Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-09-07
EXTERNIN ALTON OF PRAIRIE DOGS
AND SQUIRRELS.

A recent press bulletin Of the Nebras-
ka Agricultural Experiment station
gives details Of experiments carried on
for the purpose of learning the best and
cheapest methods Of extermlnatlng
prairie dogs, which, like the ground
squirrels in Utah. are becoming so
numerous as TO be menace 10 agricul-
ture. The methods which proved TO be
so successful in the raid against prairie
dogs would undoubtedly be as effective
In waging the warfare against the
squirrel pest,
The Nebraskans have tried numerous
ways to eXtermInate the prairie dogs
but the treatment that has proven mos.
effective is the use OF strychnine and
potassium cyanide The formula Is as
follows:
Dissolve three ounces OF strychnIne
and one-half pound Of potassium Cy'
anide in one quart Of boiling water;
then add two quarts Of molasses and
one teaspo0nful Of oil Of anlse. Stir
Then place one bushel Of wheat I'm
tight receptacle $50 there VIII be no
loss from leakage) and pour the fore
going solution over IT, IL should then
be we'll stirred while an assistant slow
IS sprinkes into the mixture four
pounds OF finely ground corn meal The
molasses renders the liquid adhesive
so that II will cling 20 the grains Of
wheat. The object Of using the corn
meal Is 10 absorb the superfuous
LIQUID or syrup and thus enable the
grains OF wheat TO carry a larger
amount Of poison
This preparation has been distributed
IN very large town Of between five
and six hundred acres, A teaspooniul
was placed IN and around every hole
The results We're very gratifying as II
was demonstrated that fully ninety per
cent Of all the dogs were killed at the
first application. Within twenty-four
hours there were large numbers OF
them lying dead on the ground. Some
were found lying at the opening Of the
burrow. while some could be seen far
down In the hole. and no doubt many
died al the bottom Of their burrows
The results obtained from the above
experiment leave little room for doubt
that the prairie dog can be extermi-
mated I'm a short time n the work IL
done in a thorough manner. In doing
this work the following instructions
should be rlgi1ly adhered TO;
First. In preparing the poison great
care should be taken that the exact
proportions are used; that the cyanide
of potassium and strychnine are COM
pletely dissolved; that no more water
and syrup are used than the recipe calls
for. as one bushe Of wheat viii not
take up and carry more than this
amount Of liquid. After the liquid has
been poured into the wheat the whole
should he well stirred until al OF the
wheat has come In contact with the
syrup and the poison Is equally distrIb-
uted through the whole mass. II should
be used the same day that It Is pre-
pared, In order % obtain the best re-
suits. The way 10 apply this Is TO take
some OF the poisoned wheat In n tin
pail and sprinkle about a tablespoonful
Of II in and around each hole. DO not
leave It IN Jumps or punches, as cattle
or other stock might possibly eat II.
although our experience showed that
the danger from this Is not great as
cattle We're allowed 70 range over the
towns that were being thus treated and
none were injured.
The best time 10 commence opera
lions against the prairie dogs - dur
Ing a period ~ warm. clear weather IN
the winter. The advantage Of operat-
ing during the winter Is that the grass
and roots upon which they feed are
dead and frozen, and hunger compels
them 10 eat more freely Of the pois-
oned wheat, The poison seems 20 DO
lis work within forty-eight hours In
about a week or ten days the towh
should be gone over a second time, as
there Will be- OF course, some dogs
left. Of which about nifty per cent VIII
usually be killed by the second appli-
cation.