Pest control involves killing or deterring animals that damage crops, property, or human health. Understanding more humane alternatives and the welfare costs of conventional methods guides better decision-making.
Pest control welfare depends largely on the method chosen. Anticoagulant rodenticides cause prolonged, painful deaths and have cascading effects through food chains that harm non-target predators. Glue traps are widely considered one of the least humane pest control methods available. By contrast, exclusion, habitat management, and rapid-kill traps minimise both individual suffering and ecological harm. The welfare case for choosing more humane pest control methods is strong and accessible to people who may not consider themselves animal welfare advocates.