My clean kill on a Rat this evening

Intercooler · August 30 2016 05:45:38 PM MDT

My Wife didn't believe me when I told her I saw what looked like a Rat under one of our deck trees. About an hour later she told me I see it out the window. Grabbed the 10 pump BB Gun and took it out!

The_Shadow · August 30 2016 06:55:13 PM MDT

Good for you...Ratatouille. Grill time! ${$default_tongue_smiley}$

Intercooler · August 30 2016 07:08:05 PM MDT

I about went for the live trap, but thought I had a good chance of getting a friendly. When it hung around while I pumped up... seemed the logical way to address the situation!

sqlbullet · August 31 2016 08:02:55 AM MDT

Very nice.

Captain O · August 31 2016 02:17:52 PM MDT

Works for me!

redbaron007 · September 01 2016 08:49:02 AM MDT

Excellent shot!

Now the problem is the others that are with it.

Like mice, when you finally see one, there are another dozen lurking. ${$default_tongue_smiley}$

Start pumping! ${$default_cheesy_smiley}$

Intercooler · September 01 2016 09:35:22 AM MDT

Hopefully this was a stragler. It ventured out in daylight in an unprotected area. I have tons of Hawks and Owls about the property almost daily. Actually, about a week ago a Hawk snatched a female Cardinal from the same spot at about the same time. Hopefully if their are more they stay their ass in the woods!

DM1906 · September 01 2016 11:24:36 AM MDT

Nice shot! I use an air rifle or pistol close to the house for "pest control", as well.

Just a word of caution....
Rats are smart. They don't willingly expose themselves to danger, such as lingering in the open for any length of time. If one, or several are doing that, something is wrong, with the rats. Rabies and other communicable diseases can cause them to do that. If you kill one and are able to collect it, maybe call animal control. Wear disposable gloves or use a tool (shovel). Bleach the area of the kill, any blood spill, and anything that comes in contact with them. And keep your pets away from them! I dispose of them by burning, but that may not be possible in all areas.

Intercooler · September 01 2016 01:26:51 PM MDT

Will do. This one was taken out with a BB. I didn't have time to get the pellets, but plan on keeping it loaded up with pellets going forward.

Prior to offing him

redbaron007 · September 01 2016 01:35:33 PM MDT

Quote from: DM1906 on September 01 2016 11:24:36 AM MDT
Nice shot! I use an air rifle or pistol close to the house for "pest control", as well.

Just a word of caution....
Rats are smart. They don't willingly expose themselves to danger, such as lingering in the open for any length of time. If one, or several are doing that, something is wrong, with the rats. Rabies and other communicable diseases can cause them to do that. If you kill one and are able to collect it, maybe call animal control. Wear disposable gloves or use a tool (shovel). Bleach the area of the kill, any blood spill, and anything that comes in contact with them. And keep your pets away from them! I dispose of them by burning, but that may not be possible in all areas.

Yuk! Forgot about this.......But very true.

When I helped my grandfather on his dairy farm as kid, he said if a skunk/rat/opossum were out during the day...kill'm....they were sick. There were a few times, absent being startled, he had to dispose them promptly, then sprayed the area with bleach water.

rw · September 01 2016 06:06:30 PM MDT

Quote from: redbaron007 on September 01 2016 01:35:33 PM MDT
Quote from: DM1906 on September 01 2016 11:24:36 AM MDT
Nice shot! I use an air rifle or pistol close to the house for "pest control", as well.

Just a word of caution....
Rats are smart. They don't willingly expose themselves to danger, such as lingering in the open for any length of time. If one, or several are doing that, something is wrong, with the rats. Rabies and other communicable diseases can cause them to do that. If you kill one and are able to collect it, maybe call animal control. Wear disposable gloves or use a tool (shovel). Bleach the area of the kill, any blood spill, and anything that comes in contact with them. And keep your pets away from them! I dispose of them by burning, but that may not be possible in all areas.
Yuk! Forgot about this.......But very true.

When I helped my grandfather on his dairy farm as kid, he said if a skunk/rat/opossum were out during the day...kill'm....they were sick. There were a few times, absent being startled, he had to dispose them promptly, then sprayed the area with bleach water.

Same goes for raccoons.

Pumpkinheaver · September 01 2016 07:34:19 PM MDT

Good deal!!!!

larryh1108 · September 06 2016 12:47:40 PM MDT

Did you get any protests from Rat's Lives Matter?

redbaron007 · September 06 2016 01:14:29 PM MDT

Quote from: larryh1108 on September 06 2016 12:47:40 PM MDT
Did you get any protests from Rat's Lives Matter?

They're a sneaky rascal! ${$default_wink_smiley}$

Intercooler · September 06 2016 03:17:32 PM MDT

Quote from: larryh1108 on September 06 2016 12:47:40 PM MDT
Did you get any protests from Rat's Lives Matter?

Actually I did! Ask The Shadow ${$default_shocked_smiley}$

I had one friend that must be a Buddhist... didn't know it, but his responses:

-That looks like a woodrat.
I hope so much that you didn't kill it. Woodrats are naturally occurring rodents that are beneficial to our ecosystem and are in extreme decline thought MD. In fact I'm not there are any recent records for it in Cecil County

-But still the Buddhist in me is sad

-I don't want to get into a debate about compassion and the rights of sentient beings, but I'm troubled by you saying "I don't like to kill things that I don't have to..." I don't see why one would ever have to kill anything, but again, this is an ethical thing (and a spiritual one -for me) that I'm not interested in discussing at the moment.

Basically responding to me saying I don't get them here and this didn't look like a friendly. Also that I don't kill anything that I don't have to. In this instance putting my live trap out wasn't the better option.