Traditional pest control methods for moles and rabbits include trapping methods ranging from instantaneous kills to prolonged suffering — requiring welfare-aware selection.
Traditional pest control welfare varies enormously between methods and between correct and incorrect application. Well-set mole traps in appropriate positions kill rapidly; poorly set traps injure and cause prolonged suffering. Snares set in correct locations checked frequently cause less welfare harm than snares set indiscriminately and left. The welfare-conscious approach to pest control requires: identifying whether lethal control is actually necessary; choosing the most welfare-positive lethal method; applying it correctly and checking regularly; and considering non-lethal alternatives. Many pest control situations benefit from the precautionary question: is this level of control justified by the problem it addresses?