Wild Animals

Minimizing Suffering in Pest Control

Pest control is sometimes necessary but can be conducted with varying degrees of animal suffering, and welfare-conscious approaches minimize harm while achieving necessary control outcomes.

Key Facts

Glue traps are among the cruellest pest control methods — trapped animals die of dehydration, starvation, or self-injury over days
Snap traps for mice and rats cause instant death and are significantly more humane than glue traps
Live catch traps require daily monitoring to prevent suffering from exposure and dehydration
Ultrasonic deterrents and exclusion methods prevent the need for lethal control in many situations
Rodenticides cause prolonged internal bleeding and secondary poisoning of predators

Welfare Considerations

The method of pest control matters enormously from a welfare perspective. Glue boards are widely available but cause some of the most prolonged suffering of any pest control method. Snap traps cause rapid death and represent a significantly more humane choice. Exclusion and deterrence methods avoid killing altogether. For any situation requiring lethal control, the welfare-first principle is to choose the fastest and least painful method available.

What You Can Do

Never use glue traps — replace them with snap traps or live-catch alternatives
Use exclusion and deterrence as first-line pest control before lethal methods
Check live traps at least twice daily to prevent suffering of trapped animals
Avoid rodenticides that cause secondary poisoning of owls, hawks, and foxes
Seal entry points to prevent rodents from entering buildings in the first place