Gull saved from illegal glue trap
Glue traps were banned in Scotland in March.
A gull stuck in an illegal glue trap has had to be rescued by the Scottish SPCA.
The bird was found attached to the glue trap, which had been set for rats, at a property in Aberdeen on Saturday, 10 August.
The trap had become stuck to the underneath of the bird’s wing. An animal rescue officer from the charity took him to a Scottish SPCA centre where it took several warm soapy washes to successfully remove the trap.
Glue traps use non-drying adhesive to capture animals such as mice and rats. They were made illegal to purchase and use in Scotland in March as part of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill. The ban includes their use by pest control professionals.
A ban on using glue traps in England came into force on 31 July, but with an exception allowing them to still be used by people with a glue trap licence.
The Scottish SPCA has long opposed the use of glue traps and welcomed the ban in Scotland when it was introduced.
The animal rescue officer who attended the scene said: “The poor gull was so stressed after his ordeal, he was transferred to our wildlife centre for further treatment to remove the glue from his feathers after some well-earned rest.
“If anyone finds a trapped animal in distress or spots a trap or snare they suspect is illegal, please don’t hesitate to contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
Image © Shutterstock
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
