Invasive species cause significant welfare harm to native animals through predation, competition, and disease, raising complex questions about humane management.
Invasive species management creates a genuine welfare dilemma: allowing invasive species to persist causes ongoing welfare harm to native animals through predation and disease; managing invasives through lethal control causes welfare harm to the invasive animals being controlled. There is no solution that avoids welfare costs entirely. Humane killing methods, targeted management that minimises bycatch, and prioritisation of interventions where native species welfare impacts are most severe all help to navigate these trade-offs. The welfare of native prey species deserves as much consideration as the welfare of managed invasive individuals.