Sadly, many of the animals we treat in the clinic are there because human-induced injuries. One of the most frustrating are glue traps. Glue traps are pieces of cardboard with a sticky gel on top that is marketed as a rodent trap. What happens is the rodent runs across it and becomes stuck to the gel. The rodents are then stuck there to die of starvation and many have been known to chew their legs off in desperation to get away.
The whole concept of the glue trap in regards to rodents is inhumane; it is even more frustrating when other species become stuck to these traps. Songbirds often come in stuck to these traps. If they are alive when they get to us, they require several baths in alternating baths of vegetable oil (to release them from the glue and wash off feather contamination) and dawn dishsoap (to wash the oil off) . This process is very stressful for the bird.
The other day 3 bats, a big brown and two nothern (keen's) myotis, were brought in having been stuck to a glue trap. As we examined the bats, we were very saddened to see the destruction glue traps can do. All three bats had fractured bones and wing-webbing ripped off. The bones were amputated (not attached to the bats) and once wing webbing is torn, it cannot be repaired. These injuries necessitated humane euthanasia.
We can only hope that those who read this post will pass on the knowledge of dangers of glue traps, in hopes that people will stop using them.
I'm going to refrain from posting pictures as some may find them graphic.
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