Invasive species cause enormous welfare harms to native wildlife while removal programs cause welfare harms to invasive animals. Managing this trade-off requires welfare-sensitive approaches.
Invasive species welfare requires honest engagement with difficult trade-offs. Invasive predators cause massive welfare harms to native prey species - billions of native birds killed annually globally is an enormous aggregate welfare cost. Removing invasive species through lethal control causes welfare harms to the individual animals removed. The welfare calculus generally favors protecting native species from predation, given the scale of harm caused by invasive predation and the welfare interest of the many native animals protected. However, this does not mean invasive species control can be conducted without welfare consideration - methods that minimize suffering of removed animals and use humane killing techniques where control is necessary remain welfare obligations.