Method and apparatus for controlling burrowing animals

Abstract

In a method of controlling burrowing animals, a slurry of a natural soil component and water is generated. The slurry is pumped into a tunnel and den system dug by the burrowing animal until the tunnel and den system is filled by the slurry. An apparatus for controlling burrowing animals includes a first tank that contains water. A second tank contains a natural soil component. A water pump pumps water from the water tank into the second tank. A plurality of nozzles receives water from the water pump and sprays water from the water tank into the bottom portion of the second tank, so as to generate a slurry of a natural soil component and water. A slurry pump is configured to pump the slurry. A slurry hose is configured to delivery the slurry from the slurry pump into a tunnel and den system dug by a burrowing animal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling burrowing animals, comprising the steps of:
 a. generating a slurry of a natural soil component and water; and   b. pumping the slurry into a tunnel and den system dug by the burrowing animal until the tunnel and den system is filled by the slurry.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of detecting locations of all holes connected to the tunnel prior to the pumping step. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the detecting step comprises the steps of:
 a. placing a smoke generating device into the tunnel;   b. observing locations of holes from which the smoke escapes; and   c. marking each hole from which the smoke escapes.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the natural soil component comprises a material selected from a group consisting of: sand, clay, humus, compost, manure, wood chips, gravel and combinations thereof 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry generating step comprises the step of spraying water into a bottom portion of a tank containing the natural soil component so as to form the slurry. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the spraying step comprises the steps of:
 a. spraying a first portion of the water in an upward direction into a sand tank;   b. spraying a second portion of the water in a downward direction into the sand tank; and   c. spraying a third portion of the water toward a slurry pump so as to direct the slurry toward the slurry pump.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the slurry comprises sand and water in a ratio that includes sand in a range of 10% to 50% and water in a range of 90% to 50%. 
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling burrowing rodents, comprising the steps of:
 a. detecting locations of all holes connected to a tunnel and den system inhabited by a burrowing rodent by placing a smoke generating device into the tunnel system and marking a location of each of a plurality of smoke plumes emanating from each of the holes;   b. generating a slurry of sand and water; and   c. pumping the slurry into each of the holes connected to the tunnel system until the tunnel and den system is filled by the sand.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the slurry generating step comprises the step of spraying water into a bottom portion of a tank containing the sand so as to form the slurry. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the spraying step comprises the steps of:
 a. spraying a first portion of the water in an upward direction into a sand tank;   b. spraying a second portion of the water in a downward direction into the sand tank; and   c. spraying a third portion of the water toward a slurry pump so as to direct the slurry toward the slurry pump.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the slurry comprises sand and water in a ratio that includes sand in a range of 10% to 50% and water in a range of 90% to 50%. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for controlling burrowing animals, comprising:
 a. a first tank configured to contain water;   b. a second tank configured to contain a natural soil component, the second tank having a bottom portion;   c. a water pump configured to pump water from the water tank into the second tank;   d. a plurality of nozzles configured to receive water from the water pump and to spray water from the water tank into the bottom portion of the second tank, so as to generate a slurry of a natural soil component and water;   e. a slurry pump configured to pump the slurry; and   f. a slurry hose configured to delivery the slurry from the slurry pump into a tunnel dug by a burrowing animal.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the slurry pump comprises a vortex impeller pump. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the slurry pump comprises a venturi pump. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of nozzles comprises:
 a. a first water loop that includes a tube that defines a plurality of holes configured to spray water upwardly into the sand;   b. a second water loop that includes a tube that defines a plurality of holes configured to spray water downwardly into the sand; and   c. a dispersing sprayer configured to direct the slurry toward the slurry pump.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a power source configured to provide power to the water pump. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the power source comprises a generator. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the power source comprises a battery. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a booster pump configured to pump slurry from the slurry pump through the slurry hose.