The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-03-30
DEATH TO PRAIRIE DOGS.
Destructive Pest May Be Eradicated
ey Easy Method.

BY Easy !
Among early lay immigrnntsto north
eru Montana were Q few familics OF
prairie dogs and gophers, who estab.
ltshed colonies A. various points and
have increased 10 numbers annually
up to the present time. 10 mos. local. !
tiles their presence Is undesirable and
injurious to agricultural development,
the pest deriving %sustenauce from
grass, forage aud grain crops that
could be put to better use, and land
that should return profitable yields of
agricultural products is converted in
to q comparatively barren waste.
The matter of abating this nuisance
was recently the subject OF correspon'
dence between the River Press and OF.
cials OF the U. $. department of aRri.
culture, David E. Lantz. OF the bu-
reau Of biological survey. making re-
ply to the questions submitted. Mr..
Lantz had charge OF the experiments
in prairie dog extermina alton in Kan.
sss . few years ago. and elaine that
some two million acres of land 10 the
| Sunaower state we're redeemed from
the pest At that time.
OF the various agents that have been
used for the destru .tion Of prairie
dogs, 1t has been found In prelimi-
nary experiments that poisoned grain
and b~isulphide Of carbon are the most
effective and economical. Poisoned
grain is the least expensive OF the two
and Is most efficient in winter and
early spring, when the ordinary food
of the prairie dog Is scarce and di6B.
cult to obtain. AT this season, by
it's proper and systematic use, 80 to 80
per cent of the animals may be de.
stroved at Q cost of 10 to Is cents an
acre. The remainder may be killed
, by the use of b~isulphide of carbon, the
cost of which should be about l cent
per hole.
Sulphate OF strychnine is probably
, the best and most satisfactory poison
, known for the destruction Of prairie
dogs. Care should BE- taken to pro-
cure strychnine sulphate, since the
strychnine usually sold by druggists
q is insoluble in water. Experiments
have shown that II ounces of strych.
mia sulphate to q bushel Of grain IL
sufficient. When thoroughly dissolved,
add the grain and allow to simmer IL
q closed vessel, stirring occasionally
until the mixture is taken up by the
grain; or the mixture may be allowed
!, to stand over night to absorb the
free moisture.
In distributing the poisoned grair
> or other material it is usually best Il
scatter it outside the burrows insteat
. OF putting it inside, where it is likely
. to be trodden into the earth and lost
= A half teaspoonful is sufficient TO-
y each occupied burrow. Enough shoult
y be used to kill the prairie dogs, with
out leaving a remainder to poison
. other animals aud birds. For thu
u same reason it is recommended tina
: wherever practicable the poison b.
distributed during evening hours, 81
that it may be eaten by the prairie
y dogs early the following morning.
Crude bisulphide, suitable for kill
ing prairie dogs and other burrowin(
animals, costs about 8 cents pc
e pound 10 50.pound csrboys or drums
1t 10 a volatile liquid and rapid!
, loses strength on exposure to the air
hence, it should be kept in tight.
corked bottles or cans 1t should no
. be introd uced haphazard, but ehoul'
be used only In burrows which tn
animals have been seen to enter i'm
q mediately before 1t 10 applied, 90 tina
none may be, wasted on u%noccupie'
holes. 1t should be employed in th
following manner:
A tablespoonful of crude bisulphid
should be poured on q piece Of hors
u manure, corncob, lump of earth, O
other %absorptive material; this SHOULD
be thrown as far as possible down tn
- burrow and the opening should b
closed Immediately; or. the desir
D. quantity may be placed 10 q shallo,
dish of any kind. or even in q recep
J. tacle made by folding a piece of wa
terproof paper. and thrust down int
the burrow, after which the mouth q
u the burrow should be closed, as abov
IL described.
.. I. 1t should be clearly understood tha
TX the method recommended by this dc
E. partment consists of two steps-l) t
q destroy the great bulk of the iuhabit
. ants of the colony by poisoning wit
L. stry chime in winter or early spriu
when food is scarce: ~ to kill th
remaining animals with bisulphide {
carbon. In this way it is believe
D. that colonies Of any size may b