Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-03-31
NEW SQUIRREL POISON
BOOSTED BY EXPERT
Government Agent Recommends New
Formula for Killing Columbian
Ground Squirrels-Demon-
stratiun ut College


~ discovered, will do the work that
is claimed for it, and the farmers
show Il disposition to use the poison,
the day OF the destructive rodent is
doomed, a demonstration of the eff
fectiyeness of the new poison was
given at the college last Saturday by
Carl NJ. Yerrington, assistant in the
United States biological survey, who
stated that the newly discovered
The government will spend thou
sands of dollars. if necessary, in ia
miliarzing the farmers of the state
with the new formula and assuring
its general use. The preparation is
practically the same as that recon-
mcnded by eXperim ent station eX-
perts in a bulletin recently published
on the Ground Squirrel Control, 3"
which gives explicit directions for
fighting the rodents.
The poison originated in Cali
fornia and government experts have
successfully demonstrated its effect
iveness in all parts of the west. 1t
is composed of common ingredients
which are found in farm homes with
the exception of the strychnine used.
That 700 rabbits were killed with a
pint of the mixture, costing 80 cents
in the demonstration work in south
ern Idaho, was one of the statements
of the expert.
We have found Stated Mr.. Yer
rington, that squirrels eat poisoned
oats more readily than other poi
soned grain, and that at the same
time birds do not touch the oats.
Consequently, we urge that the
farmers use poisoned oats in fighting
the pests. The ground squirrels
here are the hardest we have found
anywhere, but we have demonstrate
| ed the effectiveness of this poison
| beyond doubt. The preparation will
| keep forever if small amount of
glycerine is used. We recommend
| that the farmer scatter the poisoned
grain a short distance from the hole.
| about eight inches, so it will not be
covered up, as when it is put on the
mound. The poison will stand a
24-hour rain without losing its eff
| fectiveness. Farmers can easily de
| termine the effectiveness of the poi
son by watching a squirrel that eats
it. If one CONFUSION occurs the an
imal is sure to die. One tablespoon
full of the poisoned grain we have
found sufficient for each burrow.
The poison is cheap and easily
prepared, all of the ingredients ex-
cept the strychnine are kept con-
stantly in every farm home and the
strychnine alkaloid, the insoluble
form, is easily obtainable. There is
no reason whatever why the farmers
should not all use this new poison. 3"
The extension department of the
college will cooperate with the
county agriculturists throughout the
state iii introducing the poison in all
parts of the state.
Following is the formula recon-
mended by the government biologist
and the State College:
To one ounce of strychnine aka
loid add a heaping tablespoonful of
baking soda; add a little water and
mix thoroughly.
To two tablespoonfuls of gloss
starch add three-fourths of a pint
of water and stir until a paste is Sc
cured.
Add one-third of a pint of corn
syrup and one tablespoonful of glyc-
crime. Add one teaspoonful of sacn-
arine and stir the complete mkt lie
thoroughly. The mixture is cuff
cient for poisoning 16 quarts of oa.s.
Add the poison TO the oats and stir
thoroughly.
The strychnine alkaloid is recon-
mended in place of the strychnine
sulphate because the alkaloid is in
soluble. 1t costs the same as the
other form.
The corn syrup adds a good taste
10 the mixture and is known to at
tract the squirrels by its odor 1t
also helps to glue the mixture to the
grain kernels.
The glycerine is added only when
the poison is not to be used within
a couple of days after its prepare
ton, If glycerine is added the pii-
soned grain may be kept for any
length of time without losing it's er-
fectiveness.
The sacharine is 500 times as
sweet as sugar, and is used to cover
the bitter taste OF the strychnine