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DIY Blowgun

Herpetologists and reptile enthusiasts use a variety of techniques to capture ground-dwelling lizards, including drift fences, funnel or pitfall traps, noose carpets and cover boards. However, tree-dwelling lizards are much more difficult to capture. Lizards quickly become wary of noose poles, which are unwieldy and difficult to use. Blowguns shoot soft cork projectiles that temporarily stun lizards, causing them to fall to the ground for easy capture. You can build your own simple, PVC blowgun for firing cork projectiles in less than an hour.

Things You'll Need

1-inch diameter thin-walled PVC pipe - 4' length
2-inch to 1-inch PVC reducer coupling
PVC cement
Fine grit sandpaper
1/2-inch diameter wooden dowel rod - 2-foot length
Number-9 wine corks

Instructions

PVC Blowgun
- 1
  Smooth the inside of the openings at each end of the PVC pipe to remove any burrs or other projections.
- 2
  Apply a 1/2-inch wide band of PVC cement around the outside of one end of the PVC pipe. Attach the PVC reducer coupling to the end of the pipe by twisting it into place. Allow to dry thoroughly, according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- 3
  Insert a wine cork into the PVC pipe through the reducer coupling mouthpiece. Push the wine cork a short distance into the pipe, using the wooden dowel rod as a plunger.
- 4
  Place your mouth into the reducer coupling mouth piece and blow with a strong, forceful burst of breath.
- 5
  Experiment until you identify the best depth to insert the cork before blowing. Make a mark on the dowel rod plunger for future reference.

Animals & Science