The Invasion!

Hi all,

Hope we're all doing OK and everyone is keeping safe...

I was washing the dishes under orders from Camp Commandant the other evening, when I noticed the box hedge in front of the window start to shake ... Curious I looked at little harder and two bloody great rats, (the healthiest, glossy coated, fattest rats you ever did see) climb to the top and start eating the new growth.

This was one foot in front of me and to add insult to injury, I knocked on the window and it just looked at me ... And carried on eating!

I could have opened the window, grabbed the little **** and used him as plate scrubber!

Well, the line in the sand has been drawn and it's time to take up arms and fight the good fight....

Slight issue, I've plenty of firearms, but it dawned on me I don't have a single piece able to send these unauthorised Box hedge re-modelers to Ratty heaven....

Well, I do, but they 'might' be a tad of an overkill and raise the the pulses of the local residents!

So I have an urgent operational requirement for an air rifle, difficult to buy on lockdown, as the gunships are all closed here.

Luckily, my Father in Law has a pre charged .22, moderated AirArms Rifle I can (rather begrudgingly) 'borrow', he assures me it's no louder than a cat fart when fired .... So, there it is, I'll post a picture of the results my big game trophy hunt.

At least it's shooting of some sort guys......

Good Hunting! We will knight you Sir Rat-in-a-tor

Know any snake fanciers? Invite one over for tea? ;)

A few years ago I counted 30 tree rats "Grey squirrels" in my 30' by 100' backyard. I went Medieval on their fluffy tails with a Daisy 880. I'm not opposed to entering into hand to hand with a shovel. The opportunity just hasn't presented itself yet.

Mr Clark, that's bloody tremendous! Some happiness pills downrange is fantastic. Eliminating vermin is a bonus!

I've got a .177 break action air rifle. Bought it for dispensing the most hideous creatures that were given lungs - Cane Toads (Rhinella marina.) Toading is an obligation on all Queenslanders, as it was our stupid forebears that thought this vermin would eliminate cane beetle and save sugar cane crops. It was an ecological disaster beyond comprehension. So murdering toads is simply a given obligation to those with any sort of respect, decency and ecological concern. Plus its good therapy...

Am certainly looking forward to your 'Trophy Shots' of said rattus uninvitus.

Good hunting. :thup:

Cheers guys, the nest has been flooded out, as a precursor and I am hoping to start thinning the heard tomorrow.

Finally do some shooting of sorts!

Living on a sailboat in Ft. Lauderdale back in the 70's, I used to shoot the sewer rats that came out at dusk to raid the dumpsters with an old brake open pellet rifle. As they would poke their heads out of the drain pipes I would pop them in the head, in the water they would go, Fish food!:beerchug:

Bravo Mr. Clark!
I have my beloved Diana air rifle always at the ready.
No rats until now and, sincerely, I hope they'll never show up. But in case...
Good hunting sir! And have fun.

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Originally Posted by shadycon

Ft. Lauderdale back in the 70's, I used to shoot the sewer rats that came out at dusk to raid the dumpsters with an old brake open pellet rifle

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HA! I use to use an old Benjamin pump to dispatch Warff Rats on pier 39 in San Francisco in the 70's and 80's when I was night fishing. Help pass the time between checking the bait on my line. Note I did not say catching fish.

Attachment 107570

The US Marines had a similar problem over in the islands in WW2 . Little critters in the supply dumps over there . Couldn't use an M1 due to collateral damage and firefights between the units brought back from the front for shave , shower , hot meal , and a good night's sleep . They took a few M65 Reising .22 trainers , set back the front sight ( they are threaded on ) , added threads , and mounted Maxim suppressors . Problem solved . New problem …. how to keep the front liners from taking the rifles and ammo and hunt ' two-legged rats " ?
Chris

Fellow member DaveHH had some stories about how bad the rats were in and around their camp while he was in Vietnam. IIRC he said they were as big as cats!

USABAKER brought up fishing. I had a buddy who owned a pest control company with about 6 outlets. To hear him talk there wasn't anything 'Pest' related he didn't know! I invited him up to go night time Bass fishing at a State park. You'd have the lake all to yourself with 1/2 dozen islands to drift about. As we got near the 1st one I could hear the sounds from a Rat orgy. During the day people would picnic and stuff the trash cans full.
When he overcast and had to bump to shore to gather his lure...... I quickly lit the bank up with the spot light. Seeing the ground moving scared the hell out of him...... I heard him cry out like a young girl. Then he got to see how well rats swim and that when in numbers they are attracted to light. Swim right to our canoes and tried climbing the paddles.
Rats have a way of cutting a man down to his true height..... Or at the very least deflating a over blown ego in some cases.
I'll never forget the sound of his squeal............. :D

Mr Clark,
Carry on and enjoy the hunt. :thup:

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Originally Posted by emmagee1917

The US Marines had a similar problem over in the islands in WW2 . Little critters in the supply dumps over there .

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Pavuvu comes to mind, crabs and rats...and Marines. It was their R&R island after being in battle. No trips to Hawaii or London City or anything nice.

Clark..
Do you have a Terrier ?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0OuNmur9Yw

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Originally Posted by 22SqnRAE

Toading is an obligation on all Queenslanders....

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I visited Australia during school as part of a "student ambassador" program. We were all around 13 or so and at one point we went to a grade school in Queensland and met with some younger kids. Maybe around 8 years of age.

One little girl described a "typical" weekend involving "toading." My fellow ambassadors and I listened on with not a little horror as she described the process which she accomplished with the help of a golf club.

Fun country...I need to get back down there some day!

What does toading mean in this case?
I knew that word to define a very unpleasant man or some kind of sexual deviation...

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Originally Posted by Ovidio

What does toading mean in this case?

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Cane toads......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qm5xLiLXMA

I've started something here!

I've got the air rifle guys, unfortunately Charlie, no terrier!

That dog would be 'taking names' in my back garden, that's for sure!

I have what I believe to be an opossum known locally as a possum visiting my crawl space at between 1:30 and 3:30 AM on a regular basis and making his presence known with sounds like a yard rake against the floor. I think he wants in. I am going to try a trap before
I resort to the option that was under serious consideration last nite. 12 guage home defense rounds thru the floor. Sleep deprivation can lead to poor choices.

They are really smart.... or can be. I was trying to trap one river rat I named Rambo in the boat shed most of last summer/fall. Tried the big glue boards but he'd get off of it by squeezing between a couple deck boards. Tried a screened box trap but caught a skunk instead....... Thats why I build short box traps.
Seen Rambo out in the middle of the shed floor but before I could get off a shot he jumped straight thru a metal screened window...... 4' up the side wall.
So be careful looking out that screen! :lol:

Until I see signs of him again, now that we are ready for our first lawn mowing my time will be spent on that never ending battle vs ground moles.... :bash:

Good luck in your battle. I look forward to seeing your 'Game' pole.

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

I've got the air rifle guys, unfortunately Charlie, no terrier!

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Have you thought of the animal welfare lobby, "rats have rights too", before resorting to ultimate force?

I had a mouse greeting me outside my kitchen window today when I got home from work and it was't going anywhere. It looked to be saying "Hi-ya, how-ya-doing?"

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Originally Posted by Ovidio

What does toading mean in this case?

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Toading: to seek out, close with and kill the amphibian enemy (with great violence) seize their ground, repel attack by day and night, regardless of season, weather or terrain.

It's not lewd, deviant, or obscene. Just assistance with the application of Darwin's sound principles. ;)

Footnote: There is a touch of irony that an Anzac decedent is now using a Turkish made air rifle in the process. Attaturk was on the money about reconciliation.

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

Have you thought of the animal welfare lobby, "rats have rights too", before resorting to ultimate force?

I had a mouse greeting me outside my kitchen window today when I got home from work and it was't going anywhere. It looked to be saying "Hi-ya, how-ya-doing?"

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Well F10, to be fair, if I saw a single rat, passing through (let's face it they are everywhere these days) I would leave it be.

Until recently, we had lovely (and now rare) field voles and shrews in the garden, with their tiny holes in the borders.

They disappeared last year, the reason has become clear unfortunately....

To top it off, until yesterday I had a resident wood pigeon nesting right next to my backdoor, I left her be as she was nesting. Well, she's gone this morning, her nest half destroyed and bits off egg shell on the deck ... Let's guess who the culprits are!

Let's add to the scales of justice, disease, I'm forgetful enough these days without the risk of contracting viles disease every time I work in the garden..

Reaching out and giving them good news with my father in laws Air Arms S400 (an absolute tack driver might I add) is also 'far' more humane than a slow death through poison.

And ....finally F10, I get to shoot for the first time in five months....

Killing rats along the berm at night we used the M79. The buckshot round was relatively puny and popping off the cap, dumping the pellets the plastic sabot would kill them just as well.

This is a cross section of buckshot loading. The actual payload is relatively small and is contained within a central cushioned cup and is closed by a snap fit cap. The sabot cup has a rear facing post for support and has 6 hollow cavities around the exterior perimeter to both lighten and cause drag assist in payload separation. Since the M79 is rifled the spinning plastic made a noticeable whistling sound when fired that a grenade did not. The spin also opened up the pattern considerably. At 15 meters it was already a couple of feet in diameter At that distance the pellets would only dent a .50 caliber ammo can, not penetrate it.


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mo09sepa-1.jpg

This makes me recall the great Yuma toad hunt back when I was young and stupid . One of my friend's farm over on the California side of the Rio Colorado ( but still in Arizona ) got overrun by 1,000s of toads . Poor guy could not get any sleep due to the nightly ruckus . About 20 of us went over there one night and split into 2 to 3 man teams and separated out all over his farm . Several hours and cases upon cases of ammo later there was nary a croak to be heard . A 12 ga fired from a couple of feet / yards is VERY effective . We couldn't recover enough to get a body count . They never returned .
I still marvel that not a single LE from any organization showed up .
Chhris

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Originally Posted by emmagee1917

This makes me recall the great Yuma toad hunt back when I was young and stupid . One of my friend's farm over on the California side of the Rio Colorado ( but still in Arizona ) got overrun by 1,000s of toads . Poor guy could not get any sleep due to the nightly ruckus . About 20 of us went over there one night and split into 2 to 3 man teams and separated out all over his farm . Several hours and cases upon cases of ammo later there was nary a croak to be heard . A 12 ga fired from a couple of feet / yards is VERY effective . We couldn't recover enough to get a body count . They never returned .
I still marvel that not a single LE from any organization showed up .
Chhris

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BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

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Originally Posted by old tanker

Killing rats along the berm at night we used the M79. The buckshot round was relatively puny and popping off the cap, dumping the pellets the plastic sabot would kill them just as well.

This is a cross section of buckshot loading. The actual payload is relatively small and is contained within a central cushioned cup and is closed by a snap fit cap. The sabot cup has a rear facing post for support and has 6 hollow cavities around the exterior perimeter to both lighten and cause drag assist in payload separation. Since the M79 is rifled the spinning plastic made a noticeable whistling sound when fired that a grenade did not. The spin also opened up the pattern considerably. At 15 meters it was already a couple of feet in diameter At that distance the pellets would only dent a .50 caliber ammo can, not penetrate it.


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mo09sepa-1.jpg

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I saw M79 and had picture in my mind's eye of using a Blooper on the rats ... That would definitely upset the neighbours!

Two hours 'on duty' today, no takers for my game of pass the pellet, as it's been raining most of the day....

I'll be back.....

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Originally Posted by emmagee1917

Several hours and cases upon cases of ammo

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by emmagee1917

I still marvel that not a single LE from any organization showed up .

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Chris
That sounds like opening day of deer season here on state land. Where the city boys are still trying to figure out how to load their new guns in the dark..... Seriously!
Back to your ordeal..... Would you wander in to that fire fight at night?
Any LE prolly thought there was a Cartel war going on! :surrender:
Maybe thinking..... Let em kill each other off.

Clark,
I forgot about a guy I know that uses a blow gun. While fishing from the banks I've seen him get his share of squirrels.
Check these out, will shoot up to 350 fps. Just pick out the caliber you like..... some double as a walking stick.
Cabela's Online Store - Quality Hunting, Fishing, Camping and Outdoor Gear

Next up a home made Claymore, that with some added thought could be made more deadly.
Line up about 6 of these and pull when ready.
Wish I could share in some of the fun with you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns2yUW1C86Q

Lastly if you want to make the vermin your neighbors problem, (like I used to do with the dog crap) you could try this method below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNltR4iCRCA

Sorry if I've got carried away...... I seem to be suffering from some type of pandemic cabin fever. :ugh:

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Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY

I have what I believe to be an opossum

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Foul flea and mite infested creatures. Defiantly can't let that go on for long.

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Two hours 'on duty' today, no takers for my game of pass the pellet, as it's been raining most of the day....

I'll be back.....

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Onya Clarkie, never give in! :thup: It's the thrill of the chase, or the patience to win in the end that makes it all that more therapeutic...

And as for the Greenies, you've made a great argument of ecological rebalance.

I had to laugh, I haven't fired an air rifle in 25 years or more and when I did my zeroing I was shocked at the lack of ... Well anything really, ok it's silenced, but blimey it's bloody gutless, good enough for close range rats, but I wouldn't shoot anything else with it beyond 25 yds.

I'm minded to to make a custom ratter during lockdown. I have an old HW80 ( used to be sold under the Beeman brand in the US I believe), break barrel Springer I've had for donkeys years, it's was given to me broken by an old friend.

They have the tuning potential to top 24 foot pound energy, now add a .25 barrel and it will be a halfway capable back yard vermin basher....
I just need an extra slot on my FAC to do it,that might be a problem at the moment.....

Clark,
See the graph below........ this is just 1.
Tick Tock..... Tick Tock.....

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cyclepng-1.jpg

These are choices. The CB long is quieter than many air rifles. They will cycle a Remington 550-1. Deadly accurate at rangers under 20 meters

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...nosesubs-1.jpg

These are louder than the CB longs but considerably quieter than a standard long rifle. The 40 grain bullet has more wallop than the 29 grain in the CB long

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...linking5-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by painter777

Clark,
See the graph below........ this is just 1.
Tick Tock..... Tick Tock.....

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cyclepng-1.jpg

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Well, looks like I need to start taking names Charlie!

---------- Post added at 08:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:41 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by old tanker

These are choices. The CB long is quieter than many air rifles. They will cycle a Remington 550-1. Deadly accurate at rangers under 20 meters

https://cdn.shoplightspeed.com/shops...nose-sub-s.jpg

These are louder than the CB longs but considerably quieter than a standard long rifle. The 40 grain bullet has more wallop than the 29 grain in the CB long

https://cdn.shoplightspeed.com/shops...linking-50.jpg

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Firearms are out unfortunately, too built up. I would happily be ripping away with my .22 AR build otherwise...

Clark,
A few of us once made our own blow guns using electric conduit pipe. For darts we'd cut off the plastic ends of caulk tubes. Would trim the end down until it just fit inside the pipe and try different size finish nails pushed inside and out toward the front end. Using a bore brush, we'd buff the inside of the pipe, lightly oil patch it and be on your way. Front sights can be as easy as a glued on bead.
This was long before I'd ever seen a blowgun offered at a store.
We'd have matches shooting at a dart board.
When in season and being drunk we'd take turns shooting off the Christmas bulbs from the Xmas tree. Knowing we shouldn't be doing so.......... but laughing too hard to stop. :rofl:

A .458 Socom propelling a 500 grain bullet out of an 8-inch 1:10 twist barrel at 1050 fps through a suppressor will sound just like a car door closing ( a very familiar , everyday noise ) and is very effective on vermin up to and including buffalo .
Chris

Chris..
He's shooting out or near his window sill :yikes:

Evening all, 15 yards sighted onto the main entrance to the nest.

I had to move a few things about to get a good line of fire and a clear killing ground. They may be rats, but I won't take a shot unless it's a clean kill.

Anyhow, once they got used to things being moved about (they don't like change it would seem), I took out three very large rats, with a mix of beef fat and cheese as bait.

Me 3 rats 0 so far, unless they have given me viles disease, in which case, they may well have the last laugh!

I need to up the kill count to make a difference though!

---------- Post added at 12:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:36 AM ----------

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Originally Posted by emmagee1917

A .458 Socom propelling a 500 grain bullet out of an 8-inch 1:10 twist barrel at 1050 fps through a suppressor will sound just like a car door closing ( a very familiar , everyday noise ) and is very effective on vermin up to and including buffalo .
Chris

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Sounds like a great toy! I watched a YouTube video of a select fire .25 PCP that destroyed cinder blocks, now that's a blow gun with teeth!

It would never be legal in the UK and I'm not sure what real use full auto is, but it must put a smile on your face and be a hell of a lot cheaper to feed than a bang gun on full automatic....

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Me 3 rats 0 so far, unless they have given me viles disease, in which case, they may well have the last laugh!

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Probably a good idea to mount their heads on tiny stakes as a warning to the others. :lol:

this is one of them times you need a miniature mine field.

Great news, Clarkie! Well done. :thup:

Here's some inspiration for others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lYxrPPE2Mk

Hi all,

Well the score so far is 16. Camp Commandant has got tied of my three hides in the garden and didn't take to my idea of building a sandbag Sanger on the kitchen roof to get out of the way....

A rat cage is arriving on Monday, I did point out it wasn't terribly sporting, but apparently, the 'idea' isn't to make it last and give me a lockdown occupation, but to eradicate the rats ... Some mission creep might have occurred, I must admit!

:lol::lol::lol:

The camp Commandant always ruins the fun.

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Hi all,

Well the score so far is 16. Camp Commandant has got tied of my three hides in the garden and didn't take to my idea of building a sandbag Sanger on the kitchen roof to get out of the way....

A rat cage is arriving on Monday, I did point out it wasn't terribly sporting, but apparently, the 'idea' isn't to make it last and give me a lockdown occupation, but to eradicate the rats ... Some mission creep might have occurred, I must admit!

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:rofl::lol:

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Well the score so far is 16... Some mission creep might have occurred...

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1. Excellent, a start. Don't stop until you've reached beyond your beliefs.

2. Disagree entirely. You were simply developing the Execution Plan as you became aware of new facts, data and limitations and responding with mitigating action as required.

Don't let the rats win (or your marksmanship skills decline!)

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

score so far is 16

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Clarky,
Lord :madsmile: we've created a blood thirsty killer.

You've gone all Sgt York on the rats. It was York in WWI that took a german machine gun nest, killed at least 25 and captured 132.

But those rats may just be circling the wagons while awaiting their reserve troops!

And now your rules of engagement have flip flopped on you......
May I suggest 'Chemical Warfare' ?

I've been told:
Ammonia acts as a poison to mice and rats. All you need to do is mix 2 to 2-1/2 cups of ammonia, 100 – 200 mL of water and a 2-3 spoonful of detergent in a bowl. The smell of ammonia is very pungent/caustic that it instantly kills rats. It kills the rats as soon as it gets in contact with their lungs.

You can pour some in the holes... and/or soak some cotton balls and drop those in. Set a rock on any hole after treating it. Pick the escape hole you want to use your trap on, don't treat that hole with this solution. They'll try to escape this route if they can out run the fumes. Be sure to set cage trap first, then quickly treat/cover the holes.

As a side note........ Any chance your neighbors have seen your antics?
Any lewd laughing and joyous dancing after a kill?
Yeah...... I'd try to keep that on the low low. You know how people get to talking. They might start thinking you've picked up some alternate virus........... :rofl:

Good Luck Killer :bow:

Hi Charlie,

You certainly put a lot of thought into various weapon systems!

Chemical weapons ... Hmmm, to be fair, they use biological weapons!

Joking aside,

I've been extremely quiet in my activities and only taken clean shots, as we all know how people faint at the prospect of any barreled weapon being used, even a puff gun used totally safely by someone with years of Firearms experience.

I have to say I was a 'might' ****ed off last night. While putting in an evening shift on the front line, I observed a large rat making his way across the lawn, he stopped, fell on his side and started thrashing about in obvious pain...

I quickly dispatched him, found two more this morning in various stages of death..

Yep, somones put out poison and I'm bloody annoyed!

I quite understand the need for poison in some places (public buildings, hospitals, farms), but, if necessary, it should only be used in conjunction with one way bait traps.

It's a horrible way to kill, slow and cruel and it indiscriminately kills wildlife and domestic cats, dogs etc...

They might be rats, but I can't abide that sort of unnecessary suffering.

I'll wager the sort of people who would be horrified at me shooting them, will put out posion without any thoughts to the inflicted lingering death on any poor animal that happens upon it.

So, when the cage arrives, I shall catch and dispatch...