Dymke, DeborahFleischer, SamanthaGeduhn, AnkeKalle, AgnesSchlötelburg, AnnikaSchmolz, Erik2024-06-162024-06-162022https://doi.org/10.60810/openumwelt-625https://openumwelt.de/handle/123456789/2926The use of killing traps for rodent pest control is currently gaining relevance again but there is no approval or authorization process for rodent traps in most countries. Hence, a guidance for testing and evaluating animal welfare impact was recently published by the expert group on "Non-Chemical alternatives for Rodent control" (NoCheRo). Using the NoCheRo- Guidance, we investigated the animal welfare impact of 10 different house mouse (Mus musculus) killing trap products in a semi-natural setting. All 10 trap products were attractive to the target mice because >/= 90% of them visited the traps at least once within a few days; in 5 tests, >/= 90% approached traps on the 1st day. Two electrocution trap products and 3 of 8 (37.5%) snap trap products met the animal welfare criteria. Most (95%) of the test animals caught with criteria-compliant traps were irreversibly unconscious within 50 sec; 90% within 30 sec. The majority (97 %) of house mice were rapidly unconscious when hit in the head/neck region by a snap trap. Five trap products were not in compliance with the animal welfare criteria. The results show that the NoCheRo-Guidance enables a distinction between rodent traps that meet the criteria for animal welfare and those that are deficient in this respect. Certification of such tested traps based on a sound scientific basis allows for a selection of suitable traps, and thus improve animal welfare in pest rodent control. © 2022 by the authors1 Onlineresource (pages 69-81)online resourceenghttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Teil eines Buches