I Got It I Got It It!!!

[jhm47]

Just put the next one in a large garbage bag, seal it up, and leave it overnight. It will go to sleep and not wake up. No water, no gunshots, no suffering.

 

[Zahboo]

Did they drown it? Didn't catch the outcome.. I don't think drowning is the best way. If you can't kill it, call AC. I've shot one before and it's no fun to know you just killed something, it just has to be done to protect your flock.

 

[mamaKate]

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Wouldn't the critter reach out of the cage and shred the bag?

 

[toredano]

You did what you had to do..

Least you didnt dump it onto someone else as people sometimes do.

And to suggest you need to watch it die .. thats really not a good idea. Trust me.. if you allready feel bad that you needed to do this.. dont stand there and watch it die. Its not pretty.
Burying it is plenty good.. least you didnt just wound it and it ran off dying a slower death.

Think of it this way. It might have carried rabies or other disease and it could have bitten you.. or your dog or cat or whatnot..Would you still feel bad if you had to get some long drawn out painful treatment?


It is what it is... we are still apex around here and raccons are certainly lower than we are.

 

[citrusdreams]

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You did very well to protect your chickens. If you don't have a gun, submerge the whole thing in water, make sure it's all submerged and walk away. Come back in a half hour. There is no need to traumatize yourself over what happens when you're gone. It's unnecessary and it's not going to bring comfort to anyone, nor will it make up for the dispatching, or even return the raccoon. There have been a few suggestions as to handling the cage itself and it's good advice. You don't want to touch it's saliva, and you don't want it scratching you.

Getting rid of predators is part of the deal. At least you're not trying to relocate it, or irresponsibly putting your hands on a gun that you don't have experience with. Without the gun (which is the most humane), drowning is the next best thing. Don't think twice about it. Letting it out of it's trap just releases a raccoon who will be difficult to catch later.

 

[River Lizard]

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Yeap.......so remember to always do Catch and Release when you're fishing OR keep your fish you catch in a livewell until you clean them.

Then you won't have to think drowning isn't a slow death.

 

[Zahboo]

On the fish thing, they are being eaten, not just wasted to be buried in a whole. It's what pringle had to do for his/her flock, but the predator still has a heartbeat and should go out with dignity.

 

[citrusdreams]

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I agree with dispatching animals with dignity, whether they're being eaten or not, but there is only so much one can do. Not only is it a fact that not everyone has guns, but some ordinances forbid it. It's also a fact that animal control doesn't service every area (like mine). When you have ordinances or other things preventing you from doing something quickly and easier, drowning predators is a practical option. It's a very common option that many people utilize in the absence of better options.

No, it's not pleasant, but we all have to do things that are not pleasant once in a while.

 

[allison finch]

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Actually, drowning isn't as bad as most think. I speak from personal experience. As a child, I nearly drowned. I passed out and was moments from death. I remember it as extremely peaceful. I read a study done on near drowning victims and many of them recounted the same experience. I have the clear picture of trying to swim to the surface and marveling over the blue, slow motion almost musical sight above.

I just thought you might be interested in this experience.

 

[awtandrocks]

Way to go Pringle.
As a 10-11-12 yr old before I was allowed to use a .22 this was my method for dispatching of pests from my critter patrol and I'm not scarred from it

Possum, Squirrels, Coons, Moles, etc It's probably even better than a gun because you don't ever have a thrashing bleeding animal if the shot isn't placed just right.