Humanely Kill a Rodent

A rodent infestation at home can be a nuisance at best and a health hazard at worst. Killing a rodent can never be entirely humane, but you can take steps to cause as little suffering as possible. There are pertinent questions about legality, so you should check the law in your country or state before proceeding. Definitions of humane and cruel can vary, but there are some general principles to keep in mind. If you have a live rodent to dispose of, consider these humane options. These home methods are always less advisable than taking the animal to your local vet who has the training and experience that you don't.

Steps

Using Asphyxiation by CO2

1. Read up on the method. Asphyxiation by CO2 is the only method approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association which uses common household materials. These guidelines are meant for vets not ordinary people, so think about whether you are qualified to carry this out without causing undue pain and suffering for the rodent.
   • It is not easy or straight-forward, but when done well it is the most humane.
   • As a rule, it is best to take the rodent to your vet.
2. Before you start, prepare your materials. This method involves mixing baking soda with white vinegar to create the gas that will asphyxiate the rodent. As well as the vinegar and baking soda, you will need to prepare a sealable plastic container, a sealable plastic bag, a hose to connect the two, and a separate container to mix the vinegar and baking soda, such as a glass or jug.
   • Fasteners, ties and clothes will be needed to secure the different containers.
   • The plastic container is the euthanasia chamber for the rodent
   • The plastic bag is the CO2 chamber where the gas is produced.
3. Prepare the CO2 chamber. Put the baking soda into the bottom of the bag, and then place the separate container with the vinegar into the bag, without spilling it. When you combine the baking soda and vinegar later, the reaction produces the gas carbon dioxide (CO2), which the rodent can't breathe.
   • The ratio of vinegar to baking soda will vary by the size of the container you are using.
   • Getting the correct concentration of CO2 is key to its humaneness. You want to create a 30%-40% concentration of CO2 in the euthanasia container to cause the rodent to lose consciousness.
4. Prepare the euthanasia chamber. Taking care when you handle the rodent, place it into the airtight plastic container. Tupperware containers work well. Adding some nesting material can make it a little more comfortable and perhaps put the rodent somewhat more at ease.
5. Connect the two with the hose. Affix the hose to the top of the bag, and secure it with a rubber band or tie and then put the other end in the plastic container with the rodent. Use a cloth or towel to block of the area around where the hose enters the container to make it airtight.
6. Slowly pour the vinegar over the baking soda. Once it is all secured you should begin carefully pouring the white vinegar over the baking soda, to create the CO2 which will then travel through the short hose to the plastic container. Pour around half of the vinegar, and then observe the rodent. The rodent should quickly pass out and die. Once it becomes unresponsive, pour the rest of vinegar over.
   • Carbon dioxide exposure that uses a gradual fill method like this is less likely to cause pain.

Killing it with Blunt Force Trauma to the Head

Warning! If you are unsure whether or not you will kill the rodent with one hit, seriously consider using another method

1. Know your goal. The aim of this method is to destroy the rodent's brain with one swift, powerful blow to the head from a hammer or other blunt striking object. This can be very daunting and/or emotionally taxing. If you doubt whether you can kill the rodent in one blow, seriously consider other options. There is risk of causing much more pain and distress if you carry this out badly.
2. Know what not to do. Some colloquial methods, like putting the rodent in a bag and smashing it against a wall or stomping it haphazardly are not humane. They can result in a painful and protracted death for the rodent.
3. If you proceed, ensure that the rodent cannot move. You also want to be sure you have a clear shot when you strike. One useful method is to confine the rodent in one corner of a sturdy sack or bag before striking.
   • The humaneness of this technique depends on force and accuracy.

Using Spring Traps

1. Get some sturdy and re-usable spring traps. Spring (or snap) traps are still considered to be the more humane of the various traps you can get. Much more so than a glue trap, for example. Spring traps still cause pain to rodents caught in them, but they should kill the rodent very quickly. When designed and set-up when these traps make a quick death more likely.
2. Set-up a traditional spring trap. To set-up a trap like this, place bait within the specified area, ensuring that the rest of the trap is clean. Doing this will make it more likely that, when tripped, the trap will close fully and the rodent will be killed rather than injured. Then, place the trap at right angles to a wall with the bait nearest the wall.
   • The rodent should have a clear path to the trap.
   • The bait should be changed regularly.
3. Check it regularly. You should check the traps every morning, and be prepared to dispose of any dead rodents straight-away. Carefully remove them from the trap, place in a plastic bag, and then place that bag in a second bag, and throw it away into a secured bin. Always use gloves when you are doing this, and you can use a household disinfectant to clean the trap.
   • If you find a rodent, injured but alive, you should kill it as quickly and humanely as possible.

Firing a Projectile

Warning! This should only be carried out by someone skilled with firearms, and even then the chances of a shot that instantly kills a rodent is small.

1. Use a small-calibre, low power gun or air rifle. More powerful guns carry the risk of ricocheting or shooting through the rodent. They may also spread biological material further than smaller guns, causing a bigger mess and a greater health hazard. Low power air guns (12fpe), that are .177 calibre are considered the most appropriate.
2. Be sure you have a clean sight of the rodent. A rodent running free is very difficult to catch, but they are easier to corner. If they cornered, sitting still in a crevice, shooting it with an air-powered BB gun can be an effective and quick way to kill the rodent.
   • This is only envisaged in an emergency situation. Most of the time setting traps in the normal way is preferable to shooting a rodent.
3. Ensure the shooting environment is safe. If you do decide that shooting the rodent is a good option, ensure that the environment is safe. If the projectile passes through the rodent's head, it may hit people or objects in its path. Make sure the area is free of obstructions before firing.
4. Shoot the rodent in the head. A shot to the head should kill the rodent instantly. If you miss the head, quickly reload and shoot the rodent in the head to end its suffering. You should only do this if you are confident that you can kill it quickly, otherwise it is far from humane.
   • Even a clean shot will be bloody and distressing.
5. Observe all firearm safety measures. When mishandled, guns can be deadly. This is true for air guns too. An air rifle or pistol should never be aimed at another person. If you are unsure how to safely operate a gun, use another method to humanely kill the rodent.
   • You should familiarise yourself with local laws before thinking about shooting a rodent.

Breaking the Neck

This is a quick and bloodless way that consists of holding the neck firmly down and pulling sharply on the tail. It has the double advantage of being effective in ending the animal's life without causing it unnecessary pain, and of not requiring any equipment at all.

1. Place the rodent on a solid surface (e.g. on the floor, on the ground).
   • If the rodent is wet (as when caught by a cat in the early morning hours), better avoid seizing its tail through a plastic bag or gloves, or dry it first (e.g. with a paper towel), to make sure you have a secure grip on its tail.
2. Press firmly down just behind the head with your fingers. You should be able to sense the spine to the back of the skull. Give a sharp jerk on the tail with the other hand.
   • This will break the rodent's neck and cause its death very shortly, although convulsions are likely to occur.
   • Try to make sure you do it in one go. It does not take much force, just enough resolve.

Thinking about your Options before Proceeding

1. Protect yourself. Rodents, however small, are wild animals. They may bite if threatened. Additionally, they can transmit a variety of diseases. Wear tough gloves and long sleeves if you must touch them, but you should try to avoid this as much as is possible by using a sealable bag to contain the rodent.
2. Assess any available non-lethal options. Live traps are popular among people who don't want to kill rodents as they offer a chance to release the animal into the wild. Also consider removing the cause for the infestation - the presence of rodents can be a symptom of a dirty, food-rich environment for the rodents to live in.
   • If you use a live trap, you should know that the survival rate for relocated rats is very low, so releasing them to a new location will often result in them dying.
   • Removing the causes for an infestation is the only way to remain rat-free long-term.
3. Be conscious of the rodent's condition. If the animal is wounded, releasing it into the wild can cause a more painful, drawn-out death than if it were quickly euthanized. It might be unpleasant, but it can be more humane to kill it, if you can do this.
4. Attempt to stress the rodent as little as possible. Agitating the rodent can cause it struggle, flee, or fight. Minimize unnecessary stimulation - handle the rodent gently, don't shine bright lights at it, and don't make loud noises.

Tips

• Use rubber gloves when handling rodents. They are sturdy and easy to wash.
• If you bury the dead rodent, bury it in a place where it is unlikely to be dug up by neighbourhood pets.

Warnings

• Handling rodents is dangerous and can expose you to harmful diseases. Be sure to proceed with caution and to take all available safety measures. Wash any area of your body that touches a rodent.
• Certain methods may be illegal where you live. Check local animal cruelty laws if you are unsure.
• If you are bitten or scratched, contact a medical centre immediately.

Related Articles

• Get a Mouse Out of the House
• Catch a Rodent in Your House
• Get Rid of Rats Without Harming the Environment
• Build a Mouse Trap

Sources and Citations

See also

• Get Rid of Mice Fast
• Get Rid of Raccoons
• Get a Mouse Out of the House
• Get Rid of Mice
• Remove a Live Mouse from a Sticky Trap
• Catch a Mouse
• Get Rid of Woodchucks
• Get Rid of Mice Naturally
• Trap a Possum
• Set Mouse Traps

Read more ...

What links here

• Get Rid of Mice Fast
• Trap Rats