Ethical Rodent Control in Practice. How Can Rodent Problems Be Solved Effectively Without Poison?

Rats in the basement, mice in the attic, scratching noises coming from the walls. These are situations most people would rather avoid. And for good reason – unwanted rodent guests can cause real damage to buildings.

For years, we have become accustomed to using poison and glue traps as the default solution. Yet there is another approach – one that focuses not on the repeated killing of animals, but on permanently removing the causes of the problem. And this is exactly the approach we are testing in practice.

A Scottish Expert in Poland

Mushika Foundation invited Kevin Newell from Glasgow, a specialist in ethical human-wildlife conflict resolution and founder of Humane Wildlife Solutions, to Poland. For the past 13 years, he has helped residents, housing communities, and institutions secure buildings against unwanted animal visitors. To date, he has rodent-proofed nearly 9,000 properties, demonstrating that effective solutions do not have to rely on lethal methods.

From 25 May to 3 June 2026, we worked together to explore how this approach could be applied in Poland. We visited a variety of buildings in Warsaw and Wrocław, seeking an answer to one question: how can we address rat and mouse problems in a way that is effective, long-lasting, and ethical?

Five Investigations

During Kevin’s visit, we inspected five buildings.

In Warsaw:

• a ten-storey residential building in the Bielany district,
• the Dominican Monastery on Freta Street,
• a historic townhouse used by the Sto Pociech Foundation for its educational activities with children.

In Wrocław:

• the headquarters of the Ekostraż Association, which serves both as an office and an animal sanctuary,
• an office building belonging to the Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

In every location, we began with a detailed investigation. We examined how rats and mice were moving around, identified the routes they used to enter buildings, and located their food sources.

Only after identifying the root causes of the problem did we begin implementing solutions.

Eviction Instead of Extermination

Our goal was to create conditions that would make buildings unattractive to rats and mice. To achieve this, it is essential to remove two things rodents need to survive: shelter and access to food.

After locating holes, cracks, and entry points, we sealed them to prevent rodents from returning. In a sense, we carried out an ethical eviction – avoiding animal suffering while effectively resolving the problem for building residents and users.

Importantly, most of the solutions we used were simple and inexpensive.

We mainly relied on:

• expanding foam,
• steel wool,
• steel mesh.

These materials are readily available in virtually any hardware store.

Our experience shows that effective rodent-proofing often does not require sophisticated technologies or costly investments. The key lies in correctly identifying the problem and carefully implementing preventive measures.

Waste Containers – An Often Overlooked Source of the Problem

During our visits, we also paid close attention to waste storage areas.

In many cases, plastic waste containers proved to be part of the problem, as rat incisors can easily chew through them. Open bins send a clear message to rodents: “the buffet is open.”

Food waste and mixed refuse provide an attractive source of nutrition, encouraging rats to visit and establish themselves in the surrounding area.

For this reason, we are working on introducing effective rodent-resistant solutions, such as aluminium or metal waste containers, which could eventually replace the plastic bins commonly used today.

Sharing Knowledge

Our collaboration with Kevin Newell extended beyond site visits.

Before his arrival in Poland, we jointly developed two practical guides:

• How to Catch an Unwanted Rodent,
• A Rodent-Proof Home.

They provide practical advice for anyone seeking to solve rodent-related problems effectively without resorting to cruel methods.

This Is Just the Beginning

This autumn, we plan to revisit the buildings involved in the project to evaluate the results of the measures implemented.

We want to demonstrate which solutions proved most effective and share the lessons learned from applying them in Polish conditions.

Our goal is to promote best practices that can serve as a viable alternative to rodenticides and help solve rodent problems in buildings over the long term.

Respect Knows No Species

Our ethical rodent control work is part of the “I Am a Rat” campaign and the broader mission of Mushika Foundation, which aims to build more responsible relationships between people and the animals that share our cities.

That is why murals depicting a rat in a green urban park setting, accompanied by the slogan “Respect Knows No Species,” have appeared in both Warsaw and Wrocław.

This is not about idealising rats or ignoring the problems they can cause.

It is about something much simpler: seeking solutions that are effective, responsible, and grounded in respect for the animals living alongside us.

Because even when conflicts arise between people and animals, we do not have to choose only between helplessness and killing.

There is a third option: preventing problems before they occur and addressing their root causes in a lasting way.