Ideas for how to kill a trapped groundhog

[fisharmor]

Had to do one in for a neighbor today who had it in a live trap.
Before I go further: we are in the suburbs, it has been the suburbs for over 60 years, none of the neighbors want them setting up shop in their yards, they have done serious damage to one of the houses in the neighborhood, and letting them live is simply not an option, so I don't want to hear it.

My neighbor is using live traps on them. This is primarily because her husband doesn't want to know they're getting offed. So we periodically have live groundhogs in traps that we need to dispose of discreetly.

Today I did what I've done for rabbits I was about to eat - 5lb sledge to the head. But groundhogs are apparently a lot tougher than rabbits and he took his sweet time dying. We also had to swing at it in the cage repeatedly to get it disabled so I could get a hold of its neck without losing a finger.

I don't exactly like doing or watching that, so I'm wondering if anyone knows a quicker way.

Firearms are out. Too populated, too likely we'll get visited. Suppressors are legal in VA with class 3 tax and paperwork, but if I end up having to deal with getting a can just so they don't have to suffer... well, congratulations federal government, now you're making animals suffer.

Be nice if we could get ahold of whatever animal control uses... watched them put down a racoon down the road with something in a needle a couple years ago and it took all of 5 seconds.

[Cowlesy]

Throw it in your car and drive it outside the city limits?

[forsmant]

I agree with Cowlesy. That is what i did with two raccoons i caught. Transported them to another part of the city. NO need to kill the animals.

[fisharmor]

Yeah... can anyone who values vermin (that breed explosively and ruin property and food) at less than $20 in gas weigh in maybe?

[specsaregood]

Throw it in your car and drive it outside the city limits?

nope, groundhog -- it's what's for dinner....

[Bruno]

If there are farmers outside your city limits, they probably don't want more of them, either. Have you asked your local animal control? Drowning in the cage may be an option also, though I don't know how humane that is.

[Cowlesy]

Yeah... can anyone who values vermin (that breed explosively and ruin property and food) at less than $20 in gas weigh in maybe?

Call the waaaahhmbulance!

[angelatc]

Seems like a sturdy plastic bag and some sort of gas would put the animal to sleep....hook it up to your tailpipe.

[Brian4Liberty]

Ideas for how to kill a trapped groundhog

Tell Obama it's a terrist. He'll send a Predator drone...

[squarepusher]

well, if you do want to kill it, you could do drowning. I'm sure there are some other live options also to not kill it.

[MelissaWV]

You could poison the poor thing, I guess, but that can be pretty nasty.

I'm not sure why you have to kill it, and if you're asking what animal control uses but then complaining about the cost of gas to get rid of it, that seems a little strange. When I have wild creatures I don't want to handle, I call the university's wild animal vet center first, then I call animal control, and then (believe it or not, animal control does not always come) I start scouting private critter-handling companies. The university takes in all kinds of little wild animals and nurses them to health, then has a small "zoo" of local wildlife that school kids visit.

Or, you know, you could drown it

[Brian4Liberty]

Baseball bat? Apparently you don't have to really kill it that way. It might die somewhere in the skinning process. She must be a Kosher butcher.

(Warning - Do not view if you are an animals rights activist or are squeamish about the butchering process.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3gvHWf7ldY

[Deborah K]

First of all, tell that woman her husband's a puss. j/k. Get a spring loaded pellet gun - 1000ft per sec or more. We live in the country, no patience or sympathy for vermin.

[Brian4Liberty]

if you're asking what animal control uses

Most widely used method is a (vacuum) chamber where the air is pumped out.

[MelissaWV]

Most widely used method is a (vacuum) chamber where the air is pumped out.

Yep. Pretty sure that this is more than $20 unless you're going to rig one up at home, which would be simple but not 100% reliable

[Southron]

First of all, tell that woman her husband's a puss. j/k. Get a spring loaded pellet gun - 1000ft per sec or more. We live in the country, no patience or sympathy for vermin.

I agree with the pellet gun. We've got beavers and they destroy trees like crazy, although we are several miles out of the nearest town.

[Brian4Liberty]

Yep. Pretty sure that this is more than $20 unless you're going to rig one up at home, which would be simple but not 100% reliable

Once he has it set-up, he can start his own business!

"Fisharmor's Somewhat-Humane-Kill Varmint Control"

[steve005]

just put up barriers, or get a cat, or dog. animals are very valuable to have around, they can alert you to earthquakes coming. and can be food in a shtf senerio, we need to learn to live with nature or else we're just as bad as those who are in power now, and our problems wont go away

[Deborah K]

I agree with the pellet gun. We've got beavers and they destroy trees like crazy, although we are several miles out of the nearest town.

It's really the most humane way to kill them cuz it's instant.

[zerosdontcount]

Drowning it? Hitting it with a hammer? Are you guys serious. You can't think of any more humane ways? one .22 to the head seems like the most humane or not killing it at all and letting it go far away from the suburb.

[Deborah K]

Drowning it? Hitting it with a hammer? Are you guys serious. You can't think of any more humane ways? one .22 to the head seems like the most humane or not killing it at all and letting it go far away from the suburb.

The dude is in the city though. A .22 will be heard.

[Expatriate]

Air gun. Something in .22 and/or over 1000 fps. Quiet and kills groundhogs/rabbits just fine.

http://www.pyramydair.com/ Go here and find cheap ones that have good reviews. Then go to your local store and see if they carry any of them.

[pcosmar]

One word.
Dachshund
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachshund
It's what they're for.

I have a mixed mutt that seems to have some Dachshund in her.
She keeps the place clear of burrowing critters.

[OrigSEOH]

I took out a Groundhog the other day with a Gamo Whisper .177, it wasn't my rifle but I've been using it to defend the sweet corn from Racoons at night, and well Opossums. It seems we are over run with varmints. I'm going to buy one soon, but I think I'm going to get a model that is .22 cal. Here is the web site, their video section is pretty cool, they hunt for hogs in a couple of them.

http://www.gamousa.com/videos.aspx

[angelatc]

I start scouting private critter-handling companies. (

He runs a private critter-handling company, I think. If not, somebody on these boards does. That's who we should be asking.

[angelatc]

Most widely used method is a (vacuum) chamber where the air is pumped out.

Alright then - my plastic bag idea wasn't too far off. Just hook the bag up to a shop vac.

[Anti Federalist]

Alright then - my plastic bag idea wasn't too far off. Just hook the bag up to a shop vac.

RPF member IcyMudPuppy has a critter control business.

No firearms?

A pair of heavy gloves and wring the critter's neck.

Easy, Peasy, Japeneasy.

[raystone]

It's really the most humane way to kill them cuz it's instant.

My first thought was air rifle, too. Not necessarily instant, however. Need to have the right ammo type, and kill spot.

If they are jumping around in a live cage, it's sometimes more difficult than shooting them 50 yards out unexpected.

[KCIndy]

Just do the humane thing, like I do.

Take it to the local golf course and release it. I've discovered that 3-4 a.m. works best; no one is around to ask stupid questions.

[specsaregood]

Just do the humane thing, like I do.
Take it to the local golf course and release it. I've discovered that 3-4 a.m. works best; no one is around to ask stupid questions.

You have given out too much Reputation in the last 24 hours, try again later.

Best advice so far.