Rodent Traps - glueboards and gels, metal-toothed traps
National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare (NCCAW) Position Statement
If animals must be removed from an area because they are causing damage, their removal must be done in the most effective and humane way. Steps should then be taken to prevent future re-invasion.
Methods that cause unnecessary suffering during the capture and killing of rodents (and other animals) are not supported.
NCCAW's Position
NCCAW believes that glue boards and gels and metal-toothed rodent traps cause unnecessary suffering to trapped rodents and their import, manufacture and use in Australia should be prohibited.
Glue Boards and Gels
Glueboards consist of a non-drying adhesive, either attached to one side of a flat surface or contained in a shallow (usually plastic) tray. They are quite cheap and usually meant to be disposed of each time an animal is trapped. Larger boards are available or can be easily assembled to trap larger animals.
Welfare problem
While glueboards can be described as non-lethal or restraining traps, trapped animals may die from starvation, dehydration or exhaustion, if they're stuck to the board for too long, or if the glue causes them to suffocate.
Metal-toothed Rodent Traps
These look similar to ‘snap traps’ with a spring loaded metal arm but also have a sharp metal-toothed edge around the base. The traps are usually imported and inexpensive, and those that have been examined are quite flimsy.
Welfare problem
The toothed edge means rats or mice (or other small animals), if not killed by the arm, will likely have their flesh cut and may be injured or bleed to death.
There are more humane and cost-effective alternatives to both of these traps.
This Position Statement was first published in October 2004 and was reviewed by NCCAW on 20 February 2008. NCCAW made the decision to retain it without amendment.