Posted by:
amarilrose
at Tue Nov 14 18:35:03 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by amarilrose ]
While I have not ever used CO2 gas to kill rodents, if that method is cost-effective for you, go for it.
I don't use CO2 because the current low-volume of rodent killing that I do just doesn't justify its use or expense (no matter how cheap). I can add however, that I am a college student majoring in Animal Science, and actually asked my Meat Science professor about the safety of using CO2 to kill animals intended for consumption (because I was biased, and was concerned that animals killed this way might be mildly toxic when consumed) - he told me that CO2 actually used to be used for cattle and swine for human consumption (so MANY studies have been done on how safe this is)... that it is perfectly safe, but also that no animals are killed this way anymore for human consumption because the big processing plants just couldn't get enough efficiency out of that killing method.
For my own low-volume killing of rodents, I use leather gloves, a paper towel, and a screwdriver; I think a phillip's-head or torx head is best because they don't have a tip that can snag the floor, unlike some larger flat-head screwdrivers. I prefer using a screwdriver that has a shank around 4" or more. The leather gloves are for me - mice and especially older rats can be mean. I spread the paper towel on any appropriate spot on the floor (in the middle of an open space, and away from any carpet so I have a chance to grab the mouse/rat again if it should get away), hold the rodent by the base of the tail (closest to its butt), pin it down with the shank of the screwdriver held just behind the head, and give a quick jerk to the tail. This is that "rapid separation of the vertebrae at the neck just below the base of the skull." There is no blood to worry about. The paper towel is for the urine and/or feces that are almost inevitably released by the animal as it expires. The animal will still twitch for a little while (but not long) if that is something your snake needs to see. I have been killing rodents in this way for the past 15 years or so, and feel much more confident that this is humane than any of the spoon/credit card/etc. methods, and definitely happier with this than with "whacking" them.
Good luck, and I'm sorry that I am not so quick at explaining this.
~Rebecca
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0.1 Dumeril's Boa '04 (Courtney)
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)
1.2 Ball Pythons
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Clean and quick, and other than CO2 - amarilrose, Tue Nov 14 18:35:03 2006
