because most people don't care about animals when it comes to them invading their homes.
As much as I hate seeing rodents and other such creatures in my house, I don't think they deserve to suffer. If a human being was cold and suffering on the side of the street, and they tried to get into a place to stay warm, they'd be put in jail, but not made to suffer. (No, I don't think being in jail is a form of suffering, if you're starving and cold.)
But many people just don't see animals as a high enough life form to preserve or swiftly kill. And people are the ones who invented the trap in the first place. So I doubt it'll be banned.

Answer 4

My daughter found a glue trap with two baby wrens stuck in it in her friend's garage. The friend's mom said 'throw it in the trash.' My daughter brought it home and we spent a couple of hours trying to get the little guys free (use canola oil) but only one survived. These things cause horrendous suffering and you can't control what gets caught. All I can say to the people who use them is, "Karma is a *****".

Answer 5

We saw a black widow in our garage so we put a glue trap down. The next morning my husband checked it and saw a mouse on it side stuck in the glue and had tried so hard to get out that with its one free foot he had disembowled himself. The poor thing was still alive with his guts hanging out. My husband had to drown him (which was the most humane way he could think of putting him out of his misery. Like mice or not, that's not righ!!! These should NEVER be used!!!! What if your kitten got into it or a harmless bird? These are a terrible and heartless way of getting rid of rodents. I called the manufacture and she said she gets a hundred calls a day with similar stories. If you condone these, you are heartless.

Answer 6

Glue traps are probably the most inhumane way to deal with pests. They struggle in pain for hours before they die... it is incredible to think people are sadistic enough to throw them in the trash alive. People actually should be prosecuted for that.

It also gobsmacks me why people would use them. There's no point being cruel when you can use a snap trap or other more humane methods of disposal. In my country they have already banned glue traps because the suffering and distress they cause outweigh their effectiveness.

It comes down to morality. Needless cruelty to any animal is wrong, all animals deserve a quick putdown. No ifs or buts. Being repulsed is no excuse to be cruel.

Answer 7

I use them and think they are kinda brutal, but I don't leave them to die in the trap. I take the trap in the back yard, fold the trap around the varmint, and smash it with a hammer. I think that is a quick end to the nasty, vile little creature that is trying to bring in disease to my home. Good riddance.

Answer 8

sarric has the best answer.

I prefer to kill them quickly with conventional means- mouse trap to the base of the skull....

Answer 9

Hey, here's an idea: you come over to my place, have a long sit down with my mice and spiders and explain to them that if they stay the heck out of my house....they won't get caught in my sticky glue traps!!! They won't listen to me.

Answer 10

you're right! let's just stay with the poisons that make them die from internal bleeding.