As many of us can recognize, getting stuck in a small space isn't fun. Maybe you've been trapped in an elevator, or just a situation that you generally felt helpless in. In some way, most of us have been trapped, for a long time or just a couple minutes. 

Think back to those times in your life. While I do hope they were few and far between, or maybe not at all, reflection on how you felt is vital. 

Think about that not ending. If you're reading this, I do hope that you're no longer trapped, and if you are still trapped, I hope you make your way out. 

As humans, we often do have a way out. We're able to avoid situations that we know are dangerous if we see them coming. We are able to phone a friend or maybe first responders. Animals, unfortunately, don't have that same luxury. 

If you are not familiar with a glue trap, it is a piece of cardboard or foam lathered in a layer of glue in order to trap small animals (rodents, palmetto bugs, etc). Quite often though, animals that are not intended to get stuck in them do. It is not uncommon for birds, squirrels, and even pets to find themselves in them . 

Every single time an animal finds themselves stuck in a glue trap, it is a slow and painful death. Desperate to escape, creatures go as far as gnawing off their own limbs just to get trapped the next step that they take. Death from these traps consists of dehydration, infection,  blood loss, or shock. This can take days. 

The people using these traps are not bad or have some sort of skewed morality. There is often misinformation and not considering all of the elements involved in these traps. It's devastating to find your precious cat stuck in a glue trap, and most individuals panic when they see an animal that the trap wasn't intended for. 

On top of that, glue traps are not a permanent solution. While it may seem to help, if a hole remains unplugged, or there is still something attracting the pests, more will just come. 

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has advised individuals to not use glue traps, as they are quite unsanitary. Rodents transmit disease, and when in distress, they will urinate and defecate on these glue traps, which is how disease is spread. Someone then has to pick up the dirty trap, exposing themselves to disease. 

While only two counties in the United States have banned them, many counties, including New Zealand, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Norway, have prohibited or severely restricted the sale of them. Along with that, glue traps are no longer sold by Target, Dollar Tree, CVS, Rite Aid, Dollar General, and many more. 

Charleston has the potential to make an impact. We can ban the sale of glue traps, and hopefully, in due time, others will follow our lead. By banning the sale of glue traps in Charleston, we will protect wildlife, pets, and peoples health.