1. One may turn on an electric device designed to kill insects before Shabbat, such as a fly zapper (Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchatah 25:6).

2. One may kill dangerous animals on Shabbat when they pose a threat to human life, including when they are actively chasing someone. This includes wild animals, as well as snakes and scorpions. One may kill a snake on Shabbat if there is reason to suspect that it may be poisonous, even if it is not actively pursuing anyone. If one knows that the snake is not poisonous, one may not kill it unless it is pursuing someone and its bite could cause harm, even if the harm would not be life-threatening (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 316:10). One may not, however, kill an insect or other animal merely because it is a nuisance or causes inconvenience (see Mishnah Berurah 316:46).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.