Patient Update: Brewer's blackbird in a sticky situation

This Brewer’s blackbird’s story begins, quite literally, in a sticky situation: a glue trap that left them grounded.

A Brewer's blackbird patient receiving a bath at Calgary Wildlife.

Transported to our clinic from Langdon, Alberta, this blackbird was discovered stuck in a glue trap, unable to free themselves. Glue traps, also known as sticky traps, are flat boards coated with a sticky adhesive designed to catch rodents and insects. While marketed as a simple pest control solution, glue traps don’t discriminate and pose a serious threat to non-target animals. Any small creature that comes into contact with the glue can become stuck. 

In the case of this blackbird, initial examination by our clinic staff revealed superficial wounds to the right wing and inflammation and injury of the tail. After being given some anti-inflammatory medication, the next step for the blackbird was a bath, a crucial step in removing the bulk of the sticky substance from the glue. Over the next few days, staff continued to monitor and clean the affected area using mineral oil and soap to remove any remaining glue, completing daily cleaning for seven straight days. After being moved to an outdoor enclosure for a few days to ensure the injury and feather damage had fully healed, the blackbird was released 10 days later.

Glue traps are an unfortunately common obstacle for birds living in urban areas, due to accidental contact by the bird when searching for nesting supplies, food, or shelter. Once the bird becomes stuck, it quickly starts to panic, potentially becoming more stuck and injuring itself further. The fate for birds who become stuck in glue traps and are not rescued is grim. Unable to escape, birds may face dehydration, exhaustion, or harm themselves in desperate attempts to get free. In their desperation, some animals may go to extreme lengths to escape, including self-mutilation of the limbs stuck in the glue.

The best way to prevent these tragic outcomes is to avoid using glue traps altogether. More humane pest control options, like live-release traps, are readily available and far less dangerous to wildlife. Glue traps don’t just catch pests; they can also ensnare birds, bats, reptiles, and other unintended animals, making them one of the least compassionate choices for managing unwanted visitors.

This Brewer’s blackbird is a success story, but other animals may not be so lucky. Let’s make compassion the standard, not the exception, when it comes to the way we manage the world we share.

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

A Brewer's blackbird in the wild, perched on a branch and singing.