The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1913-07-04
Field Mice and Clover.


species of mammals which, under our
present day conditions, may increase
in numbers until they assume the pro-
portions of a plague, says A. L.
Lovett, assistant entomologist of the
Oregon Agricultural College Expert
ment Station. "Asia and Europe have
been more subject to these outbreaks;
often vast areas, including from few
thousand acres to whole provinces
have been devastated by these small
rodents. Serious outbreaks in the
United States are comparatively rare
and extend over limited areas.
"The short-tailed field mice are very
prolific. There are from 2 to 6 litters
during the year; the number of young
per litter varying from to IL, with
an average of about 6. The young
from the early litters are believed to
breed before fall.
"Generally speaking, local condi-
tions in an infested district are favor
able to the increase of the mice.
Their favorite location seems to be the
damp areas bordering on small streams
or irrigation bitches. Here they live,
thrive and multiply in more or less
we'll defined colonies, eventually over
running the adjacent fields. They are
gregarious in habit and move in colo
nies, which, in successive years,
amount to hordes. Usually they clean
up definite area, then move on to ad-
jacent fields, leaving havoc in their
wake.
"Clover and alfalfa fields afford an
abnormal food supply and the rate of
increase here is especially rapid.
During the summer season the soil
becomes honeycombed with their holes,
and by fall their injury is quite
marked. The winter injury is even
more severe, as they feed at this time
on the crowns and roots. Fields are
often rendered Improbable and may
be killed out entirely. Ordinarily a
season of excessive abundance is fol-
lowed by period of comparative de-
preston.
"Nearly all root crops may be at
tackled, such as potatoes, beets, car
rots and others. Fruit and shade trees
are also sometimes killed or severely
set back by the feeding of these mice
on the roots.
"During a serious outbreak or
plague of field mice, it is seemingly
impossible to suppress the pest sue
cessfully. This is due partly to ignor-
ance of proper methods of procedure
and lack of cooperation. Treating the
pest before it has assumed the proper
tions of a plague is urged. Whole
communities included in the infested
area should assiduously cooperate with
one another to hold in suppression a
pest that has the possibility of becom-
ing a wholesale plague.
"Fatal bacterial diseases to be in
troduced in prepared food have been
proposed. This treatment will work
where conditions are right, but is too
expensive for general usage.
Hawks, owls, crows, gulls and her
ons, among the birds, and skunks and
weasels among the mammals prey con-
tinuously and effectively on field mice.
These valuable allies should receive
protection and encouragement.
"Poisons seem by far the most prac-
tical means Of dealing with field mice.
A single treatment of properly mixed
and carefully applied poison will give
a death percentage of from IS to 95.
"To poison clover hay, chop 80
pounds of clean, fresh clover for al
falfa) hay into about 2-inch lengths.
place in a large metal vessel and
dampen with gals. of fresh water.
Dissolve l ounce of strychnia sui
phate in 2 gals. of water by heating
slowly in a closed vessel. Sprinkle
over dampened hay and mix well.
"To poison green clover, heat or.
of strychnia sulphate in half gallon
of water until dissolved. Add this to
one gallon of fresh, cold water. Chop
45 pounds of fresh, green clover (or
alfalfa) into 2-inch lengths. Sprinkle
slowly with solution and mix well.
"To poison crushed wheat, dissolve
/ ounce of strychnia sulphate in 2
gals. of water. Sprinkle this solution
over so lbs. of crushed wheat. Mix
well in a metal vessel. If this mater
ial is to be retained for several days,
add tablespoonsfuls of borax to pre-.
vert fermentation.
"The clover hay is best during the
winter. A small pinch or teaspoon
full is sufficient. Place at the mouth,
or even better, down in the runway OF
the burrow. The green material is
preferable in the summer, but is hard
to apply over large areas. The fields
should be treated in the evenings foi
best results.
"The crushed grain may be used any
time. A teaspoonful is sufficient fol
several burrows. If exposed, this
bait may prove attractive. to certain
birds. The crushed grain is far su.
perior to the whole wheat.
"After treating the field it shoulc
be brush-dragged. This obliterates
the holes so that second treatment
includes only the newly-opened, oc-
cupied burrows. A single treatment