The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1916-03-17
Squirrel Poison
Made by Expert
Formula for Effective Squir-
rel Poison Demonstrated

grain according to formula CnaC
has been found quite successful in
dc soying squirrels in this locality
was demonstrated at the Chamber
of Commerce meeting in Moscow
by C. M. Yerrington of the govern
ment biological survey, a specialist
on the destruction of animal pests.
Mr.. Yerrington said that the
squirrel found here, the Columbia
ground squirrel, is one OF the most
difficult to contend with. So far,
it has been possible to get only
about seventy per cent of them,
but it is believed that their natural
enemies will do much to destroy
the remainder.
It is not the purpose of the gov
ernment department Of agriculture
to discourage or oppose the use OF
commercial poisons. Its purpose is
to give the farmers the formulas
that have been found most success
full in their own districts after
actual trial, and to recommend
only such preparation as can be
made at home.
Since the first trial of poisoned
oats were made, it has been found
that a mixture of wheat and oats is
more effective. The preparation
recommended can be prepared at
cost of $3.50 to $500 per bushel,
and is said to be at least as good as
the best commercial poisons. Tests
are still being carried on at the
university farms, and any improve
ments discovered will be given pub
licity.
The formula recommended fol-
: lows:
1. Mix thoroughly one ounce of
strychnine alkaloid-not sulphate-
(powdered) and one ounce of COM
mon baking soda, Zone heaping
tablespoonfuD.
2. Sift this into one pint of thin
starch paste and stir to a creamy
mass. The starch paste is made by
dissolving two tablespoonfuls OF
gloss starch in little cold water
which is then added to one pint OF
boiling water. Boil and stir con
stantly until thin clear paste Ii
formed.
8. Add ] pint az tablespoon
fuls) of any kind of syrup and stil
thoroughly.
a. Add tablespoonful of glyce
rine.
5. Add / ounce e tablespoon
fuls) saccharine and stir well.
6. Pour this poisoned solutio
over 20 quarts of grain, 10 quart
oats, and 10 of wheat, and stir ur
til each grain is thoroughly coate
a with a thin film of starch paste.
the skin is not broken the hand
NAV be used in mixing. Was
them afterwards.
7. One tablespoonful of poisol
ed grain should be placed at eae
burrow on a clean hard surface
alloLng the grain to scatter sligh
ly as it falls. placed in this WE
it will not endanger livestock.) l
not put the grain on mounds or
holes. Prepare IL to "a hours b
fore using. Each quart of tt
poisoned grain should treat abo
40 holes.
Mr.. Yerrington explained tn
strychnine alkaloid, not the mo
common strychnine sulphate,
used because 1t is more poWerl'
and is insoluble in water so that
stands exposure better and is tas
less when the squirrel first takes
into the mouth. 1t is soluble
saliva, and is absorbed into
blood, affecting the nervous syste
& The small amount absorbed from
few grains carried in the che
pouches is sufficient to kill squirl
The soda has the effect of retard
the dissolving of the poison so
victim will eat more of the gr
than if it dissolved more quic
and was tasted sooner.-Star-M Mir