Men Set Grassland on Fire Trying To Blow Up Gophers
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.25.08
Caddyshack
Sandy: I want you to kill every gophers on the golf course!
Carl Spackler: Correct me if I'm wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers, they're gonna lock me up and throw away the key...
Sandy: Not golfers, you great fool! Gophers! The *little* *brown*, *furry* *rodents* -!
Carl Spackler: We can do that; we don't even have to have a reason. All right, let's do the same thing, but with gophers -!
Two Calgary men wreaked environmental havoc trying to kill gophers with a Rodenator, a device which pumps propane and oxygen into their holes and then blasts them out. Unfortunately the grass is really dry and flammable, and 160 acres, including several outbuildings were completely torched, with a value of C$200,000 (US$197,000 and falling)
"The gopher laughs heartily at your pathetic attempts to exterminate it. Image by Chuck Szmurlo via Environmental News
Fire officials told Reuters: "We had a couple of acreage owners out taking care of their rodent problem with this device," said Captain Joe Garssi of the municipal district of Rocky View's fire department.
"They did a few holes successfully and then hit a hole that didn't go in very far. When they filled it with propane it over-filled the hole...and when they ignited it (fire) flashed out of the hole into the grass beside them." ::Reuters via ::Environmental News
I needed a good belly laugh today!
It's real lucky they didn't burn any houses down but they did loose a shop and some out building. I don't think its the safest contraption ever built. They showed it in operation. They stuck a wand down the hole and bang. You could see all the tunnels move. Its a pretty big explosion.
Oh well. Maybe they can work on the rest of the golf courses!
Oh well. Maybe they can work on the rest of the golf courses!
Have you even ever seen Caddyshack?
(US$197,000 and falling) ? I thought the canadian dollar was rising in relation to the US dollar. That would make it (and rising), no?
I'm not sure that stupidity is any defence against charges of criminal damage.
Given the option I'd much rather have gophers in my garden than idiots next door.
you'd rather have gophers, but what about badgers? those are common in alberta and they will eat small dogs. Having gophers attracts badgers, which will also will dig giant holes in your lawn, and even pose a threat to children. But there are certainly more humane ways to get rid of gophers.