It might not be as easy as you’d think to dispatch a chipmunk by BB gun while it’s in the trap. They can move around rather frantically inside that cage!
Alternative methods you might consider are submerging the trap in a bucket (or garbage can) full of water for a few minutes, or rigging up a makeshift gas chamber. Put the occupied trap into a large garbage bag, then run some dryer vent or PVC pipe from your vehicle’s exhaust pipe to the bagged trap, securing both ends of the piping with some duct tape (best to do this outside or in an otherwise well ventilated space). A couple of minutes of running car exhaust fumes will take care of the critter in the cage. That was my Grandfather’s preferred method of dispatching possums, raccoons, and other nuisance animals causing damage around his farm.
Prior to catalytic converters there was a lot more CO in auto exhaust, and that would have been a faster kill. Or so I’ve been told.
I have two friends who kill trapped critters with BB guns, and if I could do it, I think that would be more humane than drowning. My friend who suggested it says he chose it because the trap was too large to conveniently submerge, as well. (A full-sized garbage can would do it, but a 5 gallon bucket wasn’t large enough.)
Yeah what if you wound one by merely shooting it in the eye instead of a kill shot?
Are they as clever as squirrels? Hey, check out that optical illusion at 7:00.
When it comes to executing humans, I’ve heard of mishaps. Firing squad? Missed. And sometimes when hanging someone, if they miscalculated the drop needed, they could actually pull off the guy’s head. Gas chambers—tricky because it better not leak and the exhaust has to carry the excess safely away. Electric chairs, well, you know. The guillotine blade got stuck on Louis XIV’s neck and had to be pushed the rest of the way manually. As far as death by carbon monoxide…not bad but it’s flammable, potentially explosive, and you need to run the car or something to produce it.
I would keep it simple. Drowning would be foolproof and fairly quick.
Mrs. L and I were actually looking for rat traps and found they sell some that work by electrocution. Here is a mouse variety.
Glad to hear you’re wearing eye protection. Shooting an eye out doesn’t just stay in the movies… I actually just picked up a fresh pair of Oakley Tombstones (recommended here). I got a few different colors. Surprisingly, I’ve found that I really like wearing the yellow lenses when driving. Something my dad used to do when we would drive long trips. It helps me out with eye fatigue as well.
Certainly not. And my prescription is fussy and expensive. For gawking at tropical fish, cheap “close enough” prescription goggles worked well, but for shooting I think I need my prescription.
Here’s the youtube channel of an English fellow whose specialty is taking out invasive American grey squirrels using an air rifle. They’re a huge pest in England, and he goes to various farms (by permission of the landowners), and skillfully reduces the populations. I also like to watch just to hear his voice, which is low and calm and soothing.
seriously … every creature has a right to live … learn to live with the creatures god has created … learn to find beauty in the burrows they create … learn to enjoy their chatter 'n scamper. and when the day comes one of them passes away … bury them at least a foot under top soil.
landscape your property with boulders and railroad ties … so the critters can find refuge and shelter. last of all … erect signs … saying "chipmunk path … watch your step". invariably … these will help you overcome your fear of god’s small creatures … and learn to live in harmony.
no cages … no nets … no poison … no projectiles. commune with nature.
I had a big chipmunk infestation this year. They were burrowing under my patio and into my cellar; when I saw one in the house I had to do something.
Live traps are a major pain; too time consuming. I don’t have a safe backstop for shooting.
It turns out there are no rodenticides labeled for chipmunks-- however, there are rodenticides labeled for ground squirrels and chipmunks are ground squirrels. Enter Ramik green, a widely available (Ace Hardware, Tractor Supply, etc.) rodenticide that my chipmunks are (were) fond of eating. On the third day I was seeing far fewer of them; after a week or so I was down to only seeing one occasionally instead of the herd I had been seeing in the yard.
Yes, it is poison. Yes, it will harm dogs and cats (and other living things), so get a bait station or some other way to keep it away from neighborhood pets. The chipmunks die in their burrows, so you won’t be finding dead ones in your yard.
BTW, the other brands of rat / mouse poison did not work – the chipmunks never touched it.
