The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-02-22
WOOL MEN TO GO
AFTER COYOTES
Additional Bounty Will Serve to
Cause Systematic Hunt on tho
Lamb Killer-Will Observe
Poison Month.

OAoo4 MOutus
In letter from State Veterinarian
W. H. Lytle, he says Poison Month"
is being generally observed through
out the Northwest during the month
of February.
The Oregon State Legislature
passed a coyote bounty law which
provides a bounty of $500 on all
coyotes killed in the year 1917, with
an increase of 800 per year on fe.
males thereafter. This will have 4
natural tendency to materially assist
in the eradication Of the coyote. It Il
the intention Of woolgrowers and
sheepmen in general to conduct
crusade in coyote poisoning before
whelping time.
DR.. Lytle calls attention to the fact
that live stock was never SO valuable
as at the present time. good lamb
at birth is well worth from three to
five dollars and calf is easily worth
from seven to ten dollars.
Herewith we publish a report of
the National Woolgrowers' Commit
tee after they had conferred with u.
S. Biological Survey with view to
recommending practical and effectual
methods of poisoning coyotes.
Systematic Poisoning of Coyotes
Urged.
The conclusion reached after thor
ough discussion with officials in
charge of the government operations
in poisoning coyotes, is that, under
winter conditions best results are OBJ
tanned from small bats composed Of
lard and sugar, each with poison
dose of two and three-fourths (2A
grains of strychnine powdered ak
aloid). The strychnine may be con-
tanned in a No. 2 capsule. or it may
be placed In loose form in cavity in
the center of the bait. In the latter
case, 1t is essential that the lard be
cold and hard when the poison is ad-
ded, since warm lard quickly abscrbs
the extremely bitter taste of strych-
nine.
The entire process of preparing the
baits should be by means of clean
wooden or metal implements to avoid
the taint of human hands. Probably
the most important recommendation
of all, is that each bait be kept in
small, clean paper bag from the time
it is prepared until placed for the
coyote. 1t is advised that paper bags
for the purpose be plainly labeled,
coyote poison
The materials are usually at hand
for any stockman to prepare his own
baits. Good, odorous, home-rendered
lard is considered better than the
market article.
The committee strongly advocates
that each live stock association en-
ploy a competent man to make the
bats in quantity, to supply members
and cooperators, and that every eff
fort be made to poison the ranges
during the remainder of the winter.
In general operations of the kind.
t is important that inhabitants of the
district be notified and other pre-
be made to insure the
safety Of dogs that are valued.
Directions for Preparing Poison
Bats: (A)-In a warm place. mix
thoroughly together home rendered
ard and sugar in about equal guam
.ities. Place outside to cool until
stiff enough to mold into balls about
he size Of small walnut; or into
liscs of about the same bulk. Press
N the cavities for the poison; place
n rows on clean board and set out
side to become thoroughly cold and
lard. With large pointed quill or
,ther suitable measure. place the poi
son in the cavities with care that
hone be left on the surface. Close the
,avities by applying the lard-sugar
mixture with case knife. Cool the
,aits; lift from the board with case
knife and transfer each bait to
small paper bag and twist securely
shut. Keep in cold place.
(B)-A modification of the above
method we'll worthy of recommenda-
lion when the strychnine is used in
loose form, is that the cavities for the
poison be made with red hot iron,
thus forming pocket with the
scorched walls which prevent the
from being absorbed by
the lard.
Good poison bats are little more
than half the game-the remainder
being in their proper use in the
field. 1t may be said that poison
bats should be placed as carfully
as are traps. The following methods
are recommended:
(D-Place the poison lard balls in
and about carcasses, and especially
on trails twenty to hundred feet
from them. Old carcasses are attrac-
tive to coyotes even when little more
than bones and hair remain. There
is no better place for poison than in
or near the remains Of an old sheep