Ventura Becomes Largest U.S. City to Ban "Torture Device" Glue Traps

The Ventura City Council has officially voted to ban the sale and use of glue traps, joining a growing list of California cities that have declared the devices a threat to both animal welfare and public health.

During the final hearings leading up to the March 10, 2026, vote, local advocates and health experts urged the council to finalize the prohibition.

Daniel Roselle, the executive director of the Humane Society of Ventura County, delivered a pointed testimony thanking the council for addressing what he described as torture devices.

Roselle emphasized that far more eloquent people had already spoken on the cruelty of the traps, but he wished to highlight a specific danger to the human population.

He noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explicitly advises against using glue traps for disease control because trapped animals often defecate and urinate in distress.

This behavior can aerosolize and spread dangerous pathogens, including hantavirus, making the traps a liability for the very homes they are meant to protect.

The council’s 6–1 decision makes Ventura the latest jurisdiction to outlaw the sticky boards, following similar legislation passed in Ojai, Culver City, and West Hollywood.

Factual evidence presented during the council sessions revealed that glue traps are notoriously indiscriminate, often catching "non-target" species such as songbirds, lizards, and even small owls.

Wildlife rehabilitators testified that removing a bird or reptile from the industrial-strength adhesive is nearly impossible without causing fatal injuries or feather damage.

Furthermore, the CDC’s standing guidance on rodent control supports Roselle's health concerns, recommending snap traps or electronic traps over glue boards to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases.

The new ordinance, which adds Chapter 8.60 to the San Buenaventura Municipal Code, officially prohibits the display, sale, and use of these traps within city limits.

Violation of the ban can result in misdemeanors or civil penalties, though the city plans to focus its initial efforts on education and outreach to local retailers and pest control companies.

With this vote, Ventura aligns itself with international standards already in place in countries like England, Ireland, and New Zealand, which have long since banned the devices on humanitarian grounds.