During the week of July 9, the SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Center rescued two young opossums who were stuck in glue traps in Marina. Without emergency rescue, the opossums would have suffered and died.
Each year, countless animals are unintentionally caught in glue traps. Glue traps are paper sheets or tubes covered in a sticky glue, which causes animals to become stuck and unable to escape. These traps cause prolonged suffering as the animal struggles against the glue in an attempt to free itself, and eventually succumbs to injuries, exhaustion, starvation, or dehydration.
While these inhumane traps are designed for insects and rodents, they are indiscriminate and often catch unintended victims like songbirds, snakes, lizards, and small mammals like these opossums. Removing animals from glue traps must be done by a professional, as the glue can pull off feathers, fur, and skin, or even break the bones of smaller animals.
Skilled SPCA wildlife rescue technicians carefully removed the rescued opossums from the traps and gently bathed them to remove glue residue from their skin and fur. It took two baths to remove all the glue. One of the babies suffered an abrasion, similar to a rug burn, from trying to escape before being rescued. The opossums are now recovering at the SPCA Wildlife Center until they are ready to be released back into the wild.
The SPCA Wildlife Center strongly advises against the use of glue traps. If you find an animal in a glue trap, please call the SPCA immediately for help.
The SPCA Wildlife Center is the only full-service wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Monterey County, rescuing over 2,500 injured, sick, and orphaned wild animals every year. Right now, we are caring for 100 wild animals, including hawks, owls, pigeons, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks, a snowy plover, and songbirds.
You can help:
Purchase gifts on Amazon at SPCAmc.org/baby-shower
Give at SPCAmc.org/donate
If you see injured or orphaned wild animals in need, please call us at 831-264-5427 or visit www.spcamc.org to learn how to help.
Everything we do for rescued wild animals is only made possible by your compassionate support.
The SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is the only full service wildlife rehabilitation center serving Monterey County. We operate under permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Your support is extremely important to us, as we do not receive funding from any federal, state or local government agency. Each year, The SPCA Wildlife Center admits over 2,500 animals for treatment and care.
SPCA Monterey County is your nonprofit, independent, donor-supported humane society that has been serving the animals and people of Monterey County since 1905. The SPCA is not a chapter of any other agency and does not have a parent organization. They shelter homeless, neglected and abused pets and livestock, and provide humane education and countless other services to the community. They are the local agency you call to investigate animal cruelty, rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, and aid domestic animals in distress.
Online: www.SPCAmc.org
Facebook: /SPCAmc
Instagram: @SPCAmc
Twitter: @SPCAmc
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