The Alpha Male!

The crime scene: North side of the compost pile. Around 1400 hours.

The Victim: Mr. Templeton aka The Alpha Male

I am so sick of these rats and today(actually 2 days ago) when I saw a huge one [the one that I thought may just be the alpha male] I had to do something about it. So, I did. I killed it! I put Oliver in his highchair with his lunch perfectly cut up on his tray to allow me time to do this while he remained entertained for a while. I set up a chair out back close to my target, threw some cherry tomatoes that were going bad out by the successful watermelon trap, and I waited. Then, as if I were some sort of rat whisperer, he came out. At first he was hesitant. Don't blame him. He sniffed the air and sat back on his hind legs smelling and tasting the air for his enemy [me]. I could see his nose and whiskers twitching. He slowly walked out from under the beams of the compost troff and ran back again for shelter, but still watching. He was testing me. He was trying to see if something was really out there gunning for him. Little did he know that I was only ten feet away and very very still. He came out again and I knew I was going to have to be quick...real quick. I was already waiting for him, watching every [last] move he was making through the site of my rifle [ok it was my bebe gun again, but it looks like a rifle..and it's not really mine, it's Amy's]. He was fast. All he was after was a single cherry tomato and he got it, but I got him before he ran back. It was perfect. I hit him in [what must have been] the neck because he was still alive, not squirming as much as the others, just kicking it's hind legs as if it was trying to flip over and run away. Again, Don't blame him. The worst was about to come...death! Because he was still alive, I didn't want him to jump up and run away to die in its hole, or even worse, run towards me and eat me, so I shot at him and hit him in the neck [as shown]. Blood immediately started dripping from its wound, mouth, and nose forming a solid puddle of red. He was done and so was I. I felt pretty shaky this time. Maybe it was because I was so stinkin close to him or because it was so gruesome and bloody. It could have also been because I hadn't eaten anything and the adrenaline plus no energy was making me have the shakes. I sent some photos to Luke to show him what his wife does while he's at work. He was pretty impressed and told me that he would help clean it up when he got home. Good thing...he was huge, and yes I am certain that it was the Alpha Male. Only 2 more to go...that I know of.

The cleanup:

I first went to go pick him up with the pliers, but I chickened out and I couldn't do...the shovel will do just fine.

The aftermath:

So gross. Luke dug up the dirt and threw it in the garbage. It's been a couple of days since my last kill and I haven't been out rat hunting... To be honest, I'm a little creeped out from this one.

Oh and by the way, My dad wants to take me Elk hunting now...