More Than Mice: How Sticky Traps Harm Wildlife

Calgary Wildlife
6 hours ago
3 min read

In June 2026, Calgary Wildlife admitted an American Robin that was trapped in a sticky mousetrap. Approximately 80% of the robin’s body was covered in glue, leaving it completely immobile. Due to the amount of glue covering the robin, Calgary Wildlife made the decision to humanely euthanise the animal due to its extremely low likelihood of recovery.

An American Robin eating a berry. — American Robins may risk getting stuck in glue traps while flying through vents or small areas to nest, or when hunting insects.

From 2025 to 2026, 12 patients were admitted to Calgary Wildlife after becoming stuck in sticky traps, also known as glue traps. Out of those 12 patients, 7 of them were either humanely euthanised or unfortunately died in care due to the severity of their injuries.

The problem with glue traps

A glue trap is a small board, usually made of cardboard or plastic, coated with a sticky adhesive.

While glue traps are designed to catch wasps, flies, and rodents, they often capture other wildlife, including birds, small mammals, and even lizards. Glue traps do not offer a quick or painless death either. Animals will struggle to break free and usually succumb to their exhaustion, injuries, starvation, or dehydration for multiple hours or even days.

At Calgary Wildlife, we have seen a variety of species come in with glue-trap injuries. Most often, we have seen birds such as House Sparrows, American Robins, Black-billed Magpies, and Rock Pigeons. We have also admitted small mammals such as Mountain Cottontails and White-tailed Prairie Hares.

A Black-billed Magpie. — Black-billed Magpies are uniquely social animals, known to mate for life and also build large nests that can take 40 days to create.

When birds become stuck in glue traps, they may sustain wing or leg dislocations and have mangled, damaged feathers. Injuries like these affect their flight capabilities, which hinders their ability to gather food and travel. Due to the severity of these injuries, most birds do not survive run-ins with glue traps, and often die from injuries or are humanely euthanised.

A Mountain Cottontail sits in the snow. — Mountain Cottontails are surprisingly good at climbing trees. They often use this skill to stay cool in warm weather and drink water drops from leaves.

Small mammals risk tearing off their fur and skin as they struggle to free themselves from the traps. There is also the possibility of suffocation if the animal’s face or nose becomes pressed against the trap.

How to help

If you come across an animal that is stuck in a glue trap, there are ways you can help. The first step is to prevent the animal from trapping itself further as it struggles to escape. Place paper towels or cardboard over the exposed sticky parts of the trap.

After the trap has been covered, place the animal and the trap in a box or a secure container, then call the Calgary Wildlife hotline at 403-214-1312.

Please refrain from removing the animal from the trap yourself before calling a wildlife professional. Oil is often used to free the animal from the glue, but it is important to carefully remove the oil afterwards. The animal should also receive a medical examination after being freed from the trap to check for injuries or trauma.

Addressing the problem

While glue traps are harmful and inhumane, they are also not a sustainable long-term solution for keeping unwanted houseguests out. Mice reproduce quickly, and some may even learn to jump over or avoid the traps as a whole. Additionally, when rodents are killed, survivors tend to breed more quickly, increasing their population. Traps fail to address the source of a pest problem: if holes aren’t sealed, mice will keep coming back to replace those killed.

There are more humane ways to keep rodents out of your household. Examine what the issue could be. Eliminate food sources by keeping floors and surfaces clean and by keeping dry food in secure, chew-proof containers.

An American Pika sits nestled between some rocks. — House Sparrows also risk getting stuck in glue traps while searching for food, like insects, or nesting materials. The majority of Calgary Wildlife's glue trap admissions are small birds.

Avoid using rodenticides and other poison-based traps to keep wild animals out of danger. Instead, leave out ammonia-soaked rags or cotton balls in areas where rodents, nests, or droppings have been seen. The scent will deter rodents from returning to the area.

Humane pest control companies, such as Calgary-based Grove Eco-Friendly Pest Control, can also provide compassionate pest management.

For assistance with injured and orphaned wildlife, please contact the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 403-214-1312.

Support a Patient