Heavy-duty snapping rat traps with interlocking teeth, while very effective at killing rats, pose great threats to other non-pest animals and pets.

These traps are not meant to be placed outdoors where other animals can reach them, but the package labeling and directions are not clear enough, and some animals are difficult to deter even from small areas¹.

These traps are especially dangerous because the interlocking teeth make "escape virtually impossible" for rodents, as well as larger animals².

Rescuers on the Central Coast of California have responded to multiple emergencies involving skunks caught in rat traps.^3,4.

Wildlife Emergency Services originally contacted the original manufacturer, Bell Laboratories in 2014, in response to an increasing number of animals injured or killed in these types of traps. In this letter, warning labels were suggested to help reduce the number of non-target wildlife injuries⁵.

Tomcat, the consumer brand of rodent traps manufactured by Bell Laboratories, was acquired by Scotts Miracle-Gro the following year⁶.

Bell Laboratories has been asked on multiple occasions to add a distinct warning label to retail packaging and include safety precautions specific to wildlife, pets and children in marketing sell sheets, wherever instructions for consumers are advertised, and in training material for industry professionals⁷.

Bell Laboratories previously made small changes to their products' web page and sell sheet, clarifying non-target exposure and how it can be prevented, but that hasn't been enough to stop pets and non-pets wildlife from being killed and seriously injured⁸.

More and more animals are being found caught in these spring-loaded traps. Even large animals like foxes and deer are at risk^{9, 10}.

It is time to demand better warning labels on these products!

Sign the petition and join us in asking Bell Laboratories and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, leading manufacturers of these types of rat traps, to add warning labels on packaging and wherever these products are sold, in stores and online.

More on this issue:

1. A.H David, Pest Control Weekly (2 July 2022), "How To Get Rid Of Rats Outside Without Harming Other Animals [19 Tips]."
2. Bell Laboratories, "TRAPPER T-Rex Superior Rat Trap."
3. Vince Cestone, KRON4 (21 July 2015), "3 skunks found recently in rat traps in Monterey, Santa Cruz counties."
4. Alix Martichoux, SFGate (12 September 2017), "New rat traps may be causing rise in skunk injuries around Bay Area."
5. Wildlife Emergency Services (28 July 2014), "The shapely skunk."
6. Tomcat, "Tomcat® Rat Traps."
7. Bell Laboratories, "TRAPPER® T-REX RAT SNAP TRAP."
8. Kevin Griffin, Vancouver Sun (31 October 2021), "Animals being injured, dying due to snap traps for rats: B.C. animal welfare groups."
9. Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Wisconsin Humane Society, Facebook (3 September 2016), "Facebook post."