Humane Pest Control: Welfare-Conscious Approaches

Pest control is often conducted with complete disregard for animal welfare — humane alternatives exist for most common situations.

Key Facts

Traditional rodent glue boards are among the cruellest pest control methods, causing prolonged suffering
The RSPCA estimates glue traps kill or injure thousands of non-target animals including birds and hedgehogs
Exclusion methods — sealing entry points — are more effective long-term than lethal control for most pests
Ultrasonic repellents have inconsistent evidence but no welfare costs to target or non-target animals
Shooting is the most welfare-positive lethal control method when conducted competently

Welfare Considerations

Pest control causes unnecessary suffering when welfare-blind methods are used when alternatives exist. Glue traps cause prolonged suffering — trapped animals die of exhaustion, dehydration, or injury over hours to days — without providing better pest control than snap traps. Rodenticide baits cause internal haemorrhaging over days and secondarily poison raptors and predatory mammals that consume poisoned animals. Exclusion — finding and sealing entry points — prevents pests more effectively than killing without any suffering cost. A welfare-conscious approach to pest control defaults to the least suffering method that achieves the required result.

What You Can Do

Never use glue traps for any pest animal
Use snap traps as the welfare-preferred lethal option when rodent control is necessary
Seal entry points as the primary pest management strategy for rats and mice
Avoid second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides that cause secondary poisoning
Support legislation banning glue trap sales to the general public