Avoid glue traps for rodent control

What to Do

Choose snap traps or electronic traps instead of glue traps (glue boards) for rodent control. If you currently use glue traps, replace them with more effective and humane alternatives.

Why It Works

Most university extension services and pest management professionals advise against glue traps for several reasons: animals can be left alive and suffering for extended periods, non-target animals (birds, beneficial insects, pets, even small children) can become stuck, and glue traps are less effective than snap traps at catching rodents. Large rats can often pull free, and mice stuck on glue traps may chew off limbs to escape.

Tips

• Snap traps provide a quicker, more humane kill at a fraction of the cost
• If you find a non-target animal stuck on a glue trap, vegetable oil can dissolve the adhesive
• Glue traps are acceptable only for monitoring spider and insect activity, not for rodent control
• Some jurisdictions are considering or have enacted bans on glue traps