WARNING: This text accommodates pictures readers could discover disturbing
Australian wildlife rescuers are calling on hardware big Bunnings and on-line retailers to cease promoting glue traps which pose a hazard to native animals.
Some sorts of glue traps are designed to catch rodents, whereas others goal spiders and bugs.
Each sorts have been identified to indiscriminately snare different animals comparable to birds, lizards and small bats.
"It may be days earlier than the creature succumbs to loss of life through dehydration and hunger," Cat Coake, from Wild Animals Australia, stated.
"Animals have been identified to tear off, or chunk via, their very own limbs in an try and free themselves."
Pissed off animal welfare organisations have began sharing pictures of kookaburras, blue-tongued lizards and microbats caught in several types of glue traps.
South western Sydney-based cat rescue group Paws for Love final week shared a publish on Fb a few litter of kittens which have been caught on a glue lure designed to lure rodents. Two survived the merciless ordeal whereas the third didn't.
Veterinary nurse Tayla stated the kittens have been initially introduced into the clinic the place she works and employees desperately tried to save lots of all of them.
"I've seen some horrible issues however I've by no means seen something like this," she stated.
Rodent glue traps are presently banned in Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT however not in different states and territories.
Bunnings don't promote rodent glue traps however provide glue traps to focus on indoor pests, its normal supervisor of merchandise, Adrian Pearce, instructed 9News.com.au.
It additionally retails a industrial fly lure - obtainable solely on-line - which options 120 sq. metres of glue board and a UV gentle.
An on-line petition, began by Ms Coake, demanding Bunnings take all glue traps off its cabinets has thus far been signed by nearly 2000 folks.
Ms Coake stated it was as much as large, bricks and mortar corporations comparable to Bunnings to be a "good company citizen" and take the lead when it got here to withdrawing the sale of all glue traps.
"We see so many injured animals and it is simply agonising - as a result of it's so pointless and will be simply stopped," Ms Coake stated.
Mr Pearce, stated its shops solely provided traps which met authorities requirements in all states and territories.
"A lot of the sticky insect traps we provide are designed for indoor use solely, and the product packaging clearly displays this," he stated.
Lots of of glue traps offered on-line
Formally, on-line public sale web site eBay has banned the sale of glue traps, nevertheless, 9news.com.au discovered a whole bunch of glue lure merchandise presently marketed on its web site, some from Australian-based sellers.
These embrace rodent glue traps and others for bugs.
"eBay is dedicated to animal welfare. This implies various animal traps, together with glue traps, can't be listed on the market," a spokesperson for eBay stated.
"To make sure compliance with our insurance policies and related legal guidelines, we work carefully with a spread of authorities businesses together with the ACCC, TGA and Federal Division of Agriculture."
The spokesperson for eBay stated the corporate was consistently eradicating banned gadgets that appeared on its web site.
"We've computerized and guide sweeps accomplished by groups across the clock," the spokesperson stated.
There are additionally US-based sellers promoting glue traps on Amazon's Australian web site; these embrace giant sheets of glue lined board designed to be hung outdoors and entice bugs, in addition to rodent glue traps.
A spokesperson for Amazon Australia stated the sale of glue traps was prohibited on its Australian retailer.
"Our US retailer is exploring measures to cease transport these merchandise to Australian clients," the spokesperson added.
Contact reporter Emily McPherson at emcpherson@9.com.au.