Pest Control

Position

"The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association recognizes that some pesticides, traps, and other control measures may be appropriately used for necessary control of nuisance animals, but urges veterinarians to encourage the responsible application of humane pesticides and other control measures only in situations where integrated pest management cannot be effectively applied.  Inhumane methods of pest control cannot be condoned.”

Background

Integrated pest management (IPM) refers to effective control of target nuisance animals while minimizing the impact on the environment and other animal species.  Examples of IPM approaches are: eliminating animal access into buildings by sealing cracks and holes in walls; fencing gardens to protect them from rabbits, deer, and birds; meshing chimney openings to keep squirrels and raccoons out of fireplaces; and using guardian animals (e.g., livestock guardian dog, llama, donkey) to protect livestock from predators.  IPM requires planning and ingenuity, but can be an effective and humane method of reducing animal pest problems.  In the long-term, IPM pays off in terms of reducing the need to use toxic chemicals, which now lead to the inadvertent killing of non-target animals, secondary poisoning of scavenging animals, and pollution of land and waterways.

When a free-ranging wildlife population must be controlled, it is essential to first understand, as thoroughly as possible, the nature of the population and its relationship to other wildlife species and the environment of the area.  From this knowledge base, it is usually possible to devise an effective approach that will control the nuisance species while not adversely affecting other species.   Extirpation of the nuisance species may be an objective in rare cases, such as with control of introduced, invasive species.

In addition to environmental concerns, humane consideration should be a significant factor in selecting a method of pest control in those situations where IPM measures must be supplemented.  The CVMA position on euthanasia is that “…when an animal has to be killed, its death must be quick, and cause the least possible pain.”

Some examples of inhumane control approaches include  “denning” (pouring kerosene into a den and incinerating it) to control coyotes and wolves, and the use of sticky boards for rodent control. The ingestion of some pesticides (e.g., strychnine, Compound 1080 [sodium fluoroacetate], cyanide, and Furadan [flowable carbofuran]), results in severe pain, uncontrollable seizures, and death by asphyxiation.

Humane considerations should be a factor in the licensing of all pesticides in Canada.

(Adopted March 2003)