The Scottish SPCA is renewing calls for a glue trap ban after rescuing a fox cub which was stuck in one of the devices overnight.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity is reiterating its long-standing opposition to the use of the traps, which are trays coated with a sticky adhesive typically used to trap rodents and animals classed as vermin.
An inspector for the charity was alerted to the baby fox, now known as ‘Sticky’, on the morning of April 10 having spent a night in it. Sticky was only rescued after a member of the public heard him wailing in pain.
The cub was whisked to the SSPCA's national wildlife rescue centre for immediate care.
Sticky’s fur was badly matted by the adhesive and, although the wildlife team were able to remove some of the substance through a mix of fairy liquid, vegetable oil and soapy water, they had to shave some of his fur.
SSPCA wildlife manager, Steve Gray, told Lanarkshire Live: “The prognosis for Sticky wasn’t good.
“The glue trap had seriously damaged his fur and skin. The team spent hours treating him on arrival and their efforts have really paid off. Now, he’s a happy, playful baby fox who is getting on well with the other cubs we’ve grouped him with.
“In a few months, we will release Sticky at a suitable release site where we hope he will have a long, happy life in the wild.”
Sticky has since been recuperating in the charity's large mammals’ unit at the centre. He is one of over 20 fox cubs Scotland’s animal welfare charity is currently looking after.
He will be released later in the year when he is old enough to fend for himself in the wild.
SSPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn added: "Shockingly, glue traps are still legal in the UK.
“We understand a pest control firm supplied the address with glue traps to deter vermin.
“This poor fox cub’s lucky escape is further proof that they are an ineffective form of pest control.
“We have long advocated a total ban on glue traps. Thankfully, our brilliant rescuer and wildlife team have been able to save and care for Sticky, but many other wild animals aren’t so lucky.”
