New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-08-24

| SOlUCo eXGerlAludC1Ou 10 AOoCCN
only when conditions make the
continuation of species impossible
for the rat.
The size and frequency OF rod
emit litters decreases proportion.
ately with every cutting off o.
food supplies. Separate the rat
from his pabulum and he will not
breed so freely nor so often as
when he is we'll fed. Destroy rat
habitations and make it impos-
sible for them to find new resting
places, and breeding will virtual
" cease, since the unsheltered
progeny can no longer survive,
aid since the starving parent rats
are driven to cannibalism in the
struggle for existence.
Campaigns against rodents must
cover five direction: Q) Trap
ing (2) poisoning, % exposing
them to natural enemies, ~ cut
ting off food supply, and 60 de-
stroying existing nests at the
same time that the making OF new
ones is prevented. i
4Parenthetically, it may be noted
that while these principles apply
equally to the determination ot
rats in cities and in country dis
tricts, their application must vary
according to the place. /
Trapping. |
The kind of traps to be used
varies with the rodent to be cap
tured and the locality which 1t
| infests. < |
| Cage Traps.
The large 19-inch French caget
trap gives good results where rats
are plentiful. 1t should be made
of stiff, heavy wire, and well re-
enforced, as large, strong rat
will force his head between the
wires in weak trap and thus
escape. Before setting, the lever
on the trap should be tested to
see that it works properly. The
trap should be placed on a hard
surface, with the rear end a lit.
tie higher than the trap will close
promptly. When setting the trap
in the open it should be fastened
to board on which about an
inch of soft dirt has been spread.
Place the trap where the rat u.s.
nally goes for food or in a run
way and disturb the surroundings
as little as possible. 1t is some
times we'll to place the trap near
where is dripping water, as the t
rats come there to drink. If the
trap is set in hay or straw or c
wood it should be covered with
the exception of the entrance) e
with this material. When this r
is not possible it should be COW
cred with q piece Of sacking or b
placed in a dark corner or be- v
meath the floors. When setting r
the traps In the sewer a dry place
should be chosen. o
The rat is more or less Of an d
epicure, therefore the bait should .
be changed at frequent intervals. %
Also he should be given food 0
which he is not in the habit Of a
getting. For example. In a
meat market vegetables are the s
BEST bait, while in location II
where vegetables are plentiful II
fresh liver and fish heads, or al
little grain, are best. The follow q
ng may be suggested as good bait s.
% be used. Fish, fish heads, raw l.
neat, cheese, smoked fish, fresh Il
liver, cooked corned beer fried a
bacon, pine nuts, apples, carrots is
md corn. When trapping in II
chicken yards a small chick or D.
luekling is remarkably good. ;.
When large number of rats are u
,aught in one trap, search for the p
'emale and leave her alive in the o.
rap, as she may call in the young
# the males. The bait should be tt
astened TO the inner side of the is
op Of the trap with piece Of fine SC
wire so that the first rat in can W
lot force the bait underneath the CT
IAN and thus prevent the en- VI
rance Of other rats. A few eI
rains of barley should be scat
cred near the entrance Of the CT
rap and a small piece of cheese el
r meat fastened to the pan with W
piece of wire. It is often well
0 touch the pan with a feather nj
rhich has been dipped in oil of m
Mise or oil Of rhodium. Before OF
eaving the trap it should be ps
moked with q piece Of burning IN
tewspaper to kill the smell Of II
he human hands or the rats
7hich have been In it. Do not
andle the trap after burning it !;
ut. When trapping in neigh - -
orhood where rats are known to g.
xist the traps should not be -
loued for three or four days un- -
IS they have rats in them, as .
is well for the rats to become
ccustomed to seeing them and II
nus careless about entering. 1t
not wise to kill rats where they
re caught, as the squealing may oh
tighten the other rats away. "a
Ito be continued next issue.) lal
pr
Indian Killed On Track. br'
Near Rochelle, ILL.,, an Indian my
ent to sleep on a railroad track co