The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-31
FOES OF THE FARMER
The Gophers and Squirrels of
the North Pacific Coast.
MOLES FEED ON ANIMALS.
The Apple Tree Borer on Orcss and Ad-
Joining Islands-Habits OF tho
Peach Tree Aphis.
+. I. wt.slburn, Oregon Exps' iment Station,
Corvallis


The subject of this article is of interest
to farmers and fruit-growers, who are
only too conversant with the destruction
ea'ised by the pocket gopher; while moles,
though useful In their way, are constantly
irritating the owners of lawns and 4ar-
dens by pIing up mounds or digging uu-
der choice plants.
The order, Rodentia. contains ma :
mais which have the front or lncisor teeth
remarkably developed for gnawing, while
the canine teeth are absent In this order
occur the rats. mice, squirrels, porcupines,
rabbits, hares, etc, and last. but by no
means least, the gophers. OF this gopher
family there are several genera md
species. We have in the middle
states little fellow called the thirteen
lined gopher (Spermophilus tridecem
lineatus), and the gray gopher Is. beech
eyi) which Is so commonon the Coast,
and called ground squirrel" In Cali
fornia this gopher annually destroys
thousands of bushels of wheat The
pocket gopher is represented by several
species in North America, but the one We
have especially to consider is Thcmomys
bulbiv,rous 1t is very common in many
parv Oregon and California. Its front
teeth are stroug and ch,se-llike, espe ialiy
sdapted fol gnawing. On The sides ut the
face are capacious cheek pouches, which
give the animal its name. These pouches
or pockets undoubtedly offer means OF
Transporting its food. have never found
absolute proof that earth was placed in
them though this Is stated by some to be
the case.
The depredations Of this pest are very
extensive. They are especially partial to
the tender roots of fruit trees, and when
carrots, potatoes and other garden truck
are in tie ground, 1t is impossible to
tempt them with poisoned tit-bits since
thew find attractive food in varied album
dance. One may plainly see upon what
ever any rodent has been eating, the
marks of the chisel-like teeth referred to
above.
am convinced from experiments that
IN the winter season, when the root crops
are out Of the way, small piece OF potato
into which powdered strychnine has been
introduced, and put down the hole, Will
kill many. Frequently the fragment of
potato will be thrown ont with the dirt.
but more often its non appearance and the
cessation of gopher work indicates that the
poison has been effective.
have saturated wad OF cotton. half
the size of ones fist, with bisulphide of
carbon, and thrust it down the hole, and
closed the aperture with sod and earth.
This remedy is extensively advertised for
the gray gopher, or so-called ground squir-
rel. We have not tested it upon the latter,
and lack absolute proof of its efficiency in
the case of either pest. This agent Is ex-
tremely volatile. and. if used in porous
and comparatively dry soil, q large portion
of the gas would doubtless escape.
i have tried the sulphur gun, mechan-
zeal device for forcing sulphur fumes into
the burrow, and although l cannot posi-
lively assert that it killed single gopher,
1t has certainly stopped their digging, and
may have killed them.
A shotgun is very effective, but sports
men are very apt to see game when they
have no gun.
We have specimens of all the gopher
traps sent to the experiment station to be
tested; all are highly spoken OF (by the
manufacturers), and many are Endorsed by
parties of high authority. Then ! have
tried trapping, carefully and patiently,
and have 10 report failure, although few
gophers were caught. / often have
found the trap covered with diggings,
or, perchance. showing on their points
Traps may do better In California, but II
so the Oregon gopher is made of sterner
stuff than his brothers to the south of us.
Recently a gentleman loaned me a so
called gopher gum" Of simple and
cheap construction. 1t has killed every
gopher for which it has been properly
set. Certain important points are TO
be observed in its use. The wire or trigger
should have the point covered with a
small cork or bit of wood which will re-
ceive the pressure of the earth when
pushed ahead by the gopher. The covered
point of the wire should be in the center of
the hole, near, but not on the bottom, that
it may be perfectly free to slip back
ward. The gun is discharged by
percussion cap. A very small load of
powder, say drachms, and if shot, n
ounce 1--WE use No. 81 is sufficient Leave
the hole open. The gopher literally COM
mits suicide by shooting itself. l have re-
Gently purchased new gopher and mole
trap which is said to be well adapted to
the purpose. One gentleman reports hay
ing killed LA with it in few months.
The order 20 which moIes and shrews
belong is called Insectivora, referring to
their insect-eating habit.
In moles the snout projects some dis
lance over the mouth, and the
strong The especial feature of the
skull is the very sharp-cutting uni
form teeth. They are not adapted for
gnawing. The mole should not be charged
with eating carrots or potatoes or the roots
of plants. The teeth marks on these in
jured objects are plainly those of the
rodent tribe.
In a number of moles' stomachs exam
ined. no vegetable food was found, all
contained worms or grubs. or other insect
Larvae In a few l have personally exam
ined this spring l found nothing but
earth worms.
But one saws, 81 know moies eat my
peas another says, 81 have found moles'
burrows leading through my carrot field
and have discovered pieces of carrots in
the burrows, plainly gnawed." This may
be true, but there are species of meadow
mice (genus Arvicola) which are known
to use the burrows of the mole for
an easy passage to their food, and these
are probably the depredators. AS for
moles eating peas, claim that they are
befriending US by destroying insects or
worms near the peas, and if the gardener
is certain that the peas are being eaten,
then he must lay the charge at the door of
another, doubtless some member of the
genus Arvicola.
Ii is true. moies are nuisance, although
we often malign them. forgetful that while
they are burrowing in our lawns they are
in search of grubs which iniure the grass
But man having decreed that moies are
pests. the question arises, How are We TO
mbat them?"
We see many ridiculous suggestions in
agricultural % papers regarding the de-
structlon of moles. One man says poi
soned corn, another poisoned potatoes,
and another recommends the digging of
deep holes through their burrows, into
which they will fall and be unable to ex-
tricate themselves.
Regarding poisoned corn or any vege-
table substance 10 kill moies, | say: you
cannot do it," Further. any one who has
been q witness of the rapidity with which
a mole will burroy out OF sight will pat
no faith in the post-hole theory. These