Prohibition on glueboard traps

The Bay of Plenty public are being reminded to be on the lookout for any glueboard rodent traps being used or sold in the New Year.

Ministry for Primary Industries say from January 1 2015, the sale and use of glueboard traps is prohibited under the Animal Welfare (Glueboard Traps) Order 2009.


Glueboard rodent traps like the one pictured will be prohibited for sale and use from January 1, 2015. Photo: Supplied

Glueboard traps are boards with a sticky glue layer that are used to capture and hold live rodents.

MPI Animal and Animal Products director Matthew Stone says while MPI supports the need for access to effective pest control tools, this prohibition sends a clear message that glueboard traps are no longer acceptable from an animal welfare perspective.

'There are welfare concerns with glueboard traps over the pain and distress they cause captured rodents – including the length of time the rodents may be left on the traps and the potential for inhumane disposal.

'Attitudes about animal welfare continually evolve, and it's important that we keep pace with changes in our society, as well as scientific knowledge, good practice and available technology.”

The government decided to regulate glueboard traps for rodents in 2009 due to animal welfare concerns about the pain and distress exhibited by rodents captured on glueboards, the length of time they may be left on the traps and the potential for inhumane disposal.

In January 2010 the use of rodent glueboard traps by the general public was banned by the Animal Welfare (Glueboard Traps) Order 2009.

Commercial operators, DOC staff, boat operators to and from pest-free islands, and pest management staff at food processing premises were given a five-year phase out period – running out at the end of 2014.

Ministerial approval can be granted for glueboard traps to be used in some cases where there is strong public interest in effective rodent management and no viable alternative, such as in food processing premises and pest-free islands.

'Effective pest management is essential for New Zealand's food safety, conservation, primary production and biosecurity, however animal welfare has to be taken into account.

'Pest control operators must make every reasonable effort to find humane alternatives.”

Matthew says MPI is focused on ensuring pest control operators are aware of the new regulations, however the public need to be vigilant and report any retailers breaching the rules.

'Our animal welfare inspectors can't be everywhere, so we need the public to be our eyes and ears.”

SPCA chief executive Ric Odom applauds the blanket ban devices.

"Once captured on a glue board, an animal is unable to free itself from the adhesive, and will generally bring more body parts into contact with the adhesive as it attempts to free itself. In doing so the animal will tend to further entrap itself.

"Animals may, in their attempts to free themselves, rip patches of fur out or break limbs. They may also defecate and urinate excessively from panic and distress.

"It gets worse. Unless animals that become stuck on glueboards are promptly killed using a humane method, they will be at increasing risk not only from injuries associated with escape attempts, but also from starvation, dehydration, exposure, possible injury through aggression from other animals, or suffocation if their muzzles become stuck in the glue.”

Anyone who sees any glueboard traps being sold or used, are to report them to a local SPCA or MPI's animal welfare hotline on 0800 008 333. Calls can be kept confidential if necessary.

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10 comments

HUH!!!!

Posted on 22-12-2014 08:11 | By Jimmy Ehu

so you are wanting to get rid of a rodent problem, but they have sensitivity issues, so what to do???, let the cat torture them?, shoot them?, dead is dead!!!, what a strange world we live in, when even rodents have issues.


Other uses of these traps

Posted on 22-12-2014 09:58 | By Adrian Muller

I have purchased some of these to wrap (around the trunks of my apple trees. Female codlin moths (who do not fly) crawl up the trunks from the ground and get trapped under the trap. For the first time in years I have NO codlin damage to my apples. Should I be concerned about the slow death of these pests? If not, where does one draw the line on these "animal rights" issues? I do wrap the traps glue-side inwards, but also catch the occasional earwig too. Ought I worry about their feelings?


NUTS!!

Posted on 22-12-2014 14:37 | By space cadet

Now I know (some)people are insane. We have people all over the world being bombed murdered horribly mutilated and dying painful and hideous deaths for the sake of idle greed and power. No enforcement of rules against that. Yet we wring our hands and write stupid insane laws to protect the sensibilties of disease carrying pests that inhabit,foul and destroy human property and employ jackasses to enforce those laws. Creatures live and die painful and horrible deaths anyway without human interference. Where I live you would be laughed out of town. Get a life!


GOD GIVE ME STRENGHT

Posted on 22-12-2014 18:03 | By s83cruiser

Heaven forbid the poor little rodents that have just chewed through the wiring in your house and started the fire that burned down your home should suffer for a wee while before you deal to the little darling. Be a good human and let him go to breed up a bunch more of the little darlings so that they can destroy more property.


wwhat next!!!

Posted on 22-12-2014 20:30 | By Me again

MPI have nothing better to do than care for the feelings of rodents. What Insurrance company is going to pay up when someone puts in a claim that rodents have destroyed their property or is MPI going to. THat I don't think so. I say trap it, shoot it or poison it Done!! Maybe ring MPI up to send a taxi around for them. Nothing better to do.


Oh, and by the way,

Posted on 22-12-2014 22:18 | By The Caveman

these little bastards, also eat native bird eggs an lizards, that DOC are spending millions to get rid of. Seems that we have TWO govt departments making sure that their jobs never disappear - one wants to get rid of the pests...... the other wants them to bread and spread - total waste of taxpayer dollars ..........


Oh, sorry, I have 500 of these traps

Posted on 22-12-2014 22:21 | By The Caveman

helps keep the little s**** out of my hen house and chook feed store - I aint going to stop using them ......


FGS

Posted on 22-12-2014 22:30 | By Capt_Kaveman

get a life, dont think the public will help on this one


Get rid of these traps!

Posted on 03-01-2015 17:08 | By Surfwatch

I have never heard of these traps before but they seem nasty causing long distressful death. Surely there are more humane ways. Rodents, dear I say it, have feelings and don't deserve to die in such a cruel way. I will be on the lookout for these to report to the authorities. The world would be a better place if all human beings were caring for all living beings.


correction

Posted on 03-01-2015 20:04 | By Surfwatch

Just to correct my previous comment - I meant "dare" not "dear".


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