Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1909-06-24
PEST OF PRAIRIE DOGS.
Forest Service to Drive Them Out
of Southwest.

OF oOutU"CSt.
In cooperation with the stockmen
the United States Forest Service has
begun an active campaign against
prairie dogs on the infested ranges
within the national forests of Arizona
and New Mexico. Successful attempts
at poisoning prairie days were made
last spring and summer by the Forest
Service in other parts Of the country.
| and this year the work will be carried
on much more extensively.
The poison used to put an end to
these little pests of the Western
ranges is prepared by coating wheat
with preparation of strychnine, cy-
anide of potassium. anise oil and mo-
lasses. The stockmen supply horses
| and men and the poisoned wheat is
given out by the government officers
Tor distribution upon the ranges with
in the national forest areas. Each
rider carries the wheat in a tin pail
supported by gunny sack slung across
his shoulder. One hand is free for the
reirs and with the other the rider uses
a teaspoon to measure out the poison
in bats" and drop 1t near the en-
trance of the holes.
The action of the poison is almos:
instantaneous. Most of the prairie
| dogs in a town are dead within an
hours or two after the bait is dropped.
! Early last month $500 pounds OF
wheat was prepared at Albuquerque. n.
NJ. and shipped to the various national
/ forests in Arizona and New Mexico to
be distributed. The quantity of wheat
will make approximately 6.020, 900 bats
which will clear up an area of from 60,
600 TO $4,000 acres at a cost, exclusive
OF the labor Of distributing IL on the
ranges, OF about / to 1-2 cents an
acre.
The poison Is used to best advant-
age in the early spring, when the dogs
first come out Of their winter quar-
| tiers and before the green grass Is
spentiful enough TO appease their ap-
! pstites.
Last month a well-known stockman
in northern Arizona, writing to the
Forest Service of his stock range on
the great Canyon Diabolo plateau.
said: Five years ago such a thing ms
a prairie dog was unknown here Two
years ago there were few widely dis
tributed over the range. Last year
they became numerous, in fact quite
common. II something is not prompt
ly done TO destroy them they will do
great harm TO the range"
AS all Westerners know, prairie dogs
are among the worst enemies with
which the stockmen have to contend.
Where they establish themselves the
destruction Of the range is only a ques-
ton OF time. On ranch lands they have
proved most destructive to a variety
OF crops, among which are wheat, H.
falfa. grain, potatoes and sugar beets.
and on grazing lands they are said to
consume and destroy so much grass
that the grazing capacity Of the range
Is reduced OTTO IS percent
~ Is expected that the campaign
against the dogs I'm the Arizona and
New Mexico forests will be more sue
cessful, as II has met with universal
favor among the stockmen. who are
giving every assistance to the Forest
Service men. Range Improvement In
| national forests IL one OF the chiet
objects Of regulating the grazing. and
for this reason the Forest Service f.
leaving no stone unturned to prevent
range Observation-Disclosures States
man.