Wildlife Services (WS) is housed inside of the USDA. It does not follow the same rules and regulations as Fish and Wildlife agencies. Because it is not monitored or regulated as hunted and nonhunted species, the animals killed by WS are in the millions are virtually unprotected from abuse and cruelty while they are being exterminated.
“Pest” animals, or “nuisance” animals, are animals who are not protected by law in the same way that animals are protected under the Animal Welfare Act, and the Endangered Species Act, to name a few, and are also not covered by animal welfare standards that apply to animals used for agriculture. This means that these animals can essentially be unscrupulously killed and without regulations mitigating their pain and suffering. Most of the animals that WS kills are considered “pests” and many of them have no legal protection.
Animals killed by WS, both intentionally and negligently:
- Agamas
- Albatrosses
- Alligators
- Anhingas
- Ani
- Antelopes
- Armadillos
- Arthropods
- Avadavats
- Avocets
- Badgers
- Bass
- Bats
- Bears
- Beavers
- Bee-Eaters
- Bishops
- Bison
- Bitterns
- Blackbirds
- Bluebirds
- Bluethroats
- Bobcats
- Bobolinks
- Bulbuls
- Buntings
- Buzzards
- Caimans
- Caracaras
- Cardinals
- Caribou
- Catbirds
- Cats
- Chickens
- Chiffchaffs
- Chipmunks
- Chukars
- Coatis
- Coots
- Cormorants
- Cougars
- Cows
- Cowbirds
- Coyotes
- Crakes
- Cranes
- Crossbills
- Crows, Bird
- Crows, Fish
- Cuckoos
- Curlews
- Deer
- Dickcissels
- Dippers
- Dogs
- Doves
- Dowitchers
- Drongos
- Ducks
- Dunlins
- Eagles
- Egrets
- Elk
- Falcons
- Finches
- Fishers
- Flickers
- Flycatchers
- Foxes
- Francolins
- Frigatebirds
- Frogs
- Gannets
- Geese
- Gerbils
- Godwits
- Goldfinches
- Grackles
- Grebes
- Grosbeaks
- Grouse
- Gulls
- Hares
- Harriers
- Hawks
- Hedgehogs
- Herons
- Hobbys
- Hoopoes
- Ibises
- Iguanas
- Jackals
- Jaegers
- Jays
- Jirds
- Juncos
- Junglefowl
- Killdeers
- Kingbirds
- Kingfishers
- Kites
- Kittiwakes
- Lapwings
- Larks
- Lizards
- Longspurs
- Loons
- Lynx
- Magpies
- Marmots
- Martens
- Meadowlarks
- Mice
- Minks
- Mockingbirds
- Mongooses
- Moorhens
- Moose
- Munias
- Murrelets
- Muskrats
- Mynas
- Nighthawks
- “Non-Wildlife” (accidental companion animal kills, etc…)
- Nutrias
- Opossums
- Orioles
- Ospreys
- Otters
- Owls
- Oystercatchers
- Parakeets
- Partridges
- Peccaries
- Pelicans
- Phalaropes
- Pheasants
- Phoebes
- Pigeons
- Pikeminnows
- Pipits
- Plovers
- Pocket Gophers
- Poorwills
- Porcupines
- Prairie Dogs
- Pranticoles
- Pronghorns
- Quail
- Rabbits
- Racoons
- Rails
- Rats
- Ravens
- Redpolls
- Redstarts
- Reptiles, Exotic
- Ringtails
- Roadrunners
- Robins
- Rollers
- Sanderlings
- Sandpipers
- Sea Lions
- Seals
- Shearwaters
- Sheep
- Shrews
- Shrikes
- Silverbills
- Siskins
- Skimmers
- Skunks
- Skylarks
- Snakes
- Snipes
- Soras
- Sparrowhawks
- Sparrows
- Spoonbills
- Squirrels
- Starlings
- Stilts
- Stonechats
- Storks
- Swallows
- Swans
- Swine
- Tattlers
- Terns
- Thrashers
- Thrushes
- Titmouses
- Toads
- Towhees
- Turkeys
- Turnstones
- Turtles
- Voles
- Vultures
- Wagtails
- Walleyes
- Warblers
- Waxbills
- Waxwings
- Weasels
- Wheatears
- Whimbrels
- White-Eyes
- Whitethroats
- Wildcats
- Willets
- Wolves
- Woodchucks
- Woodcocks
- Woodpeckers
- Woodrats
- Wrens
- Yellowlegs
To see a complete break down of how many animals were killed by species and subspecies, including animals labeled as “other,” see the USDA’s own annual report.
See this article from The Guardian for a great visual of the sheer enormity of these killings.