latest news

Cruel glue traps confiscated from Leinster shop
13 June 2008

Following an ICABS complaint to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, cruel glue traps have been confiscated from a shop in Leinster. We understand from correspondence from Minister John Gormley that a file is now being prepared for the Chief State Solicitor's Office recommending a prosecution.

ICABS applauds the member of the public who originally brought the shop in question to our attention. We also thank ICABS Vice-President, Tony Gregory, for joining us in our calls to Minister Gormley to investigate and take appropriate action. Thanks also to the NPWS for this latest confiscation of unlawful traps.

Glue traps (also known as glue boards) are one of the world's most inhumane traps. Among the victims are mice, rats, small mammals, birds and pets. In a futile effort to escape from the sticky base, creatures have been known to bite off their own limbs.

Help us ensure that glue traps remain off the shelves of Irish shops. Please read on to find out how you can help.

Help rid Ireland of illegal glue traps

Please help rid Ireland of glue traps - one of the world's most cruel and inhumane traps. Visit your local hardware stores, discount shops, pet supply outlets, builder provider stores, etc to make sure that these illegal traps are not being sold. If you spot glue traps (also known as glue boards) for sale, please contact ICABS immediately with the details and we will pass them on to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Also, if you are aware of any company using glue traps, please get in touch with us now.

Glue traps are designed to catch mice and rats in a sticky base where they will suffer a slow, lingering death. Rodents caught in the traps frantically struggle to free themselves by pulling out their hair or biting off their own limbs. If they don't die from these injuries or from suffocation due to their faces becoming stuck in the glue, they spend days dying from starvation and dehydration. Veterinary surgeons who have condemned the traps have confirmed that "there is much suffering by the entrapped animals - it is not a sudden or merciful death...Because all mammals have similar nervous systems, they are capable of experiencing the same type of pain and suffering."

In the past, ICABS has reported numerous shops selling the traps and our efforts have led to their removal from sale in a number of retail outlets. Help us to ensure that glue traps remain off shop shelves.

ACTION ALERT

Please visit your local hardware stores, discount shops, pet supply outlets, builder provider stores, etc to make sure that these illegal traps are not being sold. If you spot glue traps (also known as glue boards) for sale, please contact ICABS immediately with the details and we will pass them on to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Also, if you are aware of any company using glue traps, please get in touch with us now.

Dead mouse in glue trap
A mouse stuck to a glue trap. These inhumane traps are illegal in Ireland under the Wildlife Act (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003. (Photo: PETA)

Videos: Glue Trap Cruelty

Warning: These videos show live mice caught in glue traps. Some may find the footage particularly upsetting. They are shown here to convey the absolute cruelty of glue traps.

Videos showing the cruelty of glue traps. Glue traps are unlawful in Ireland. If you are aware of any Irish company using these or any Irish shops selling them, please let us know at info@banbloodsports.com

Photos: Glue trap packaging

Note: This is just a selection of glue trap packaging. Please look out for other packaging too.

Section 42(f) of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000

"Any person who imports into the State from outside the European Union, or has in his possession other than pursuant to, and in accordance with, a licence granted by the Minister in that behalf, or who in the course of his trade or business sells or offers for sale a trap, snare or net which pursuant to subsection (4) of this section is for the time being declared by the Minister to be a trap, snare or net to which this subsection applies shall be guilty of an offence."

Glue trap cruelty: Quotes

"I walked in on a desperate, terrified mouse glued to the trap, struggling hopelessly for its life. Its legs were going as fast as they possibly could. And the harder it tried to escape, the more stuck it became. Its terror multiplied tenfold when it saw me...I never forgot that experience and I've been bitterly opposed to the sale and manufacture of glue traps ever since." (from an article by George Shea, The Pet Gazette, October 2005)

"A 1983 test that evaluated the effectiveness of glue traps found that trapped mice struggling to free themselves would pull out their own hair, exposing bare, raw areas of skin. The mice broke or even bit off their own legs, and the glue caused their eyes to become badly irritated and scarred. After three to five hours in the glue traps, the mice defecated and urinated heavily because of their severe stress and fear, and quickly became covered with their own excrement. Animals whose faces become stuck in the glue slowly suffocate, and all trapped animals are subject to starvation and dehydration. It takes anywhere from three to five days for the mouse to finally die. This is nothing less than torture." (from the "In Defense of Animals (USA)" website)

"I received a phone call from an upset woman who found a mouse stuck in a glue trap...She handed me the glue trap, with the small, frail mouse's tiny feet and his bony body hopelessly stuck to the ghastly contraption. Some of his foot had been torn off (from struggling to free himself from the glue). One entire side of his face was stuck to the glue board. He was having difficulty breathing. It appeared that this poor mouse had been lingering in agony, stuck to this trap for days and was dehydrated, perhaps dying." (Animals In Print Newsletter)

Glue trap cruelty: Dail Q&A

Question 553 - Answered on 13th May, 2008

Tony Gregory:To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will investigate complaints that illegal glue traps are on display for sale at a premises (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if appropriate action will be taken.

Written reply. Ref No: 19284/08

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gormley): I have requested my Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service to investigate this matter and I will inform the Deputy of the outcome.

More Parliamentary Questions

More information about blood sports

Foxhunting: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition
Coursing: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition
Carted deer hunting: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition

Make a donation to ICABS

Please consider making a small donation to ICABS. For more details, please click on the button below or follow this link to find out how to become a campaign supporter. Thank you.


News Menu | Join | Top | Home