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Rabid Critter Gatekeeper

Keeping the garden safer
  (+6, -3)
(+6, -3)
  [vote for,
against]

Squirrels and raccoons both love a sneaky feed from any source they can find. They are also known to be host populations for rabies (Lyssavirus).

The idea is simple: A food source provided for them with a slight twist. A detector tests the exhaled breath of the animal feeding from it, to determine if it is infected with one or more of the deadly strains of Lyssavirus. The virus is carried in saliva, so it stands to reason that good test would be possible to devise.

Positive test and the trap shuts then the floor opens and the unfortunate and unhealthy animal is humanely killed with a large dose of CO2. Trap resets, luring in more animals for testing.

UnaBubba, Nov 13 2008

You just have to get them to associate rabies with pollen. http://apitherapy.b...isease-monitor.html
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Nov 14 2008]

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       What do you do with the body?
Mony a Mickle, Nov 13 2008
  

       Incinerate it, to power the device. In any case, incinerate it to remove the hazard.
UnaBubba, Nov 13 2008
  

       Spread the ashes on the lawn. Keep the garden looking good for the next rabid critter.
Mony a Mickle, Nov 13 2008
  

       How does the test work so fast? Can you do elisa assays on breath? Methinks not, alas.
MaxwellBuchanan, Nov 13 2008
  

       Maybe you could just measure the amount of slobber dribbling down it's rabid chin?
Mony a Mickle, Nov 13 2008
  

       Might not work ... in these populations where it's endemic, there's a significant proportion of asymptomatic carriers.
8th of 7, Nov 13 2008
  

       //How does the test work so fast? Can you do elisa assays on breath? Methinks not, alas.//   

       Bit worried about that one. I thought of perhaps doing a quick automated microscopy and shape match (Lyssavirus usually has a bullet shape) to a known virus shape much the same way it is being used on a much larger scale to identify feral animals in Australia, for trapping or exclusion from water sources.
UnaBubba, Nov 14 2008
  

       //significant proportion of asymptomatic carriers// I am going to stick my neck out here and say that these will be more of a problem than symptomatic carriers as they can pass the virus on but will not be harmed by it, like a Typhoid Mary.
miasere, Nov 14 2008
  

       Would be good if the CO2 produced by the burning critter could, in a bitter, ironic and twisted way, be returned to the killing jar [+]
coprocephalous, Nov 14 2008
  

       I thought he was referring to the dribble, not the presence of the virus in their saliva. I am pretty sure asymptomatic carriers would still yield high virus counts.   

       I like your way of thinking [copro].
UnaBubba, Nov 14 2008
  

       If you get the test working and the critter is found to not be rabid could you work in the delivery of a prophylactic before sending it on it's never-to be-rabid way? [corrected]
Mony a Mickle, Nov 14 2008
  

       // for trapping or exclusion from water sources//
But being hydrophobic, they'd stay away from water anyway, shirley?

//could you work in the delivery of a prophyactic [sic]//
Ever tried to persuade a squirrel to wear one? Thought not.
coprocephalous, Nov 14 2008
  

       //Ever tried to persuade a squirrel to wear one?//   

       Maybe if you put some nuts inside...
Mony a Mickle, Nov 14 2008
  

       //But being hydrophobic, they'd stay away from water anyway, shirley?//   

       Hah! That statement might have some currency if there was any rabies in Australia... there's not.   

       New animal drafting software applications use silhouette detection to trigger a gate system which routes pigs, goats and camels back out to pasture or into a holding pen, for eradication. Sheep, kangaroos, cattle and horses get to the water while the others miss out or are trapped.
UnaBubba, Nov 14 2008
  

       //use silhouette detection to trigger a gate system //
I foresee plastic surgery becoming popular amongst undesireable ungulates.
coprocephalous, Nov 14 2008
  

       If honey was used as the bait, bees could do the detecting for you. [link]   

       Well, now it has got some bees, all it needs is marmalade, you can't jam a rabid animal into a cage.
4whom, Nov 14 2008
  

       I guess that depends upon how much jam you use and how sticky it is.
UnaBubba, Nov 14 2008
  

       //Well, now it has got some bees, all it needs is marmalade// sp. "banjoes"
coprocephalous, Nov 18 2008
  

       // Maybe if you put some nuts inside //   

       And for that, you deserve no mercy WHATSOEVER .....
8th of 7, Nov 18 2008
  


 

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