I am a trained pest controller who cares deeply about both public health and animal welfare. My work allows me to witness first-hand the devastating effects of glue traps on our local wildlife. Recently I removed an injured House Sparrow from a glue trap that had been left carelessly outside.  Its beak was stuck shut from the glue and it couldn't move.  I was fortunate enough to get it removed using cooking oil and get it to the USPCA for rehabilitation. 

Glue boards or ‘sticky boards’ can consist of sheets of plastic, stiff cardboard or squares of wood and are coated with a highly adhesive glue.  These are then placed on surfaces and when an animal crosses the surface it becomes stuck and cannot escape.  Glue boards do not kill animals but they immobilise them, leaving them trapped and unable to move.  Then death often occurs from a cruel combination of exhaustion, dehydration and starvation.  This can take anywhere from 3 to 24 hours, or more.

It's important to note that these devices have already been deemed unacceptable by other parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) due to their cruelty. They are banned for public or professional use in ROI.  In England they are in the process of banning use for the general public. In Wales they have been banned for public or professional use since 17th October 2023 and Scotland is in the process of making it an offence to use or buy a glue trap that could be used to catch an animal other than an invertebrate.

Northern Ireland should follow suit and prioritise animal welfare over convenience. By banning glue traps from general public use, we can protect our local wildlife from unnecessary harm while still maintaining effective pest control through more humane methods.

I urge you all - as someone who has seen the damage these traps cause - please support this petition calling for an immediate ban on the sale of glue traps to the general public in Northern Ireland. Your signature could save countless lives and prevent needless suffering among our local wildlife.

My intention is to engage with local MLAs and then present the signed petition to the Northern Ireland Assembly.