Killing wild animals to "protect" your pets?

[moosmom]

I have to agree that if it was a non-venomous snake, I'd have relocated it. But given it was a very dangerous copperhead, I'd have called a specialist to come and remove it, possibly donating it to a zoo or something.

All of God's creatures were here LONG before we were. Regardless of how dangerous they are, they deserve a place to live too, even if it IS at a zoo.

[Cataholic]

I am against killing "things", creepy crawly or not. I have been guilty of killing spiders/flys, too! But, I have also transported many a bug outta the house.

As to snakes- which is a huge fear of mine- I relocate them. I had a huge dilemna several summers ago... Dakky had a teeny snake in his mouth. I was too afraid to remove it, but, didn't want him to harm it either. My solution? I screamed and screamed and screamed at him, and he dropped it, thank God. I also had every neighbor out of their house for a 5 block radius.

Kay, we don't have native venomous snakes here in my area....which is non-rural. I don't know what I would have done if faced with a copperhead. Killing it would be a last resort.

[caseysmom]

I do see your point Kay and agree with you. That being said I have killed 2 rattle snakes in my yard, at the time I was too scared to think of how to safely relocate them.

[Vela]

If it was in my yard I'm afraid I would have to kill it. I hate killing anything and even pick up worms and put them back on my lawn after it starts drying out from a rain but a poisonous snake is a different story. If it were not poisonous I woulnd't care if it was there, as it couldn't kill anyone. My kids and pets take top priority and there is nobody to call here to get rid of it. If I waited for someone to come and get it (not even sure who around here would), I could risk it wandering off into someone else's yard and killing their children or pets. I wouldn't risk being bitten and possibly dying or losing an arm to save the snake. I would hate to do it but I'm afraid in that instance I would have to. We have had many other types of snakes in the yard and they don't bother me, I think snakes are awesome, but not poisonous snakes in my yard.

[KYS]

In my mind reptiles are different. (now all reptiles and animals have
a purpose) but......
It would not bother me a lot if someone else killed a venomous snake.
(I do not think I could do it.)
As for animals, my feelings are different.
If you move to an area where we infringe on their habitat than you
just have to expect your animal getting killed goes along with the territory.
(it is up to us to keep that pet inside the house when alone)
Unfortunately as humans keep moving up into the hills/their
habitats the animals start coming down into the city to survive.

(now if the animal was actually attacking my pet, I would try to
save my pet no matter what.)

[Miss Z]

All of God's creatures were here LONG before we were. Regardless of how dangerous they are, they deserve a place to live too, even if it IS at a zoo.

Donna, that is exactly my view! I would not kill another animal unless a pet/person was cornered by the animal and was in serious danger, and I would be very unhappy and disgusted with myself even then. There always has to be another way than death in most situations. And donating the animal to a zoo is a pretty good idea if the animal is a 'repeat offender', ie is around human residence a lot.

[beeniesmom]

Put in the same situation, I would have called a trapper and had him move the snake somewhere else. I've had many wild animals in my yard and have done just that. A trapper recently caught 4 possums in my yard and relocated them to a remote wooded area.

[Alysser]

I would have tried a nicer solution first. Of course, I would never try to handle a wild animal by myself as I am no professional but I would have called a professional who knows what they are doing. My neighbor killed a opposum because it was on his shed, which had me upset with them for quite a while. The animal didn't do anything wrong and I don't see the point in killing it. Of course, if the animal had hurt my pets or family I would have something be done to put an end to the animal but I would never hit it or anything that drastic.