Hmm. Instead of drowning (which could take hours, they can dogpaddle for quite a while, I’ve seen that done, mouse in the house got into my tub water, which I’d left undrained after a long soak because it was winter, and it reuses the heat) the water could be left out in favor of acid, the critters would be dead in seconds. In the article, the writer speculated that the photo shown had antifreeze, which is poisonous (quick death) but also keeps the carcasses from rotting and smelling, and won’t freeze in an unheated space (for example, my garage).
Uh, and then your dog or cat drinks the anti-freeze as a chaser to eating the poisoned rodent(s).
My vet bill for one of my pets who licked up anti-freeze on our driveway came to over $3000. The animal while at the vet’s was basically drunk the whole time on alcohol - the vet said this would prevent the metabolising of the poison in the antifreeze.
So, four days for the drunk pet equaled BIG BUCKS.
We now use Sierra in our vehicles in case of leaks.
Instead of using antifreeze in the bucket rat trap, I’ll use 190 proof Everclear in water.
Thin(ned) oil of the edible variety works. They aren’t put off by the smell, and will sink instead of swim.