Chipmunk Pool of Death

OK, please don't think any less of me because of this post....

But, I feel the need to be honest, as well as let you in on the journey.

Following the legacy of Barbara Kingsolver (in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, she wrote about her personal responsibility of taking an animal's life humanely if she was going to be a carnivore), I felt the need to do the dirty work of exterminating this pesky critter myself vs. having someone else or a predator do it for me....

Why be concerned about chipmunks?  Well, besides the fact that they can wreak havoc in your landscaping, the weightier issue is that they can damage your house, including the foundation and wiring.  I wasn't interested in finding out just how much damage they could do.

So, I researched on line the best way to eliminate them.  Since I have a good track record in relocating rabbits, I assumed I could transfer that experience to chipmunks.  Not the case....  Chipmunks are very difficult to catch, and don't do well at being relocated.  All experts conclude that the most humane thing is to drown them.  AAHHH!  That sounds horrible!  But, is that any worse than being eaten by a cat or another predator??

So, after reading Tim's blog post about the success of his chipmunk pool of death, I took the plunge and set up my own death contraption, never dreaming that...

I WOULD CATCH ONE IN JUST A FEW HOURS!

OH MY WORD, NOW WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH A DROWNED CHIPMUNK?!

After much distress, I decided to bury him in my compost pile to he could return to the earth.
However, I'm still traumatized, and probably will be for quite a while....

Once I got over my trauma, I had to admit this was one of the most easiest and most economical gardening solutions I've ever encountered - a grand total of $2.43 for sunflower seeds, available at the grocery store in the birdseed aisle.  And, you do have to admit, the picture above is a pretty little death setting, don't you think?

This whole experience of this little chipmunk eagerly leaping to its death did lead me to think - How does his fate apply to humans?  What things can't we resist that eventually lead to our demise??

Update, 3/23/11
I was sharing my chipmunk-catching story with a co-worker, and he said he was under the impression that chipmunks are an endangered species.  Really?!!  How could that be??  Feeling guilty, I researched the matter on line, but couldn't find anything that indicates that they are endangered.  Whew, I'm off the hook!!