UFAW is pleased to see that the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) recommends a ban on the use of glue traps in its recently published report on the use of rodent glue traps in Scotland.

These devices are used to control ‘pests’ including rats and mice by catching them on a sticky board.  Captured animals (which sometimes include non-target species) may remain alive and stuck to the board for hours, causing severe suffering as they try to escape.  Astonishingly, these traps can currently be freely sold to, and used by, the general public in the UK.

UFAW responded to the SAWC consultation, recommending just such a ban on the sale to, and use of, glue boards by the public. It is heartening to see that none of the other respondents to the consultation recommended continuing the status quo.

The pest control industry argues that glue traps may be a last resort option in cases where rodent infestations must be tackled urgently in places where other methods may not be feasible, for instance infestations in food production facilities or hospitals.  For this reason the SAWC recommends that if the traps cannot be banned immediately, pest-controllers be allowed to use the devices under a scheme of licensing for individual cases where all other options have been explored.

We welcome the recommendations of the report and hope they will be acted upon by the Scottish Government and also considered as a way forward in England and Wales.

We also hope that the report provides an impetus for development of new, more humane alternatives to glue traps, something which the report encourages the pest control industry to support.  The eternal search for a better mouse trap is as urgent as ever - something UFAW has long acknowledged as one of our priority areas for research support is the development of more humane methods of ‘pest’ control.

Our Spring Appeal this year is seeking funds to allow us to provide up-to-date information resources regarding the most humane methods for controlling rodents, allowing the public to make informed choices about what to do if they are faced with a rodent problem.  We recently supported a study to rate the welfare impacts of different methods of rat control and will be incorporating the outcomes of this study into our resource.

You can support the appeal here: https://www.ufaw.org.uk/support/spring-appeal

UFAW’s information pages on Humane Rodent Control provide information and advice on controlling rats and mice when they come into conflict with humans can be viewed here - www.ufaw.org.uk/rodent-welfare

Brown rat Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay