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-
stration at College

II new poisonous mixture, recent
~ discovered, will do the work that
is claimed for it, and the farmers
show disposition to use the poison,
the day of the destructive rodent is
doomed. A demonstration of the eff
tectiyeness 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
poison is the most efficient yet used.
sands of dollars, if necessary, in ia
miliarizng the farmers of the state
with the new formula and assuring
its general use. The preparation is
practically the same as that recon-
nended by experiment station eX-
perts in bulletin recently published
on the Ground Squirrel Control, q"
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 a 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
fectiyeness. Farmers can easily de-
termine the effectiveness of the poi
son by watching 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 now noieon j"
rho ov+ou,to, ao,,ou..,o.. r -.
oo,Ioo .,n
county agriculturists throughout tho
state in Introducing tba noieop IN oil
parts Of the state
Eo,,,; -. .- -
-, 49, 49,. N..l..N,.- = '''
and +bo c+o+o canaa.
70 one ounce of stryehnine aka
lold add heaplng tablespoonful of
BAKING soda; add little water and
NIX thoroughly.
10 two tablespoonfuls of gloss
starch add three-fourths of a pint
OF water and stir until 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