Glue traps harm wildlife

Recently, a couple came into Toronto Wildlife Centre with a mouse caught on a glue trap. They bought the glue trap, but didn’t realize what they got themselves into until they saw the mouse stuck to it and struggling. They had to do something.

Imagine being this couple. You are bothered by a mouse in your house, you do a Google search and a glue trap is recommended as an effective way of capturing a mouse. They are available at any hardware store so you easily access one and set it up in your home.

A few days later, you find the glue trap with a live mouse stuck to it. The mouse is injured, distressed and still alive. You frantically read the instructions on the trap and it says, “wrap trap with mouse in several layers of newspaper and dispose in the trash”.

Could you bring yourself to wrap a live mouse in newspaper and discard it into your trash can?

Glue traps are not only cruel inside your house, but people often use them outside, putting all sorts of wild animals at risk.


Here at Toronto Wildlife Centre, we haven’t just helped mice admitted stuck to these traps. We’ve also treated several species of birds, including this Lincoln’s sparrow who was admitted with injuries sustained after struggling in a glue trap.


We have even admitted bats and snakes stuck to glue traps.

If you find an animal caught in a glue trap, as quickly as possible, use any safe granular substance like cornmeal to cover any of the exposed glue so that the animal doesn’t get stuck further as it is struggling. Make sure to wear gloves for safety. Once the glue is covered, put the animal on the glue trap in a box in a quiet place and call Toronto Wildlife Centre.

Keep wildlife safe. Please never use glue traps, and investigate humane options for dealing with mice or other animals in your home.

Please consider donating to the Toronto Wildlife Centre to help us continue to be able to save little animals caught in glue traps. Your donation can save a life.