Spotted lanternflies are an invasive species that have wreaked havoc on ecosystems and agriculture in the eastern United States for years. Because of their widespread damage, it is understandable that local residents are going to great lengths to kill them. But glue traps, a popular method for exterminating the spotted lanternfly, are injuring and killing countless birds in the process. Local legislators must ban these traps in favor of sustainable and safe alternatives!
Sign now to demand that these states ban the use of glue traps and save the birds!
First identified in Pennsylvania in 2014, spotted lanternfly populations have boomed, and the consequences have been terrible. This invasive bug causes damage to local wild plants and crops, and the honeydew that the bug produces can cause the growth of a fungal disease known as sooty mold. Residents in quarantine zones, which are at a high risk for lanternfly infestation, have described the bugs covering trees, swarming the air, and coating local playgrounds and uncovered decks with sticky dew. It is understandable that bug experts and agriculture officials have been begging locals to kill any spotted lanternflies they come across. But glue traps -- the most common way to kill the invasive pest -- are not the answer.
Local bird conservation organizations have identified a rise in the number of injured and dead birds who accidentally get caught on the massive glue traps. Songbirds and other small birds are already at high risk of population loss from habitat destruction and a rapidly warming climate. The last thing these birds need is another human-caused threat. And, ironically, many birds are natural predators of these lanternflies, so the death of these birds could make the problem even worse.
The risks of glue traps far outweigh the benefits. It is time local legislators ban the use of these dangerous, high-risk traps and protect local birds! Sign the petition now if you agree!
