Example Letter to Organisers of a Mice and/or Rat Cull

The first person you should contact is the organiser. You can email, write or speak to them on the phone or face to face.

Below is an example of a letter you can send to a person or organisation planning a cull of rats and/or mice in your area. If you can, please personalise the words, as this helps your letter have more impact, especially if other residents are also contacting them.

Dear [Name] 

I was shocked to see that [who] are planning to cull rats and/or mice* at [location]. As a local resident I am asking you to reconsider. Rats and/or mice* are highly social animals, who live in close family units, where they build complex relationships. This makes culling particularly cruel. 

Methods used to cull rats and/or mice* can cause terrible suffering. Rodent poisons, typically cause animals to die from internal bleeding and this horrific process can take several days. During this time the animals will remain conscious and experience symptoms, such as pain, thirst, dizziness and fear. Apart from causing pain and distress to the animals who are the intended target, poisons can also damage the environment and may affect non-target species, such as birds of prey or cats. Snap traps (a ‘traditional’ trap which aims to break the animals’ neck) may not kill rodents instantly and so animals can be left to suffer a slow and painful death.  

As well as being cruel, killing rats and/or mice* does not work, so it is a waste of resources. If there is a good source of food in an area and the environment remains attractive, any reduction in the numbers of rats or mice will quickly be reversed by other animals coming to take their place.  

There are many cost-effective humane alternatives to culling. For rats and/or mice*, these include using indoor and outdoor sonic repellents and ensuring buildings are well maintained and that holes are blocked. 

These, and other methods, are explained in the following resources: 

  1. Animal Aid’s ‘Alternatives to Culling’ booklet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alternativestoculling2022-4.pdf 
  2. Animal Aid’s Rats and Mice Advice sheet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Rats-and-mice-advice-sheet.pdf 

You may also want to get in touch with Humane Wildlife Solutions to help you find an ethical solution. Their telephone number is 07771 361226. 

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely, 

 

[Name] 

Local resident 

Add your phone number if you are happy to discuss this on the phone.
 

*Please amend as appropriate. 

 

Tips 

  • If your local council is carrying out the cull you may want to say how you object to your council tax money being wasted on such a cruel and pointless exercise.  
  • Include details of other actions you have taken or are planning to take, such as starting a petition or writing to your local councillors.  
  • If you haven’t received a response in two weeks, we suggest contacting them again, to check they have received your letter. Â