Rodent pest control involves some of the least welfare-conscious practices in routine animal management. Humane alternatives exist and deserve wider adoption in homes, farms, and commercial settings.
Rodent pest control is an area where simple, accessible choices can substantially reduce animal suffering. Glue traps, which cause prolonged suffering through dehydration, exhaustion, and self-injury, remain widely sold despite being banned in several countries. Anticoagulant rodenticides cause slow, painful deaths and kill non-target wildlife. Snap traps are the most welfare-conscious option for rodents that must be killed. Exclusion and habitat modification that prevents rodents accessing buildings is the most welfare-optimal first approach. Pest control companies increasingly offer integrated pest management approaches that reduce reliance on the most harmful methods.