Two Greater Victoria councillors are backing a bid by the BC SPCA to have the province ban the sale, purchase and use of glue traps.
The BC SPCA is calling on local governments to endorse a resolution asking for a province-wide ban on the sale, purchase and use of glue traps.
“For years, the BC SPCA has advocated against wildlife control methods that cause prolonged suffering and endanger non-target species,” said Sarah Herring, the BC SPCA government relations officer. “Glue traps cause severe pain and suffering to rodents and other animals who get caught in the traps like small birds, bats, reptiles and even pets.”
The traps are designed to catch animals, not kill them and people typically leave them unchecked for long periods of time, so trapped animals can die from suffocation, dehydration, starvation, exhaustion or exposure.
Prevention is key in controlling rodents, according to the BC SPCA. The agency suggests when lethal control is required the most humane options are snap traps or captive bolt traps designed to cause a quick death.
Herring said advocacy and action from the community and elected officials are critical for enhancing animal welfare.
“We can all take individual actions to enhance animal welfare, but we need government leadership to make large-scale policy changes.”
Saanich Coun. Teale Phelps-Bondaroff and View Royal Coun. John Rogers supported the proposed resolution after hearing a presentation from BC SPCA supporter Lavinia Rojas. The two worked with the BC SPCA to draft a resolution endorsed by the District of Saanich, the Town of View Royal and the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC). View Royal has already banned glue trap use on municipal property.
“I am pleased to see this resolution heading on to UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) and hope that delegates there will support it as enthusiastically as the delegates at AVICC,” Phelps Bondaroff said in news release. “Glue traps are inhumane and indiscriminate. The animals caught in glue traps suffer horrific and lingering deaths, and this is a fate experienced by target and non-target animals alike."
The annual UBCM convention that brings together its local government and First Nations members to identify key policy issues and engage with other orders of government is set for Sept. 16 to 20 in Vancouver.
