What is the proper term for killing mice? - briefly
Professionals refer to the elimination of mice as rodent extermination. The practice is also commonly called mouse control.
What is the proper term for killing mice? - in detail
The accepted nomenclature for the deliberate elimination of mice varies with context. In pest‑management literature the activity is described as rodent control or mouse culling. When the objective is to eradicate an established infestation, the term extermination is employed, often qualified as “mouse extermination.” In laboratory settings where humane end‑of‑life procedures are required, the phrase euthanasia of mice is used, referencing protocols that minimize suffering. Some regulatory documents adopt the broader label pest eradication, which includes mice among other species.
Key distinctions:
- Rodent control – preventive and reactive measures, may involve trapping, baiting, or habitat modification; not limited to killing.
- Mouse culling – selective killing of individual or groups of mice, typically for population reduction.
- Extermination – systematic elimination of a mouse infestation, often using chemical or mechanical methods.
- Euthanasia – humane killing of laboratory mice, performed under approved veterinary guidelines.
- Pest eradication – comprehensive removal of pests, including mice, from a defined area.
The choice of term reflects the purpose (control vs. humane end‑of‑life), the setting (commercial, residential, research), and the regulatory framework governing the method employed.