Great News! Welsh Government Bans Snares and Glue Traps

Update (29 June 2023):

Great news! With the Senedd passing the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, Wales has become the first UK nation to ban snares and the first to introduce a full ban on glue traps.

England banned public use of glue traps in 2022 with the Glue Traps (Offences) Act, which is set to come into effect next year. All eyes are now on Scotland to follow suit.

Original post:

The Welsh government has taken an important step forward and announced it will ban cruel snares and glue traps.

Snares and glue traps are inhumane, indiscriminate killers, and everyone at PETA welcomes this important progress for animals.

What Are Snares and Glue Traps?

Snares consist of a wire noose, which may tighten when an animal becomes trapped in it and struggles. Traps and snares are routinely set in “game”-shooting areas and on estates like Sandringham in a crude attempt to catch predatory animals who might steal eggs or kill young pheasants before human hunters get a chance to.

Only certain types of snares are legal, but illegal ones are still in use. The law is poorly enforced and has no teeth, meaning thousands of animals are mercilessly caught and killed every year with no consequences for those who set the traps.

Glue traps – also known as glue boards or sticky boards – are usually made of plastic trays or sheets of cardboard covered with extremely strong glue. Mice, rats, and other animals who walk onto the glue instantly become stuck and are powerless to free themselves. They are the cruellest form of rodent control.

How to Help Animals Stuck in Glue Traps

Animals caught in these crude devices endure a slow and painful death, often from hunger, dehydration, or exposure after days of prolonged suffering.

If you find an animal stuck in a glue trap, please see our guide to find out how to help them.

How PETA Has Opposed Snares

PETA previously joined forces with other UK animal protection groups in signing an open letter to then Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to ban the manufacture, sale, possession, and use of snares immediately.

We have also urged Prince Charles – who condones the use of snare traps on the Sandringham estate – to bring his actions in line with his public commitment to protecting the natural world and remove these devices from Sandringham.

Will Scotland Be Next to Enforce a Ban?

Wales and England have shown that a ban is possible. Scotland must follow suit.

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission reviewed the use of glue traps in March 2021 and recommended a total ban on their sale. Although a restriction on sales was supported by the previous government, still no action has been taken.