Whip Snake and Gila Monster Vs Glue Boards – Rescued and Removed by 1st Response Wildlife

If any homeowner or business has had a scorpion, roach, cricket, spider, or any other insect problem, the solution suggested by Do-it-yourself sites on the internet or supplied by Pest Control Companies almost always includes spraying around perimeters as well as glue board leave-behinds.  Glue boards, pictured below, contain sticky long lasting glue that easily catches and holds insects that choose to walk through this container-placed along walls and especially close to garage door openings, and storage closets and where insects have been seen.

 

These glue boards are effective and help control the entrance of insects as well as act as good indicators of whether or not the perimeter spraying has reduced the number of insects around the property.  Having said that, however, the glue that lines the bottom, sides, and top of these little boxes is also strong enough to adhere to and hold snakes and Gila Monsters.

1^st Response Wildlife has been called to homes and businesses on a number of occasions where a snake or Gila Monster has entered a garage or storage area that either had its door left open or, in some cases, a rodent had chewed an entrance hole into a space and the snake entered looking for a meal.

Here we see a Whip Snake that has been rescued from a glue board entanglement that is being rehabilitated by 1^st Response Wildlife before it is returned to the wild.

 

Here is a close up of a Gila Monster that was found in a garage with its head stuck in a glue board box after apparently going after a cricket or some other insect that was stuck in the glue.  This close-up picture clearly shows that all the glue has been removed and it is now being released back into the wild.

 

In both cases, after using a technique that frees the animal, care is taken to hold it in a safe container until all traces of glue are confirmed removed and the animal is fully able to move around and capable of returning to the wild.  Only then is the snake or Gila Monster returned safely back into the wild.

Ultimately, the animal is not permanently impacted by the effects of the glue but, if the business owner or homeowner does not call a Wildlife Service to come, catch, and release the animal, the glue is strong enough that the animal cannot extricate itself and will eventually starve to death.  It is imperative to recognize that these glue board boxes are effective in insect control but also present a danger to animals that can be following their prey and become stuck.  Instructions from a Do-it-yourself site on the internet or a Pest Control Company rarely include guidelines for checking glue boxes routinely for animal capture but, 1^st Response Wildlife would like to suggest that businesses and homeowners keep an eye out for animal activity when glue boxes are placed around and inside one’s property.

If you find that you have an animal stuck in a glue box and would like it humanely removed, rehabilitated, and returned to the wild, please give 1^st Response a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife 

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7.  Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!