thank you for writing this! I agree with the fungibility of uncertainty point (and while I tend to favor a more continuous framework for moral patienthood, I do think the point is clearer made with a “uncertainty of discrete binary state” formulation—my preferred analogy involves a firing range where a child has wandered behind one of the targets, and asking what the ratio of targets:child would need to be before we start shooting). Quick question though:
millions of snails were dying in ways that are potentially far worse… suffocating in beer traps that well-meaning gardeners set out.
how unpleasant is this? 2020 AVMA guidelines write:
Two-step euthanasia procedures, as described for aquatic invertebrates, are acceptable for some or many species of invertebrates. Recent research documented the efficacy of immersion in 5% laboratory-grade ethanol or an undiluted, uncarbonated beer (5% ethanol content) served to anesthetize land snails (Succinea putris) without signs of distress as a first-step procedure. This was followed by immersion in solutions of 70% to 95% ethanol or neutral-buffered 10% formalin that served to euthanize snails and preserve tissue.
citing:
Gilbertson CR, Wyatt J. Evaluation of euthanasia techniques for an invertebrate species, land snails (Succinea pu-tris). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2016;55:577-581.
and online discussions tend to favor it over other methods (when coupled with an appropriate second step—though even not I think a slow suffocation under sedation-anaesthesia is probably not the worst, with sufficient volume of alcohol. Assuming invertebrate alcohol metabolism is slow enough, you’d still not want it to evaporate away to reach whatever lower bound is needed to keep them asleep. It would probably take a very long time, though!), eg https://www.reddit.com/r/snails/comments/1m42sh3/how_to_humanely_euthanise_snails_graphic/
...
This is a common misconception here. Crushing seems “fast” and therefore “humane” but it really isnt if done without the specific knowledge and tools to do it right, also does it leave a huge possibility of the snail SURVIVING the “euthanasia” while in the methods i cite there is no possibility of survival, wich therefore is more save.
Snails bodies have significant differences to those of mammals, therfore “crushing it” can leave it in a state of multi organ failure (while being still alive) where death will come slowly and possibly very hurtful.
Recommended euthanasia for a snail of this size is either:
- Method 1: A 2 step euthanasia, started with anestesia. To do so put them in a <10% (Vol.%) (Not below 4 Vol.%) Alcohol-Water solution bath for 10 minutes, afterwards put them in a freezer wich has at least −14°C or lower for 48 hours to be sure.
- Method 2: Can be done with anesthesia step from method 1, but euthanasia will be dione differently, if very quick action is required, fully submerge them in a solution of at LEAST >70% Alcohol (Vol.%) preferably 85% or more, death happens instantly due to denaturation of proteins and alcohol poisoning.
...
(see citations that follow -- the poster is not themselves an expert in snail euthanasia)
(Neither am I, but) contrary to /u/Sluggish-dreadnought above I think that physical methods eg crushing can be appropriate in the field (without specialized tools) but you gotta rapidly grind and smear the body into a fine paste.
thank you for writing this! I agree with the fungibility of uncertainty point (and while I tend to favor a more continuous framework for moral patienthood, I do think the point is clearer made with a “uncertainty of discrete binary state” formulation—my preferred analogy involves a firing range where a child has wandered behind one of the targets, and asking what the ratio of targets:child would need to be before we start shooting). Quick question though:
how unpleasant is this? 2020 AVMA guidelines write:
citing:
and online discussions tend to favor it over other methods (when coupled with an appropriate second step—though even not I think a slow suffocation under sedation-anaesthesia is probably not the worst, with sufficient volume of alcohol. Assuming invertebrate alcohol metabolism is slow enough, you’d still not want it to evaporate away to reach whatever lower bound is needed to keep them asleep. It would probably take a very long time, though!), eg https://www.reddit.com/r/snails/comments/1m42sh3/how_to_humanely_euthanise_snails_graphic/
(see citations that follow -- the poster is not themselves an expert in snail euthanasia)
(Neither am I, but) contrary to /u/Sluggish-dreadnought above I think that physical methods eg crushing can be appropriate in the field (without specialized tools) but you gotta rapidly grind and smear the body into a fine paste.