The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-09-30


ulation entails direct loss of $2OOOO,-
GOO annually. This enormous sum gives
an idea of the still greater total loss
inflicted by this rodent throughout the
length and breadth of the land
The officers of the biological survey
Say that the gopher also, does a great
del of damage to the crops, because
ii feeds upon the roots of plants and
destroys great quantities of grain and
garden stuff. 1t also throws up
mounds of earth. which bury the grass
and other crops Gophers have recent
ly proved Il serious annoyance to the
irrigation service by burrowing under
the dams and entertainments of the
reservoirs and canals, causing expen-
Sive leaks and breaks. No animal,
however, is more easily controlled by
traps and poisOns. and at the request
If the reclamation service the biolOgi-
al survey recently sent out men to de-
Use ways and methods of trapping
,ophers. so that now the animals are
Practically exterminated upon the gov
rnment irrigation system, although
hey are likely to come back again if
hey are not looked after 1t is impos-
ibe to estimate the amount of dam
&c that they have done.
Rabbits are also doing a good deal
If damage, particularly in the fruit
ountries. In Australia Il few years
hIa haf hn
entire population used to join in rabbit
drives and slaughter millions of them
ut single meeting. Rabbits breed so
rapidly that it is difficult to keep them
down. but it has been discovered that
IN inexpensive whitewash made of lime
and sulphur will protect orchard trees
against rabbits for at least year,
when it must be renewed.
Wolves and coyotes are being grad
ually exterminated on the Western
plains. Secretary Wilson says that
more than / 800 wolves and about d.
coo coyotes were killed last year by To-
eating their breeding dens and poison
ing the young. He urges that this work
be continued throughout the West so
long as wild land exists in vast tracts
there they can find safe harborage and
reeding grounds. Hitherto the loss
: to stockmen have averaged $2OO,O0O,-
90 a year from these animals, but he
says that by persistent effort and at
comparatively small cost they can be
kept down so as To limit the damage
lone by them to a minimum.
In their relation TO agriculture man.
nails differ considerably from birds.
1ew birds are so harmful that their
Wholesale destruction is called for,
ince, by devouring destructive insects,
most of them render full equivalent
'cr any mischief they may commit.
such is by no means true of mammals.
\ few are very beneficial, and the use
fulness of such servants of man as bats.
skunks. weasels. badgers, foxes and
moleS should be known and appreciat-
ed, that their lives may be spared and
they be allowed TO continue their good
work
Every year witnesses an Increase in
the Number of sportsmen who pursue
our game birds, every species of which
plays n more or less important part in
destroying insect life and preserving
the balance of nature; and this. too,
while the reclamation of vast tracts Of
wild land for agriculture and other
purposes encroaches on the breeding
grounds of game birds, which are thus
gradually becoming fewer in numbers.
while the demand for them becomes
greater and greater. Many Of our in
sectivorous birds are also killed for
food, despite the fact that state laws
almost everywhere prohibit such
slaughter. With these and other forces
acting against the welfare of our birds,
it becomes doubly important to use
every means i'm our power not only to
prevent the reduction of useful species,
but to increase their numbers whenever
and wherever possible.