A burrowing owl found stuck to a glue trap in Fort Myers was rushed to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) for treatment this week. I read the report from The Cool Down, which confirmed the rescue. Glue traps are flat boards covered with a sticky adhesive meant to catch rodents, but they end up trapping any animal that touches them.
The owl arrived at CROW with feathers matted and coated in adhesive. The rehab team applied chinchilla dust, a fine powder used for rodent fur care, to dry and separate the sticky feathers so the bird could preen normally. Burrowing owls are a protected species in Florida and are listed as threatened by the state. They nest in underground burrows and are often found in open prairies, pastures, and vacant lots near suburban developments.
What this means for Florida homeowners
If you have a nuisance rodent issue, a glue trap can kill non-target wildlife, including protected birds. The steps to safely remove a snake from your garden shed also include avoiding traps that can harm unintended animals. Once an owl, songbird, or reptile is stuck, removing the animal without tearing skin or breaking bones is extremely difficult, and many rescues end with the animal being euthanized.
I urge anyone considering rodent control to use snap traps inside a covered bait box or to call a wildlife-removal professional who uses exclusion methods instead of adhesive tools. The use of glue traps is already banned in several states for their indiscriminate effects, and Florida wildlife agencies warn that capturing a protected species this way can carry penalties. If you find a wild animal stuck to a trap, do not attempt to pull it free , contact a local wildlife rehabber like CROW immediately. The Cool Down confirmed the details of this rescue.
The notice is published by The Cool Down at www.thecooldown.com.
