Feral animal control can be performed using a variety of methods. However, in our enlightened, morally, and environmentally conscious day and age, it is also vital for the animal control methods that are used to handle species that are considered feral pests not only to be efficient, speedy, and effective - but also that they engage in ethically sound, moral and humane extermination practices.

So, what are the most humane, ethical methods of feral animal control? And what exactly is it that makes other methods of handling feral animals unethical? And perhaps most importantly, how can we best avoid these inhumane, outdated feral animal control practices moving forward? Just read on to learn more.

What is Humane Pest Control?

Humane pest control - in other words, the ethical removal of an animal species that is considered to be rogue, feral, or disruptive to the environment in which they inhabit - is an essential component in maintaining a region’s local ecosystem and its native wildlife.

Importantly, this practice needs to be performed humanely, as of course, the feral animals that are being dealt with are living, breathing, and sentient beings, and are often placed in situations that are out of their control. As such, it is crucial to engage the services of a professional animal control expert, who is well-versed in the humane extermination of feral pests. For services in regional Victoria, for example, expert feral animal control in Gippsland can be professionally engaged to clear the area of invasive pest species.

By doing this, you can ensure that the pest control methods that are being employed are as humane and ethical as possible - causing the least amount of harm and disruption to the invasive animal species being removed from an area. This is particularly important, as it is well known that invasive species have often been introduced to a new location through no fault of their own - often by humans and settlers to a new land. Needless to say, Australia’s early settlers are unlikely to have been aware of the impact of bringing foreign, exotic species into a new environment.

What Are the Most Common Methods of Humane Feral Animal Control?

Humane feral animal control endeavours to combat the overpopulation of pest species and their disruption of, and damage to the native environment in which they are considered invasive, through practices that are as ethically sound as possible. The argument here is that invasive species have been introduced to an area often through no fault of their own - usually by human introduction or importation to a region. As such, they deserve to be treated ethically and humanely, despite being considered pests.

For example, methods of pest control that are considered more humane and less harmful to feral or invasive species can include rabbit fencing, fox-proof fencing, and live traps. These methods not only cause the least amount of harm to feral animals, but they also cause a minimal amount of disturbance to the surrounding environments. Other practices can include the removal and relocation of the feral animal species to a different area to which they are likely to cause less damage or disruption. Alternatively, in some rare cases, ethical euthanasia of the animals must be employed - but this is always the last resort.

Managing animals and invasive species that are causing harm to a particular area is never an easy thing to balance. It is our duty to provide these species with the same care as the area we are trying to protect wherever possible, and ensure the smallest levels of harm and/or disturbance in the process. So, if you find yourself in need of pest control or feral animal removal, make sure that you research the practises of those you are contacting to ensure that you are going to feel comfortable with their methods.