"The role of ethical judgments related to wildlife fertility control"
Author(s): Lauber TB (Lauber, T. Bruce), Knuth BA (Knuth, Barbara A.)
Source: SOCIETY & NATURAL RESOURCES Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Pages: 119-133 Published: FEB 2007

Abstract: Certain species of wildlife cause considerable damage and therefore receive management attention. Traditional management methods rely, on lethal control, but fertility control is increasingly, being advocated as a more humane alternative. Because wildlife management decisions are influenced by citizen input, it is important to understand what makes people support or oppose lethal control and fertility , control. We studied six U.S. communities trying to manage large poputalions of white-tailed deer or feral cats and categorized the ethical arguments citizens used to support their positions on lethal and fertility control methods. We identified two broad categories of ethical arguments. Arguments in the ''obligations to people" category focused on (1) decision-making procedures, (2) public policy decisions, and (3) management outcomes. Arguments in the "obligations to animals and the environment" category, focused on (1) life, suffering, and death, (2) altered characteristics of animals, (3) individuals and communities, and (4) invasive species impacts.


You can download the article here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/33371927/Laub ... ty-Control

I assume these animals are edible.

We're already killing animals for food. The animals who's population we need to control can also be used for food. Why can't we kill animals for population control and food?

Is it cost-effective to ship animals the locals don't eat to countries where they do eat it?

The main impediment might be set-up costs - once you've actually caught the animal, you need some kind of distribution infrastructure. Given how few animals you're catching relative to the number a factory farm can generate, it seems like you're fighting an uphill battle.

They should just not make it illegal to eat certain animals. Even if the culture is against eating dogs, there are plenty of people desperate enough. There's also a lot of people that just don't care.

I agree with DanielLC. Why not just sell hunting tickets? I'd like to see hunting policy geared toward reducing wild animal suffering.

What pest animals is it illegal to eat?

I think there's only certain ones that are legal to eat. I heard that it's because the FDA regulates what constitutes safe meat, and if they feel like that kind of meat doesn't have a big enough market to make regulation for, they just make it illegal altogether.

In particular, I was thinking of cats and dogs. They're commonly neutered, and the surplus is killed. I'm not sure if they're used to feed animals or just buried, but it's probably better to feed the animals vegetables and save the meat for humans.

In cases where they can be eaten, like deer, I'm for the selling hunting licenses, letting them be hunted for free, or, if it gets desperate enough, offering a bounty.