Hi Michael. Thanks for your comment. Animals that become vermin make people’s lives, and what we as suffering reducers can do about it, is a difficult issue. The question of what to do about the suffering of wild animals that interact with humans a lot is a difficult one. For example, using poisonous chemicals to exterminate animals may cause them more harm in death than other potentially affordable and overlooked interventions. However, vermin don’t attract as much attention in this field right now. I expect it’s because while vermin are populous, the even bigger, and hence more important, populations of animals effective altruism focuses our research on are in the wilderness proper (e.g., a forest or marsh as opposed to urban/suburban areas). However, since there is such a dearth of thinking on this field, suggestions to improve or initiate better interventions for improving wild animal welfare in any domain are always welcome.
Hi Michael. Thanks for your comment. Animals that become vermin make people’s lives, and what we as suffering reducers can do about it, is a difficult issue. The question of what to do about the suffering of wild animals that interact with humans a lot is a difficult one. For example, using poisonous chemicals to exterminate animals may cause them more harm in death than other potentially affordable and overlooked interventions. However, vermin don’t attract as much attention in this field right now. I expect it’s because while vermin are populous, the even bigger, and hence more important, populations of animals effective altruism focuses our research on are in the wilderness proper (e.g., a forest or marsh as opposed to urban/suburban areas). However, since there is such a dearth of thinking on this field, suggestions to improve or initiate better interventions for improving wild animal welfare in any domain are always welcome.