A confronting photo of a native bird stuck to a glue trap has exposed the deadly consequences of using the “indiscriminate” killing tool in Aussie gardens and in local businesses leading to a renewed push to have the items banned from sale across Australia.
It comes after rescuers from Queensland’s Whites Creek Wildlife Care were called to a local business to reports of a juvenile brush turkey found stuck to one of the traps. President Jake Goldring described the traps as “cruel” — and is calling for all businesses to stop selling them.
“They are indiscriminate killers often catching non-target species which 99% of the time are native wildlife,” he told Yahoo News Australia. “The amount of suffering animals endure on these traps is unimaginable. They die slow, painful deaths often succumbing to the effects of dehydration or starvation.
“Even if we get to them in time they usually need to be humanely euthanised due to the risk of serious injury after pulling them from the glue, even though we are as careful as possible.”
Glue traps are available to purchase from multiple sellers, and were last month spotted for sale in a Victorian discount store.
A kookaburra was recently found stuck to a glue trap. Source: Getty/RSPCA
Goldring told Yahoo this trap was found outside a local business. “We assume he buys them online,” he said. “This has not been the first time we have responded to calls for assistance with wildlife stuck to these traps at this establishment,” he said.
Other species stuck to the traps in the past include a young keelback snake and another bird.
“Birds and small native mammals are extremely sensitive and fragile and often succumb to a condition called capture myopathy which in simple terms kills them from stress,” he said. “So saving animals after they have become stuck is nearly impossible.”
RSPCA says retailers’ action on glue traps is ‘insufficient’
Last month, RSPCA Queensland told Yahoo that action by retailers had been “insufficient” in preventing the widespread use of the traps. Online, glue traps are seen being sold by a range of retailers.
“Glue traps are essentially adhesive traps (or boards) so when an animal walks across them, they get stuck and are unable to free themselves,” RSPCA Queensland spokesperson Emma Lagoon told Yahoo News Australia.
“Although some retail chains have ceased stocking these products, this is insufficient to prevent widespread use and therefore animals suffering,” she said. “Unfortunately, glue traps are still readily available in most states in a range of stores and online.”
Bunnings major change on sticky traps
While Bunnings has never sold larger open glue traps designed to catch rodents, it confirmed to Yahoo it recently phased out stand-alone sticky insect traps.
“We understand there are a range of views on sticky insect traps, and we work closely with our suppliers and regulatory bodies in reviewing our product range,” Bunnings General Manager of Merchandising, Adam Cole told Yahoo last month.
“Following the phase-out of outdoor ‘naked’ insect sticky traps, we only sell outdoor insect sticky traps which come with a cage with small openings designed to catch only insects.”
After a petition was signed by thousands of Australians in 2022, Bunnings agreed to phase out certain products such as the “naked” traps.
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