The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1914-02-26
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= RABBITS VS.. OTHER PESTS =
= 4 - - -- Z 3 Z = =

There seems 10 De cohsiuerhDie
complaint about damage done by the
rabbit. IN spite OF the fact that the
county has paid out several hundred
dollars on them also. adjacent coun'
ties killed and shipped several thou
sand to Eastern markets last win
ter. but they sull seem 10 be on
the increase.
/ came to the plains over 10 years
ago. At that time there Was little
complaint although there were but
few farmers IN the country. Appar
emily they had better opportunities
10 multiply then than now. so far
as man was concerned Why the
changer Nature adjusts Itself. The
rabbit ia native OF this country
he also developed NATURAL enemies
These enemies kept him from be
coming pest but man has disturb
ed this balance in nature by wan
tonly and ienorantly destroying the
enemy OF the rahbit-snch as the
ble hawk coyote badger. polecai or
skunk. These animals prey upon
rabbits for their main supply Of food
They destroy great many while
they ARE small. so that We never re-
allied what was being done until
too late.
In demonstration OF this fact
number OF years ago rabbits we're
introduced into Australia. There
were no natural enemies 10 II there
and the result was they multiplied
win such rapidiiy that thousands
perhaps millions OF dollars worth
OF damase has been done. They
had 10 build hundreds o. miles Of
fences 10 keep them from the nm
settled interior. and they have
spent many thousands Of dollars
io destroy them n the settled d'S
,ricts. while some of the enemies
have mentioned DO some damage
nov and then. ! would suggest his
ruiz. "Do ret bother them unless
they first bother YOU. IN general
they are your friends. There Is o.
prendice against the big hawk bur
no has never been guilty Of rs much
AS people allegr against him. Tvs
stphhv figure once 50 conspicuous on
the plains is gradually becoming less
and the man with the gun thar had
10 shoot someihing. has shot one 81
his best friends
Tho ground squirrel is also com
lng In line as pest. Several o.
the creatures have named prey
upon him. especially the badger
some wears ago. I was living on
farm noticed quite number ~
shallow holes being dug by a BADGER
MOI deep enough for his home, so
was at a loss as to his object hut
finally discovered that he was dig
cling up the ground squirrel for food.
The ground squirrel hibernates most
OF me winter but the badger goes
ON eating him, nevertheless.
Snakes. also. destroy a great many
of these pests. believe o. mistake
10 dH them. with the exception OF
ihp RATHER. whose damage viii oui.
weigh his good. and be- o. too dam
eerous The bun snake Is special
benefit o. man. and is nonpolsonous
The toad IS great insect DESTROYER
Do my Judgment the bounty VIII
not meet Ge demand only Temporal
riy we must eiso nature a chance
TO adjust herself and she viii give
us adequate protection Another Illus
tration 20 establish this fact. Some
wears ago scale wns Introduced
b, some means into California, that
threatened o. destroy the orange
groves Scientific men knew nothing
of such pest uhe san lose scalel
Where did q come from
49, Investigation his native home
WIS found 10 be IN Australia. but
It's DAMAGE there was not noticeable
TO any extent And why II was
discovered that there was certain
bug there called the 'iady-bird' that
preyed upon the scale. SO the lady
bird was brought to America turn
ed loose In the orange groves OF
California and saves them from de-