Pest extermination method and apparatus

Apparatus for exterminating ground burrowing pests comprising:

• a totally self-contained relatively small, lightweight, easily portable exterminator unit capable of being carried by person, and wherein
• said exterminator unit comprises an internal combustion engine having a body and an exhaust outlet, and a base secured to said engine body for both supporting said exterminator unit on the ground and conducting engine exhaust gas to an underground burrow, said engine base comprising a shroud fixed to said engine body and having an open, normally bottom side bounded circumferentially by a rim and adapted to be placed on the ground over a ground opening to a burrow with said rim seating against the ground to provide a relatively effective seal between the shroud and the ground about the open bottom of the shroud, and means communicating the interior of the shroud to the engine exhaust outlet.

Apparatus for exterminating ground burrowing pests comprising:

• a totally self contained relatively small, lightweight, easily portable exterminator unit capable of being carried by a person, and wherein
• said exterminator unit comprises an internal combustion engine having a body and an exhaust outlet, and a base secured to said engine body for both supporting said exterminator unit on the ground and conducting engine exhaust gas to an underground burrow, said engine base comprising a rigid probe having a normally upper and secured to said engine body and a normally lower end to be pushed into the ground to enter an underlying burrow and to support said exterminator unit on the ground, and an exhaust passage communicating with the engine exhaust outlet and opening thru the lower end of the probe for discharge of engine exhaust gas from the probe into the burrow.

Relatively small, lightweight, easily portable apparatus for exterminating animal pests, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine having an exhaust outlet,
• a relatively stiff and non-bendable probe having a normally upper end secured to said engine, a normally lower end, and an exhaust passage communicating with said exhaust outlet and opening thru said lower probe end and
• a handle having a hand grip over and secured directly to said engine for carrying the apparatus.

Relatively small, lightweight, easily portable apparatus for exterminating ground burrowing rodents, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine having an exhaust outlet,
• a tube for directing exhaust from said engine into an underground rodent burrow thru a ground opening which intersects the burrow in such a way that sections of the burrow extend in two opposite directions from the opening, and wherein
• said tube has one end connected to said engine exhaust outlet and an opposite end comprising a pair of oppositely extending tube end portions forming oppositely directed exhaust outlets to be inserted thru said ground opening into the burrow in such a way that said tube outlets extend and open into said burrow sections, respectively.

Relatively small, lightweight, easily portable apparatus for exterminating animal pests, comprising:

• a shroud having an open normally bottom side bounded circumferentially by a rim and adapted to be placed on the ground over an opening to an underground pest burrow with the open side of the shroud facing the ground, said apparatus being devoid of any obstruction which would prevent contact of said rim with the ground, whereby the shroud may be placed on the ground with said rim in contact with the ground to form a relatively effective seal between the shroud and the ground about said open side of the shroud, and
• an internal combustion engine rigidly attached to said shroud and having an exhaust outlet communicating to the interior of the shroud.

Relatively small, lightweight, easily portable apparatus for exterminating animal pests, comprising:

• a shroud having a normally upper wall and an open normally bottom side bounded circumferentially by a rim and adapted to be placed on the ground over an opening to an underground pest burrow with the open side of the shroud facing the ground,
• said apparatus being devoid of any obstruction which would prevent contact of said rim with the ground, whereby the shroud may be placed on the ground with said rim in contact with the ground to form a relatively effective seal between the shroud and the ground about said open side of the shroud, and
• an internal combustion engine rigidly mounted directly on top of said upper shroud wall and having an exhaust outlet communicating to the interior of the shroud.