Can Vegans Use Pest Control?
May 23, 2019

Can Vegans Use Pest Control?

Ask most people, and they will tell you that those who perform pest control provide a valuable public service for homeowners, business owners and other property owners. There is no doubt that most people are happy to have the service done. However, animal rights activists are a little bit ambivalent about this process to say the least. What would the issue be with pest control? Why are vegans so nervous about this process? Here are some of the reasons:

The Conflict

The controversy that animal rights activists with normal pest control policies usually revolves around the fact that vegans believe that all living things have a right to their existence. Thus, vegans believe that killing anything - even insects - is a terrible thing to do. However, pests such as rodents, cockroaches and termites can have an extremely negative effect on human health. Because of this, there will inevitably be certain situations where an individual would conceivably have no choice but to kill pests in order to maintain human health. Of course, if one is vegan because of being a Buddhist or having another such religious belief, there are usually a number of prayers that can be uttered when another living being has to be killed.

Source: North American Vegetarian Society

Focus on Non-Lethal Solutions

Another possible alternative would be to focus on non-lethal alternatives. This would include such alternatives as:

  • Catching and releasing them
  • Preventing entry
  • Keeping your house clean so pests are not attracted to it in the first place

For example, if you trap a mouse or rodent in a glue trap, you could spend some time working to free it with olive oil. There are many individuals who believe in this type of catch-and-release method. Preventing entry means that you seal up all of the cracks in the doors and the walls. Chalk products can be used to prevent some animals from crossing into or out of areas. In order to keep your home clean, you must wipe down kitchen counters and clean up spills immediately.

Source: Cockroach Pictures, Solutions and Identification

Compassionate Pest Control

If you feel like your pest problem is a bit too daunting for you to handle on your own, there are a number of pest control companies in business today that specialize in humane solutions. These trained professionals know all of the practices and chemicals to employ such strategies as relocation, traps, contraception and wildlife rehabilitation. They are not only dedicated to solving your pest problem, but they are also dedicated to removing the pests in a humane way.

Source: Natural And Cruelty-Free Pest Control: Rats And Mice

If you are committed to animal rights these methods are some of the best ways for you to ensure you respect the rights of all living beings. Even the smallest insects will definitely appreciate your efforts! That being said, no one likes having bugs in their home, so it makes sense that you’d want to get rid of them.