FR2855720A1 - Harmful burrowing animal e.g. vole, eliminating method for use in rural environment, involves injecting gas, generated by carbonic ice bar when it changes from solid state to gaseous state by sublimation, to under ground gallery - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves placing an outer container (9), suitable to receive a carbonic ice bar (solid CO2) (4), in a hole communicating with an under ground gallery dug by a harmful animal. The container communicates with the hole through a dip tube (10). Gas diffusion is provoked when the ice bar changes from a solid state to a gaseous state by sublimation. The gas is injected through the hole to the under ground gallery. An independent claim is also included for a device for implementing a method of eliminating a harmful burrowing animal such as vole.

Description

PROCESS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF PUNCHING PESTS AND DEVICE

FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION

  The present invention relates to the fight against pests in rural areas, whether field mice, rats, moles, but more particularly voles.

  Indeed, concerning the latter, it has been estimated that the devastation of the crops they cause corresponds to a loss of forty five thousand Euros over three years for a farm of 10 medium size.

  The proliferation of voles is a real scourge when we know that a couple in spring can represent a colony of three 15 hundred voles at the end of the year and that the sexual maturity of each of them is three weeks and that a vol can dig four hundred meters of galleries per year.

  This obviously leads to a very large network of galleries connecting the nests together.

  Currently, faced with this scourge, there are several ways to destroy this pest. It is sometimes resorted to setting up a trap on the ground, but it is a long, tedious and expensive technique with sometimes risks for the material, the traps being able to be detected by predators.

  Also, chemical treatments are sometimes used by dispersion on the ground of poisoned wheat (bromadiolone), but it follows an alteration of the biotope (fox, wild boar, etc ...) in fact all the predators of voles.

  In addition, this type of treatment has the disadvantage of contaminating the groundwater.

  In addition, death is not immediate and therefore creates suffering for the vole but also for the fox or the boar that ate it.

  This solution therefore has a serious drawback in that it destroys both harmful and useful animals.

  It has also already been thought of introducing gas into the galleries, but as regards gases of composition, there ensues a real danger because they are toxic, flammable and pollutants.

  The object of the present invention is to remedy all of the abovementioned drawbacks and to this end relates to a method for eliminating burrowing pests such as voles by injecting gas into a hole communicating with dug underground galleries. by the animal, characterized in that the gas is produced from a charge of dry ice (solid CO 2), placed directly or not in the hole, so that its passage from the solid state to the state gas by sublimation causes the diffusion of the gas thus generated in the galleries. 35 One of the important advantages in using dry ice (solid CO 2) is the fact that the gas, generated by sublimation, being heavier than air, it tends to penetrate all 5 of the galleries dug in the ground, to suffocate pests by reaching them including in nests dug deep.

  Another advantage of being a heavy gas is that it does not escape through other open molehills, as a volatile gas would.

  In fact, it tends not only to stay at the bottom of the galleries, but also to spread by expanding in them.

  It has been estimated that two kilos of dry ice emitted one cubic meter of gas and 20 therefore made it possible to treat five hundred meters of galleries six to eight centimeters in diameter.

  Another advantage lies in the ecological aspect of the process because CO 2 is a natural product which is part of the earth's cycle.

  Another advantage is that it produces no residue or pollution of any kind.

  Also, it is non-flammable, non-toxic, non-explosive, odorless, responds to organic cultivation and to any type of label.

  The present invention also relates to the characteristics which will emerge during the description which follows, and which should be considered in isolation or according to all their possible technical combinations.

  This description given by way of example not

  limiting, will make it easier to understand how the invention can be implemented with reference to the 10 accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents the successive phases of the process for the elimination of noxious animals according to the invention.

  Figures 2 and 3 show a device for implementing the method according to Figure 1, consisting of a container adapted respectively for counting via a sensor 20 and for receiving a load of dry ice for destruction.

  As can be seen in FIG. 1, the method according to the invention is intended for the elimination of burrowing pests 1 such as voles, by injection of gas into a hole 2 communicating with the underground galleries 3 dug by the animal.

  According to the basis of this invention, the gas is produced from a charge 4 of dry ice (solid CO 2), placed directly or not in the hole 2, so that its passage from the solid state to the gaseous state by sublimation causes the diffusion of the gas thus generated in the galleries 3.

  In fact, the charge 4 of dry ice (solid CO 2) is kept in this state and brought to the site at a very low temperature, of the order of minus 78 ° C., by any suitable means of conservation and transport.

  Preferably, the charge 4 of dry ice (solid CO 2) is packaged in the form of sticks.

  The volume and the number of these are predetermined according to the number of treatment points and according to the length of the galleries to be treated, corresponding in fact to the surface of the land concerned.

  According to an improvement of this process, an element with an olfactory and repellent effect such as "dog hair", elderberry liquid, etc., incorporated or distinct from said dry ice, is combined with dry ice treatment (solid CO 2). .

  This has the effect, in particular as regards "dog hair", of giving off a predatory smell and inciting the voles to take refuge in the nest to be gassed there by the release of dry ice, whereas the only use "dog hair" would only have a temporary effect.

  With regard to elder manure, this can be either in solid (ice) or in liquid form and as seen above, may or may not be incorporated into dry ice, according to another phase of the process.

  Prior to the installation of the load 4 of dry ice (solid CO 2) in the hole 2, an estimate is made by counting the number of passage of 10 animals 1 in the galleries 3 by means of sensors 5 introduced into the holes 2, their number varying as a function of the length of the drifts 3 to be treated and the area of land concerned.

  In fact, the passage sensors 5 are placed in one or more holes or molehills.

  For example, on a concerned surface of five hundred hundred square meters, there will be between four and ten sensors.

  These sensors 5 will count the passage of voles 1 in order to count them but above all to identify the galleries 3 with the most traffic.

  In summary, the method according to the invention comprises the following stages: Clearance and cleaning of the holes 2 by leveling (see FIG. 1A and 1B) by means of a machine 6 operating on the surface, - Internal suction (see FIG. 1C) by said machine 6 of the hole 2 by means of a suction pipe 7, - Installation in the holes 2 of counting sensors 5 (see FIG. 1D), so as to count the passages of animals 1 and determining the number of treatment points and their preferred location. This control lasts between twelve and twenty four 10 hours, - Installation in the holes 3, in the same place and place of the sensors 5 or in other holes 2 located near the first if said sensors 5 are left in place, 15 fillers of dry ice (solid CO2) (see Figure 1E), in said holes 2.

  After treatment, of a predetermined duration but which can vary between six to twenty four 20 hours, the number of passages is checked by replacing the sensors 5 (see FIG. 1F) in the same holes 2 or by checking those left in place .

  As mentioned above and as will also be seen below in the description of the device, the installation of the sensor 5 or the installation of the charges 4 of dry ice can be carried out either by means of the same device placed on a hole 2 either by means of two devices reserved for each of the functions arranged on two relatively close holes 2. - This has the advantage of reducing the number of devices to be implemented by adapting them according to the phase of the process in which we are.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the device 8 designated overall, intended for implementing the method which has just been described, comprises at least one external container 9 disposed 10 on a hole 2 and capable of receiving a sensor and / or the load 4 of dry ice (solid CO 2) in view of its sublimation, said external container 9 being in communication with the gallery 3 by a dip tube 10.

  This external container 9 is closed on the one hand at its base by a base 11 of larger surface so as to constitute a stable base on the ground 12 around the hole 2 on which it is placed, the dip tube 10 being fixedly disposed in its center, and on the other hand at its upper part by an insulated cover 13.

  In fact, the dip tube 10 integral with the bottom 11 of the container 9 while passing through it, comprises an external part 10A intended for the communication with the gallery 3 concerned and an internal part whose end lOB is threaded ensuring the fixing by screwing, either of a counting sensor 30, or an isothermal diffuser 14 into which the charge 4 of dry ice (solid CO 2) is introduced, in order to make them removable and allow said container 9 to be used twice.

  We can clearly see by this, the double function of the 5 containing 9 allowing both the counting function if we integrate a sensor and the gas diffusion function if we integrate a diffuser and a dry ice charge 4.

Claims (9)

  1. Method for eliminating burrowing pests (1) such as voles, by injecting gas into a hole (2) communicating with underground galleries (3) dug by the animal, characterized in that the gas is produced from a charge (4) of dry ice (C02), whether or not placed directly in the hole (2), so that its passage from the solid state to the gaseous state by sublimation causes diffusion 10 gas thus generated in the galleries (3).   2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the charge (4) of dry ice (solid CO 2) is kept in this state and brought to the site at a very low temperature of the order of minus 78 C, by any means conservation and adapted transport.   3. Method according to one of claim 1 or 20 2, characterized in that the charge (4) of dry ice (solid CO 2) is packaged in the form of a stick whose volume and number are predetermined according to the number of points of treatment and according to the length of the galleries to be treated.   4. Method according to one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that the treatment with dry ice (solid CO 2), an element with an olfactory and repellent effect, such as "dog hair", liquid manure, elderberry, etc., incorporated or distinct from said ice carbonic.   5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5 4, characterized in that prior to the introduction of the charge (4) of dry ice (solid CO 2) in the hole (2), an estimate is made by counting the number of animals (1) passing through the galleries (3) via sensors (5) introduced into the holes (2), their number varying as a function of the length of the galleries (3) to be treated and of the land area concerned.   6. Method according to one of claims 1 to   5, characterized in that it comprises the following stages: - Clearance and cleaning of the holes (2) by leveling off on the surface and internal aspiration thereof, - Installation in the holes (2) of counting sensors ( 5) so as to count the animal passages (1) and to determine the number of treatment points and their preferred location, - Positioning in the holes (2), in the same place and place of the sensors (5) , or in another hole (2) located near the first if the collectors (5) are left in place, charges (4) of dry ice (solid CO 2), in said holes (2), - After treatment, of a predetermined duration, control of the number of passages by replacing the sensors (5) in the same holes (2) or by controlling those left in place in said holes (2).   7. Device for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one external container (9) disposed on a hole (2) and capable of receiving a sensor ( 5) and / or the charge (4) of dry ice (solid CO 2) in view of its sublimation, said external container (9) being in communication with the gallery (3) by a dip tube (10).   8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the external container (9) is closed on the one hand at its base by a base (11) of larger area so as to constitute a stable seat on the ground (12 ) around the hole (2) on which it is placed, the dip tube (10) being fixedly disposed in its center, and on the other hand at its upper part by an insulated cover (13).   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the dip tube (10) secured to the bottom (11) of the container (9) while passing through it, comprises an external part (O10A) intended for the communication with the gallery (3) concerned and an internal part whose end (10B) is threaded ensuring the fixing by screwing, either of a counting sensor (5), or an isothermal diffuser (14) into which the load is introduced (4) dry ice (solid C02 5), to make them removable and allow a double use of said container (9).