Glue traps ‘inhumane & indiscriminate killers’

By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital

Two common grackles were among the 50 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week.

The two common grackles were found in a parking lot in a gated community stuck to a sticky glue trap baited with birdseed, set as a means of rodent control. Both birds were incredibly stressed and open mouth breathing from futilely struggling to free themselves from the strong adhesive. The birds’ bodies, wings, legs, and beaks were covered in thick glue.

Feces and debris were stuck to the glue that was coating the birds; the amount of feces indicated the birds had been stuck for an extended period of time before being rescued.

Supplemental oxygen was provided and staff administered a sedative to calm the birds. Once sedated, mineral oil was used to remove the birds from the glue traps.

Sadly, one grackle passed away as the staff was working to free it from the glue board.

The second grackle was removed from the trap and received a cursory bath with Dawn dishwashing liquid to clean off the mineral oil. Managing stress on the bird was the priority. The grackle was placed in a warmed animal intensive care unit to rest.

Later that afternoon, staff administered pain medication, an antibiotic and eye medication and offered the grackle a diet.

The following day, the grackle was alert but weak. A good sign of improvement was the bird had eaten its diet. A second bath was required because the top of the grackle’s head and left side of its face were still sticky with glue.

Later that day, the grackle was strong enough to be moved from the animal intensive care unit to a larger recovery space which included perches and food bowls, a large water dish for bathing and a heat lamp providing additional warmth, necessary since feather damage affected the grackle’s ability to properly thermoregulate.

Additional baths are necessary to fully return the bird’s feathers to proper condition but must be done periodically to ensure the stress from bathing and handling doesn’t negatively impact the bird’s health.

“Glue board traps are inhumane, indiscriminate killers”

Glue board traps are inhumane, indiscriminate killers and cause immense suffering often resulting in death. Glue boards trap non-targeted species such birds, snakes, lizards and a variety of small mammals. The injuries we have seen animals endure after being stuck to glue board traps are sickening. Many times animals struggle so violently in the futile effort to free themselves from the glue that they tear their skin, legs or wings from their body.

If glue traps go unchecked, an animal stuck to the trap dies slowly from stress, starvation and/or dehydration.

What You Can Do

Long-term solutions to control rodent populations must focus on the cause or attractant. Eliminate potential food sources; keep trashcans securely closed, pick up fallen fruit, never feed pets outside and never feed wildlife. Eliminate hiding places by trimming grass and vegetation and keep brush piles away from your home. Humane rodent control options exist and should be utilized.

Special Thanks

Isabel and Jonathan Way, owners of Colusa Farms, contacted the von Arx Wildlife Hospital to offer a donation of excess plants. Colusa Farms is an environmentally sustainable farm specializing in gourmet produce and microgreens served at many local restaurants and hotels. Isabel provided us with pea shoots and pea tendrils that we’ve added to the diets for our rehabilitating tortoises and eastern cottontails. Community support is vital to our work; we are grateful Colusa Farms thought of our patients so we could put the plants to good use.

Recent Releases

A turkey vulture, a broad-winged hawk, an osprey and a Florida red-bellied turtle were released this past week. Several releases were put on hold due to inclement weather.

Opportunities to Help

Please visit the Conservancy website at www.conservancy.org to view all of the amazing volunteer opportunities at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Your volunteer time, donations, and memberships are vital in helping us continue our work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.

Currently, we need people to join our Critter Courier team; Critter Couriers help rescue and transport injured animals to our facility when members of the public are unable to do so. Critter Couriers are essential to our work; they ensure injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife receive prompt medical attention.