04/29/2020
LETS TALK ABOUT GLUE TRAPS AND HOW TO SAFELY SAVE CRITTERS WHO ACCIDENTALLY GET STUCK TO THEM.
No I’m not going to shame you for using them. I use them. But there is this story everyone is saying: if something you don’t want dead gets stuck on one it’s “impossible” to save it. WRONG.
Tonight I came home and found a beautiful large female alligator lizard(they eat tons of bad bugs so they’re absolutely a gardener’s friend) stuck to a glue trap. I started slowly prying with closed garden clippers and cutting the glue strip strands with my small pruning scissors at the same time to get her off. This process below was a success and she scurried away 3 minutes later. She never even tried to bite me she was so grateful I was helping. Love those moments 💚
HERE’S WHAT YOU DO! :
Start at the head and work towards rear.
As you get them free about an inch at a time put something between the trap and animal. Preferably something easy to remove like plastic wrap or an old sticker sheet kids have lying around. I used some clear plastic packaging trash I found on the ground. Do this VERY SLOWLY and only in warm weather. Cold weather makes the trap much more resistant. Once free they’ll still be covered in life threatening goo. If separating them from the trap is hurting them, STOP. It’s not worth disemboweling them because you’re rushing to save them, you have time.
HERE’S THE TRICK: Goo-Gone. Also known as Goof-Off. I’ve tried everything else in the past: dish soap, oil, peanut butter, mayonnaise... nothing works well enough to not injure the critter. Except goo-gone/goof-off. Avoid any part of their body not touching sticky trap or with sticky residue and literally drench those parts except eyes and nostrils with this product. Let them soak in it as long as possible or about 10-20 minutes if it’s really bad. If still on trap then repeat beginning process of prying up(butter knife or something dull like a thin flat silver ware handle), cutting glue strands with scissors CAREFULLY and placing a barrier between each inch. Once removed douse in goo-gone again and release.
Lesson here: if you buy glue traps ALWAYS buy this goo-cutting product WITH it. You’ll regret not buying them as a pair. Because it’s not “if” something goes wrong, but “when.” Especially if you have pets.
Btw, always wear rubber gloves when handling wild animals for yours and their safety. If anyone has any other good tips please comment below!!
