Vermin

Vermin is a non-scientific term used to describe animals regarded as pests because they damage crops, stored food, or property, or pose health risks to humans and livestock. The label is cultural and legal rather than a scientific classification, and its meaning varies by region and context. Historically, vermin carried a moral condemnation of the animals as threats to society.

Commonly labeled vermin include rodents such as rats and mice; birds such as pigeons; and various insects and other wildlife that invade homes, farms, or grain stores. In some contexts, other mammals like raccoons or feral animals may also be described as vermin, depending on local laws and attitudes.

Impact from vermin includes economic losses from crop damage and food contamination, infrastructure damage, and the spread of disease to humans and domestic animals. They can also affect ecosystems by competing with native species or spreading pathogens.

Management typically emphasizes prevention and control: sanitation and waste management to remove attractants, exclusion to seal entry points, and population reduction through humane traps or approved pesticides, often under regulatory guidance. Integrated pest management combines monitoring with multiple methods to minimize risks and reduce reliance on any single technique, and professional pest control services may be engaged for difficult infestations.

Etymology: The word vermin derives from Old French vermine, from Latin verminus meaning worm or parasite; it has long carried a pejorative, non-scientific connotation.