Ann Arbor moves to ban glue traps for mice and other animals

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Sticky glue traps for mice, rats and other animals could soon be illegal to sell or use in Ann Arbor. City Council voted unanimously Monday night, Oct. 5, to give initial approval to an ordinance banning them, MLive reported.

The measure comes back to council on Oct. 19 for a public hearing and a final vote.

The ban is narrower than it might sound. It would not apply to glue boards meant for insects or spiders, WEMU reported, and MLive said lethal snap traps and catch-and-release traps would remain legal.

Supporters say the traps are cruel and catch more than their target. Council Member Ayesha Ghazi Edwin, a cosponsor, told WEMU that many buyers do not realize animals stuck on the boards can stay alive for days. The station noted that the traps often snare birds, cats and squirrels, and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against using them. Bee Friedlander of the Bird Center of Michigan told council members the traps hurt birds, too, according to MLive.

A violation would be a civil infraction, with a fine of up to $250 for a first offense and $250 to $500 for each one after that, MLive reported. WEMU said enforcement would fall to the city’s community standards officers.

Council members conceded that a ban on using the traps will be hard to enforce and that people can still order them online, MLive reported. They said they hope it at least raises awareness and ends sales in Ann Arbor stores. Council Member Erica Briggs said she wants residents to know humane options exist, such as live traps that let an animal be released elsewhere. A majority of council, including Mayor Christopher Taylor, is sponsoring the ordinance.

Sources:
MLive, “Animal rights advocates offer emotional testimony as Ann Arbor takes up glue trap ban,” Oct. 6, 2026, https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/10/animal-rights-advocates-offer-emotional-testimony-as-ann-arbor-takes-up-glue-trap-ban.html
WEMU, “Ann Arbor City Council to vote on glue trap ban,” Oct. 5, 2026, https://www.wemu.org/wemu-news/2026-10-05/ann-arbor-city-council-to-vote-on-glue-trap-ban
Photo: Michael Barera, “Ann Arbor August 2013 13 (City Hall),” 2013, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), cropped and color-corrected; derivative under the same ShareAlike license, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ann_Arbor_August_2013_13_(City_Hall).jpg

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