STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — A sheriff's deputy in Virginia worked to free a snake that became ensnared in glue trap over the weekend. Stafford County Deputy O.J. Martins responded to a report of the stuck snake on Sunday evening.
According to the sheriff's office, Deputy Martins found the snake on the glue trap that had been left out by residents in Ferry Farm. She worked for about an hour to get the snake free, and released it into the wild. Deputies nicknamed the snake Elvhiss Presley.
The sheriff's office reminds residents to use humane methods to prevent a rodent or snake invasion in your home. Eliminate food sources and seal up any openings around the outside of your house.
According to the Virginia Wildlife Center, each year, countless animals are unintentionally caught in glue traps or “glue boards." Glue traps are typically sheets or tubes covered in an extremely sticky glue; the traps are traditionally meant to capture flying insects, like wasps or flies (when hung up high) or rodents (when placed on the ground). But the traps are indiscriminate, meaning other animals such as snakes, bats and songbirds can become trapped.
"While these traps are intended to correct a rodent or insect problem, the snakes are likely attracted the locations of these traps in search of mice or insects to eat. Wildlife can serve as natural pest control," the Virginia Wildlife Center's website says
The center offers these tips to keep animals safe:
- Never use glue traps, sheets, or boards to manage pest problems. These types of traps are inhumane and indiscriminate.
- Avoid the use of poison for pest control – poison baited traps often put unintended wild animals in danger, particularly the wildlife that eat the animals that are poisoned.
- Work with a reputable pest control company to create a pest-management plan that is best for the health of your family, pets, and wildlife. (Find out how to select a reputable company.)
- Explore alternative options for pest control and removal. Organizations like Raptors Are The Solution provide great insights and suggestions.
- Educate your family, friends, and neighbors about the dangers of certain types of traps, particularly glue traps.