Lethal approaches to human-wildlife conflict are viewed as a method of last resort. Lethal approaches seek to direct attention at specific problematic individuals where a serious problem has been confirmed. These approaches are used after other methods have been unsuccessful and are meant to be directed to specific individuals. Despite the lethal nature of these strategies, they may only provide a temporary resolution to a problem if the underlying cause is also not addressed. These methods can require a significant amount of effort and resources and may need to be done by a professional. Furthermore, there are strict regulations and expertise needed to use poisons or other lethal strategies.
There are different types of strategies that are used for lethal control. These strategies include:
- Toxicants (e.g., poison that kill after oral ingestion, rat poison, etc.)
- Fumigants (e.g., poison that kill after inhalation, aluminum phosphide, etc.)
- Shooting
- Trapping (physical capture, with appropriate euthanasia–relocation is not an option in VA)
When deciding to use lethal measures, it is important to consider whether all other approaches have been tried. Different methods are more appropriate given the setting, for example shooting may not be as appropriate in urban setting while poison may not be appropriate where domestic animals are present. When conducting lethal control it is important to consider the well-being of individuals so that there is not undue suffering.