By MORGAN APPERSON
Los Alamos

Thank you for encouraging readers not to use glue traps or poisons, two of the most inhumane products on the market.

This is such an important topic and as a Los Alamos resident of nearly two decades, more articles on this subject should be included! Thank you for speaking up. Los Alamos is filled with nature and its inhabitants including geese from the pond, chipmunks, birds, endangered reptiles, family-oriented coyotes, and more. It would be great if the Daily Post could do a printed story highlighting the issues with glue traps and poisons along with humane alternatives residents could turn to.

Glue traps, as your columnist pointed out, ensnare any animal unfortunate enough to come across them, tearing off fur, feathers, and skin as victims struggle to escape. Animals suffer for days before finally succumbing to starvation, dehydration, or blood loss, or suffocating in the glue. Poisons cause severe hemorrhaging and a slow, agonizing death for the intended victims and other species. And lethal methods don’t work long-term. As long as an area is accessible and offers food and shelter, more animals will move in. The spike in food supply can even cause accelerated breeding.

Evicting mice or rats can be as easy as placing cloves or rags soaked in ammonia or peppermint oil in areas where they’ve been spotted. They dislike radios and strobe lights, too. Once the animals have moved on, eliminating food sources and sealing all holes, cracks, and gaps will keep them from returning.