Self defense against wildlife

[e-bil]

What are the laws pertaining to this in regard to discharging a weapon? Say you live in the city or an incorporated area and there's a snake in the back yard and it threatens you.

[jmra]

What are the laws pertaining to this in regard to discharging a weapon? Say you live in the city or an incorporated area and there's a snake in the back yard and it threatens you.

That's when I would break out the pellet gun.

[Excaliber]

What are the laws pertaining to this in regard to discharging a weapon? Say you live in the city or an incorporated area and there's a snake in the back yard and it threatens you.

Discharging a firearm in a populated area to dispatch a snake would be seriously frowned on in most areas.

Poisonous snakes are really quick and they get mean when they think you're trying to hurt them. In most cases you'd do well to leave it alone and find another place to be. Most folks are bitten by snakes while in the act of messing with the animals.

If you absolutely need to move one because of kids, pets, etc. a LONG pole set up with a loop (a home made version of the tool animal control officers use) for capturing the animal and relocating it is a real good idea. It's best to make sure you've got a clear escape path opposite from the snake readily available if needed. This is not a job for the fainthearted, those with slow reflexes, or those who can't run fast.

[WildBill]

What are the laws pertaining to this in regard to discharging a weapon? Say you live in the city or an incorporated area and there's a snake in the back yard and it threatens you.

Discharging a firearm in a populated area to dispatch a snake would be seriously frowned on in most areas.

Poisonous snakes are really quick and they get mean when they think you're trying to hurt them. In most cases you'd do well to leave it alone and find another place to be. Most folks are bitten by snakes while in the act of messing with the animals.

If you absolutely need to move one because of kids, pets, etc. a LONG pole set up with a loop (a home made version of the tool animal control officers use) for capturing the animal and relocating it is a real good idea. It's best to make sure you've got a clear escape path opposite from the snake readily available if needed. This is not a job for the fainthearted, those with slow reflexes, or those who can't run fast.

Sometimes people forget that the laws concerning self defense and the use of deadly force were written to apply to people rather than animals.

A couple of years ago there was a story about a chimp who escaped from a primate research facility in Austin. When encountering the chimp, an LEO drew his weapon, pointed it at the chimp and ordered him to "freeze." The chimpanzee started flailing its arms. The officer shouted at least twice that he was going to shoot.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=14978&p=170451&hil ... mp#p170451" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[e-bil]

Thanks for the answers all.

That could be a potentially stinky situation for the LEO. That chimp has nothing to lose by flinging it.

[cbr600]

deleted

[OldCurlyWolf]

What are the laws pertaining to this in regard to discharging a weapon? Say you live in the city or an incorporated area and there's a snake in the back yard and it threatens you.

Most cities have an exception in their No Discharge of Firearms Ordinance for two things:

1. Shooting Ranges

2. Defense of self or others (includes livestock and pets).


CBR600:

That cobra sure does have that pack of mongeese's (I looked up the spelling) undivided attention. It is shortly to be a snack for them.

[flintknapper]

'Zactly what I was thinking!

When confronted with a snake, leave your pistol holstered and whup out your mongoose.

Anyone know if the plural is "mongeese"?

[OldCurlyWolf]

'Zactly what I was thinking!

When confronted with a snake, leave your pistol holstered and whup out your mongoose.

Anyone know if the plural is "mongeese"?

Yep. We were posting at the same time.

[Texas_Tactical]

"mongeese's"

[b322da]

What are the laws pertaining to this in regard to discharging a weapon? Say you live in the city or an incorporated area and there's a snake in the back yard and it threatens you.

Didn't The Gov. give his answer to your question?

Elmo

[FL450]

What are the laws pertaining to this in regard to discharging a weapon? Say you live in the city or an incorporated area and there's a snake in the back yard and it threatens you.

Didn't The Gov. give his answer to your question?

Elmo

Yes, I have my Texas Coyotee addition LCP as proof

[Skiprr]

And if you had a bunch of CMLs, I think you would have a "business" of "mongooses."

[Excaliber]

What are the laws pertaining to this in regard to discharging a weapon? Say you live in the city or an incorporated area and there's a snake in the back yard and it threatens you.

Discharging a firearm in a populated area to dispatch a snake would be seriously frowned on in most areas.

Poisonous snakes are really quick and they get mean when they think you're trying to hurt them. In most cases you'd do well to leave it alone and find another place to be. Most folks are bitten by snakes while in the act of messing with the animals.

If you absolutely need to move one because of kids, pets, etc. a LONG pole set up with a loop (a home made version of the tool animal control officers use) for capturing the animal and relocating it is a real good idea. It's best to make sure you've got a clear escape path opposite from the snake readily available if needed. This is not a job for the fainthearted, those with slow reflexes, or those who can't run fast.

Sometimes people forget that the laws concerning self defense and the use of deadly force were written to apply to people rather than animals.

A couple of years ago there was a story about a chimp who escaped from a primate research facility in Austin. When encountering the chimp, an LEO drew his weapon, pointed it at the chimp and ordered him to "freeze." The chimpanzee started flailing its arms. The officer shouted at least twice that he was going to shoot.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=14978&p=170451&hil ... mp#p170451" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is an outstanding example of the fact that, when placed under stress, people will do what they have trained to under similar circumstances, whether it is entirely appropriate in that setting or not.

The officer in this case didn't have any training for holding a chimp at gunpoint, but he did have training on doing it with people, so when his cognitive skills slowed down under the threat (yes, an unrestrained chimp is most certainly a threat - a woman in CT had her face torn off, lost her eyesight, and was critically injured by one belonging to a neighbor) and his brain reached for the "holding something at gunpoint" program, that's what he came up with.

It seems funny under the circumstances, but it actually illustrates the way people really perform under stress.

[seamusTX]

Maybe shooting at everything that could possibly be a threat is not the best policy.

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=9087" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim