# What animals can I kill? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 1, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539 "2009-07-01T01:33:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/21 "2009-07-01T15:43:57Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > IANAL so I won’t touch option 1, and as far as option 2: Personally, I don’t have a problem with any death so long as it’s quick and painless. Everything dies. That pig that provided the bacon for my BLT wasn’t immortal - it was going to go, one way or the other, eventually. But we are morally and ethically obligated not to force that pig to live in squalor and misery in the meantime, and if we ARE going to kill it, to provide a swift and humane death. Agree with the two angles to this question. For #2 I think you need to think twice before killing something that very well may someone else’s pet or property (dog, cat, horse, etc.). Perhaps the neighbors would never know what happened to Fido but then again they might find out. In the interests of being neighborly and a decent human being I think one should try to return the animal to its owner instead of blowing it away. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/22 "2009-07-01T16:05:45Z")
You can gun down a gopher. Smoke a salmon. Plug a platypus. But I draw the line at whacking a mole. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/23 "2009-07-01T16:18:01Z")
Human is the most dangerous prey, but they can look like feral cats from a distance, in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/24 "2009-07-01T16:25:35Z")
In the UK I am pretty sure that any animal that is not endagered can be legally hunted on your property. Its certainly the case that farmers have every right to shoot dogs that are on their property (“worryin’ their sheep”). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/25 "2009-07-01T18:42:24Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > In the UK I am pretty sure that any animal that is not endagered can be legally hunted on your property. Including homo sapiens? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/26 "2009-07-01T19:15:11Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You can gun down a gopher. Smoke a salmon. Plug a platypus. But I draw the line at whacking a mole. Or choking a chicken ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/27 "2009-07-01T19:18:53Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] You can gun down a gopher. Smoke a salmon. Plug a platypus. But I draw the line at whacking a mole. [/QUOTE] Murdering a muskrat…? -XT ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/28 "2009-07-01T19:24:53Z")
The reason many would look down on killing a cat or dog on your property is that there’s a decent chance that it might just be someone’s valued pet that got out. And of course, some animals you’re not allowed to kill because they’re endangered. Beyond that, though, I don’t see any objection. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/29 "2009-07-01T19:35:21Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The reason many would look down on killing a cat or dog on your property is that there’s a decent chance that it might just be someone’s valued pet that got out. And of course, some animals you’re not allowed to kill because they’re endangered. Beyond that, though, I don’t see any objection. Yeah IMO whatever the legalities of it. It does not seem cool killing someones pet for the hell of it. If its attacking livestock then its necessary of course, and completely the fault of the owner. But killing someone’s pet because you don’t like them being on your property is not acceptable IMO. Plenty of farmers encourage cats to control pests (that is pretty much the reason domesticated cats exist). A friend from a rural bit of Ireland was a bit put out when she first saw cats in the house, to her they were semi-wild animals that were kept around to to kill vermin, and occasionally given a pail of milk. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/30 "2009-07-01T19:39:29Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Including homo sapiens? Nahh I think you have to move to Florida for that 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/31 "2009-07-01T23:55:23Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You know, you go around talking about how your neighbors have rifle ranges in their back yards, you’re gonna spread the image of Texans as being wild-eyed, gun-crazed peckerwoods. May be all very well in a cultural sinkhole like Paris, but in the sophisticated salons of Waco (The Athens on the Brazos), they yearn for a less explosive esthetic… No disrespect, but Waco has had its share of infamous gunmen. 😃 SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/32 "2009-07-02T00:06:19Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Nahh I think you have to move to Florida for that 🙂 This rule only applies to French-Canadians. Or whatever the Frenchified spelling is. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/33 "2009-07-02T00:13:49Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You know, you go around talking about how your neighbors have rifle ranges in their back yards, you’re gonna spread the image of Texans as being wild-eyed, gun-crazed peckerwoods. May be all very well in a cultural sinkhole like Paris, but in the sophisticated salons of Waco (The Athens on the Brazos), they yearn for a less explosive esthetic.\ I attended Highland Park High School with a kid whose father had a rifle range in the attic of their GREAT BIG OLD HOUSE/MANSION. It was limited to 22 caliber only, but it wasn’t out in their back yard. Waco is sophisticated now? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/34 "2009-07-02T01:16:04Z")
I think the list of animals that you can kill at will on your own property is way longer than those that you can’t. You shouldn’t kill other people’s pets as a general rule and you can get into trouble for killing species that have a formal hunting season but most other animals are open other than endangered species. This varies by state and federal laws of course. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/35 "2009-07-02T01:31:10Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > …Waco is sophisticated now? Excuse me? The thriving metropolis that Molly Ivins once called “the Vatican of the Baptists”? Site of Baylor University, home of the feared and dreaded Baylor Bears? “Athens on the Brazos”? OK, so it got famous for one raving asshole. But Crawford is actually quite a ways from Waco. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/36 "2009-07-02T03:44:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Excuse me? The thriving metropolis that Molly Ivins once called “the Vatican of the Baptists”? Site of Baylor University, home of the feared and dreaded Baylor Bears? “Athens on the Brazos”? > > OK, so it got famous for one raving asshole. But Crawford is actually quite a ways from Waco. My sister attended Baylor Baptist University for one whole year; she met her future husband there, while waiting at a bus stop for fate to send her a budding air force pilot driving a red 1951 Ford convertible. At least that’s the way she tells it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/37 "2009-07-02T04:16:53Z")
A bus stop, eh? So she was in with the “fast” crowd at Baylor? Well, nothing wrong with any of that, so long as it doesn’t lead to dancing. ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/38 "2009-07-02T08:31:39Z")
> [@ghardester](#): > > Starlings are not protected. They are an invasive species and you can shoot as many as you want. That’s pretty harsh. It brings up an interesting side point though (interesting to me anyway): would it be legal to keep a pet starling? Assuming, of course, the starling’s potential to become a happy and human-friendly companion, and the feazibility of caring for one in a regular home environment.. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/39 "2009-07-02T14:30:58Z")
Hijack > [@DLuxN8R-13](#): > > … It brings up an interesting side point though (interesting to me anyway): would it be legal to keep a pet starling? Assuming, of course, the starling’s potential to become a happy and human-friendly companion, and the feazibility of caring for one in a regular home environment.. My WAG is that the starling would not be all that happy and human-friendly. They’re incredibly gregarious birds. Around here, there are times of the year when starlings (by themselves or in a mixed flock with grackles) will absolutely take over the parking lots of very particular strip malls. Always the same one every year. Thousands of them, screeching and warbling and twittering in the sad little parking lot trees. I’ve watched giant flocks of starlings wheeling in perfect unison over fields … it made me think I was seeing a vague echo of passenger pigeons. I know parrots and other gregarious birds see their humans as a substitute for a flock, but I don’t know if that would translate to starlings. At the very least, they’d require a lot of your time and attention, just like a parrot. /Hijack We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming: debating the killing of puppies and kittens. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539/40 "2009-07-02T18:13:42Z")
> [@ghardester](#): > > You are right. Except Starlings are not protected. They are an invasive species and you can shoot as many as you want. However, they are smart and learn quickly, so you can’t get many. House sparrows aren’t protected either. > [@](#): > > House sparrows and starlings are the only birds that are not protected by either federal or state law. However, federal regulations provide for the control of black birds under a depredation order. For complete regulations, see 50 CFR,Part 20.43. From [the Oklahoma Hunting Regulations.](http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/regs/2008huntregs.pdf) PDF. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-i-kill/501539.md?page=3)