Rodent pest control is one of the most widely practised animal management activities, yet welfare considerations are rarely central to method selection.
Rodents killed in pest control operations are rarely considered from a welfare perspective, yet the methods used span a wide range from relatively humane to causing prolonged suffering. Glue traps cause extreme distress: trapped animals struggle for hours or days, sustaining injuries as they try to escape, before dying of dehydration, starvation, or being killed by the trapper. Anticoagulant poisoning causes internal haemorrhage over several days. Well-set snap traps kill in milliseconds when effective. Integrated pest management that prevents access and reduces attractive habitat addresses the root cause without imposing suffering. Choosing methods based on both effectiveness and welfare impact is the responsible approach.