Sunday, December 2, 2007

"Sticky" Mousetraps Are Inhumane

Recently a coworker mentioned a problem with mice getting into his house. I suggested he get a cat, as I've not had that problem since I've had cats. He said his wife didn't like cats and was afraid of the traditional snap traps, so he was going to buy some of those sticky traps, also known as glueboard traps.

I'm totally against sticky traps. Unlike the snap trap, where the mouse dies instantly by having its neck broken, a mouse caught by a sticky trap dies a slow, agonizing death. As mammals, they feel pain just as humans and dogs and cats would. Trapped mice struggling to free themselves pull out their own hair, exposing bare, raw areas of skin. Mice typically break or even bite off their own legs, and the glue causes their eyes to become badly irritated and scarred. After three to five hours in the glue traps, the mice defecate and urinate heavily because of their severe stress and fear, and quickly became covered with their own excrement. Those whose faces become stuck in the glue slowly suffocate, and all trapped animals are subject to starvation and dehydration.

Laws against inhumane treatment of animals typically don't include rodents such as mice and rats, thus inhumane methods of controlling them are legal. Many veterinarians have spoken out against this barbaric means of pest control and suggest alternate methods. These methods include traps that simply capture, but don't kill them so that they can be later released somewhere outside. Snap traps are also a better choice, as death comes quickly without suffering. And, then of course, there's the option of cats, which goes along with the cycle of nature.

I urge everyone to boycott the use of sticky traps and choose one of the methods suggested above, instead.

13 comments:

Melissa said...

I agree with you about the sticky mouse traps. When I lived in the country after the cat moved with the ex husband, I used the snap traps. I hated to do that, but I didn't have a choice, I couldn't let the mice running around in the house.

Intentional Fallacy said...

There is another choice.

I use "trap-door" traps (that's just what I call them; I can't remember what they are really called).

Basically, these traps are small, see-through (though tinted, for some reason) rectangle boxes with one opening - a swinging "door" that swings up-and-down.

The catch (pun intended) is that the door only swings inward, into the box.

Placing food inside the box, at the other end of the trap door will cause the mouse to push through the swinging door that opens inward and then become trapped inside the box, as the door does not swing outward from inside the box.

You can then simply pick up the box and carry the mouse to another location (preferably away from your home), push open the trap door, tip the box, and allow the mouse to run out and run away.

Anonymous said...

Sticky pads are definitely inhumane and nasty, but they may be the best option in the end. Snap traps are not always an instant kill, and mice can avoid them no matter now suitably bated. Electronic and so-called humane traps can be ineffective, and cats may either be not around or asleep when the mice come out. Furthermore, if the pet cat does catch a mouse then it may torture and play with it for some time, and the cat may well bite bits off before the rodent's final demise is secured.

I'm coming to the conclusion that if in an area is monitored frequently and all other methods have failed, then while undoubtedly a method of last resort, a sticky pad may be the best option for finally ridding an area of mice given that they will be despatched from this earth one way or another eventually.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

they are inhumane, im living in a co-op and someone else had put them down, this morning there was a mouse stuck in it and there was no way i could get it out i felt so bad leaving it outside to just suffer in the cold so i went out there with a shovel and whacked it out of its misery, i know that sounds fucked in the head but but i felt so bad and guilty as a person just leaving it and forgeting about it, if i was a mouse there id ask for the same

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Glue traps are inhumane in that the mouse will suffer for some time after capture if not dispatched. However, no need to whack the poor creature with a shovel to end its agony. Simply place the entire trap in a container of water. You'll need to remember to place it in the water upside down as they're plastic. Alternatively simply pressing the mouse's snout into the glue layer will end its suffering. Doing either of these two things is non-bloody and will quickly end the mouse's pain.

Anonymous said...

I hate the sticky traps too. But, I broke my finger on the snap traps. And my cat can't seem to get these. So, I use the sticky traps. I check the traps very often. When I find the mouse I put the trap and mouse in a large plastic bag and put the bag up to the car muffler and they fall asleep. I know it is sad to kill them but I dont want to get sick.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

I actually saved a mouse at work that was stuck in one of these, im glad I was there, I was able to free him from the glue by dousing water on the bottom of the trap.. it allowed him to get the hell outta there!!

kelly patterson said...

mice are not humane to me and my kids. they broke my oven and now i can not feed my kids! i am glad i did not kill them so we can starve to death because i am not in a position to by ANOTHER new stove!

glue trap said...

glue traps are the best things to catch mice, i purchased some ,and on the first night got myself a mouse, i will always use these as they do the job better than any other trap,i hate mice, rats and any other vermin that enters the home or garden ,make it slow and painful..

Anonymous said...

I find them fairly effective and even humane if you use them right. If you set them and check them regularly, when you do catch a mouse, take it outside and pour a little vegetable oil on the mouse (not too much to drown it), but within about 10 seconds they're able to wiggle their way free and be on their way (and out of your home).