Many, many people, especially in the NYC area, do not consider their "rules" (as you put it) to be ridiculous.
Oh, yeah! Well I've been called an asshole by better people than you. So there!
Oh wait — somehow that wording doesn't seem right.
I've never drowned a squirrel although I have drowned raccoons who were constantly going after my Koi fish and I also have drowned mice that I caught in one of those "humane, no kill traps.
BTW, as I post catch and release somewhere else is illegal.