Humane Pest Control: Reducing Rodent Suffering

Rodent control causes significant animal suffering through methods including glue traps, inhumane poison, and live-catch traps without regular monitoring. Humane alternatives exist for all applications.

Key Facts

Glue traps cause extreme prolonged suffering — animals die of exhaustion, dehydration, or self-inflicted injuries
Second-generation anticoagulant poisons cause slow death over several days from internal bleeding
Snap traps cause rapid death when properly set and checked — among the most humane mechanical options
Exclusion and habitat modification addresses rodent problems at source without killing
Live-capture traps require checking every 24 hours maximum to prevent suffering from starvation

Welfare Considerations

Rodent control is widely considered acceptable but the methods used cause enormous and unnecessary suffering. Glue traps are among the cruellest pest control devices available and should be banned. Slow-acting poisons cause multi-day deaths. Even seemingly humane live traps cause suffering if not checked regularly. The most welfare-positive approach prioritizes exclusion and habitat modification, uses snap traps where killing is necessary, and eliminates glue traps and slow-acting anticoagulants entirely.

What You Can Do

Never use glue traps — they cause extreme suffering
Replace anticoagulant poison with snap traps where killing is necessary
Use exclusion as the primary strategy — seal entry points to prevent rodent access
Check live capture traps every 24 hours maximum
Advocate for glue trap bans in your country or municipality