Glue traps are a popular way to catch insects. But conservationists advise against using the bright yellow baits because they can be dangerous.
They are often recommended against fungus gnats or other pests on plants. But the so-called sticky traps against annoying insects can also catch other wild animals. Birds, bats, bees, butterflies and hoverflies, among others, could stick to the yellow boards or yellow stickers with special glue, warns the Bavarian State Association for Bird and Nature Conservation (LBV), based in Hilpoltstein in Central Franconia (Roth district).
Bats in particular are at risk, said a biologist from the LBV: When they try to catch stuck insects, they often get caught in the trap themselves. “When they try to free themselves, they often injure their skin badly,” said the scientist. Birds can tear out their feathers when they come into contact with sticky traps or their plumage can become so sticky that they can no longer fly and become prey for cats or martens.
The LBV therefore advises against placing such sticky traps in your own garden or on your balcony. It would be better to promote insect-eating species that maintain the biological balance. These include moles, hedgehogs and shrews.
