The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12
WAR ON PRAIRIE PESTS.
KANSAS Law MAKERS DEVISE
PLOTS AGAINST THEM.
Coyotes, GraSShoppers and Chicken Hawks
Come In for 0itlcial Prairie
Dog" Caves Rivals Pocket Gopher
Polly and "0d Grow" IandergIn.

Aoyojes, 'rHSSlOpperS ana Chicken HaMk :
Come In for 0ftlcla tction-"P Prairie
Dog" Caves Rivals Pocket Gopher
POLY and "0ld Crow" Iandcrgin
The Legislature Of Kansas is devoting
much time 10 attempts TO lcgislate out Of
existence a large share Of the native ami
mails II the State Ever since the passing
Of the buffalo the game laws of Kansas
have been odd for they have for the most
part been directed toward the cxtermina
ton rather than the preservation of the
native game
The campaign began two years ago when
Prairie Dog" Cave Of Haskell county in
troduced bin appropriatiug 5000 to
carry on tho warfare against the prairie
d 'hc most picturesque. as well az most
de- tive pest of the plains. Caves
bill brought about the creation Of the Office
OF state Prairie Dog Exterminator. which
gave to its incumbent u. r. Lentz Of the
State Agricultural College. no little no.
toriety.
SO successful was this first official cam-
paign that the present Legislature was
encourage 10 extend the warfare TO pocket
gophcrs, coyotes crows chicken hawks
grasshopper- and anything else that it
can think Of before the dag Of adjourn
ment. state Puirie Dog Exterminator
Lent H. thus in q fair way TO have his duties
largely increased; while Prairie Dog
Cave has rivals i'm Pocket Gopher" Polly
Of Republic county and Old Crow Lam
dergn OF Greenwood county. ut whose
request the State Will wage war on the
feathered pests that annoy the farmers
Of his particular neghborhood
For years the various counties Of the
State have offered bounties for the scalps
Of rabbits, coyotes and other animals. but
this method accomplished little and moro
far reaching measures were necessary if
the land and its products we're 10 be saved
from the destructive creatures that infest
1t. Mr. Lent has sdcceeded in redeeminC
for agricultural purposes large tracts Of
land that the borrowings Of tho plump
little brown prairie dog. half squirrel and
half puppy, had rendered useless
He concooted particular kind Of poison.
which is sent to the farmers for the bare
cost Of making. and which when spread
a. the mouths Of the holes where the ami
mails live is warranted to bring sudden
death to every one that browses on it.
just what means he will deviae TO bring
about the destruction Of the other animals
that will be thrown on his mercies remains
10 he seen
Pocket gopher- may not appeal to the
average person as an object especially
W neod ~ legislation. but to the farmers
Of north central Kansas they are burning
issue. and Pocket Gopher" Polly. bv get
ting his measure through the Legislature.
has succeeded in squarng himself for all
time with his constituents.
The pocket gofhar L. gecopJ ,,-,,-;., ., /
the prairie dog. with neatly striped hack /
and a capacity for digging and burrow |
inc that puts him in a class all bv himself
He dos not live in towns as docs the priatie
dog and the communal system has no ]
attractions for him
The gopher was not considered an es-