Control Methods
How can you measure the humaneness of a pest animal control method?
In Australia, many different methods are used to control or kill animals classed as pests. These methods include chemicals and toxins for poisoning animals, biological control, physical methods such as traps to capture animals, shooting, and non-lethal methods such as exclusion fencing and fertility control.
What is the RSPCA’s view on using 1080 for pest animal control?
RSPCA Australia recognises the need to control introduced species, such as the fox, to reduce both environmental and agricultural impacts. However, we argue that the control methods used should be as humane as possible.
How can pest animal control programs be made more humane?
Many introduced and some native animals are classed as ‘pests’; because they have a negative impact on the environment or agricultural production.
What is humane vertebrate pest control?
Humane vertebrate pest control (HVPC) is the development and selection of feasible control programs and techniques that avoid or minimise pain, suffering and distress to target and non-target animals. A totally humane pest control method is one where the animal experiences no pain suffering or distress.
What is the most humane way to kill a cane toad?
Cane toads are a highly invasive species and are regarded as a major environmental pest in Australia. While there is universal agreement over the need to control cane toads, there is significant debate over what is the most humane method to use.
What is the RSPCA’s view on the trapping of wild dogs?
Wild dogs, (include feral cross-breed dogs, dingoes and hybrids of the two) can cause substantial suffering to livestock when they kill or injure sheep, calves or other young animals.
What is the RSPCA’s view on the release of Cyprinid herpesvirus to kill carp?
In late 2016, the Australian Government commissioned a two-year research and planning process to determine the feasibility of using a virus (known as Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 or CyHV-3) to control invasive European carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Australia.
What is the difference between head shooting and chest shooting?
If the correct firearm and ammunition are used, a well-placed head shot (with the brain as the point of aim) will result in immediate unconsciousness. When there is adequate damage to the brain and the animal does not regain consciousness there will be no suffering.
Is PAPP a more humane toxin than 1080 for pest animal control?
RSPCA Australia has campaigned strongly for research into alternatives to 1080 poison for the control of pest animals so that it can be replaced with a more humane poison or, better still, for humane non-lethal methods to be developed and adopted.
Is sodium nitrite a more humane toxin than 1080 for feral pig control?
RSPCA Australia has campaigned strongly for research into alternatives to 1080 poison for the control of pest animals. It is important that 1080 is replaced with a more humane poison or, better still, for humane non-lethal methods to be developed and adopted.