‘Cruel’ glue traps face ban in review of animal welfare rules

GLUE traps which can cause “immense suffering” to birds could be banned under a Government review.

It is understood that ministers are pushing for an imminent consultation, and hope this will lead to a boycott, as there is “no justification” for their use.

The traps are used to catch unwanted rodents but animals, including garden birds and household pets, have been known to die or become injured when they get stuck to them.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, the animal welfare minister, said: “There are growing calls for a ban on the use of glue traps, which can cause immense suffering to both target and non-target animals.

“It is an issue we are looking very closely at as part of our continued drive to maintain the highest animal welfare standards in the world.”

Sources at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told The Daily Telegraph that alternative traps are just as effective for catching

‘We are looking at this as part of a drive to maintain the highest animal welfare standards in the world’

nuisance rodents, so there is “no justification” for the use of glue traps. The proposed ban would most likely form part of a series of animal welfare policies due to be brought to Parliament this year to show that the United Kingdom can take the lead on the issue after Brexit.

The traps are made of either a sheet of cardboard, plastic or wood coated with non-drying adhesive or a shallow tray of glue.

They aim to stop a rat in its tracks but they can also entangle any small animal that touches them.

Often as panic sets in other parts of their body become stuck.

As they struggle to get loose, they may rip out patches of fur, break bones and even gnaw through their own limbs to escape.

Trapped animals are often left suffering in pain for hours and frequently die slowly from dehydration, starvation or exhaustion.

Although current code of practice guidelines state they should only be used by a qualified pest controller, the traps are openly available to the general public at hardware stores, garden centres and other retailers.

The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, a grassroots campaign group, has been pressing for sales of such traps to be outlawed in the UK and their use banned.

Members of the influential lobbying group include Lord Goldsmith, Carrie Symonds, the Prime Minister’s fiancée, and his father Stanley Johnson.