Glue trap warning: B.C. wildlife rescue group seeing birds, bats getting caught

The Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. is issuing a warning about the use of glue traps, after seeing an uptick in admissions related to the pest control method.

The Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. is issuing a warning about the use of glue traps, after seeing an uptick in admissions related to the pest control method.

The association’s co-executive director Linda Bakker said they’ve had a “number of birds and bats” that have gotten stuck, and have required rescue.

“As soon as an animal gets trapped, instinct kicks in and it will try to escape. So it might pull, it might roll over, so it gets all over their body,” she said. “They require specialized care to be able to survive.”

Bakker said this year, the association has seen over 30 intakes related to glue traps. One recent case involved a crow, which had its feathers coated with the sticky substance.

Bakker said the people who found the crow called the association’s helpline at their support centre, which is available from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., seven days a week.

“They didn’t remove the crow themselves, so that’s really important,” she said. “Do not try to remove the animal yourself. It often leads to more damage, and if the bird or other animal does get away – then we cannot help it anymore and it might not survive on its own.”

The crow was brought to the organization's rescue centre in Burnaby, where the trap was removed. Then staff used a special process to clean the bird’s feathers. Ultimately, the crow was able to be released.