The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1917-12-08
WAGE WAR ON RODENTS
Tinted States Department of -Agr''
cultural Advocates ORGANIZED Az
tack on Rats and Mice.

Rat clubs. the purpose OF Whlch
"a To tran. poisOn, shoot, build out
and otherwise combat rats ana mice
are advocated by the United states
Denartment of Agriculture as e1tec-
tive agencies to help in getting rio
OF these pests and in making the
country a safer, more healthfnl, ana
les expensive place to live IN. Meas
ures to combat the destructive ro-
dents are especially desirable, in the
oniDion of the department. no"
that special efforts are being MADE
to reduce waste and so assure d SUI
1fcient food supply in spite OF war
conditions.
The Rats Destructive Record
The rat, the department points
ont in a recent Farmers Bulletin
House Rats and Mice,' is one OF
the worlds worst animal pests. 1t
lives in filth and carries filth with
it on its visit to dwellings and store
rooms, to pollute and destroy human
food. It carries bubonic plague and
other diseases fatal to man and SO
brings about the death of great num-
bers OF persons annually. 1t des-
troys crops, eggs and young poultry,
stored food, and fabrics; causes
fires; ruins artificial ponds and en-
hankments by burrowing: and by
gnawing, damages foundations.
floors, doors, furniture, and much
other property. The mouse, though
smaller, is almost as destructive.
1t would be eminently desirable,
the bulletin shows, completely to eX-
terminate rats and mice. The task
Is = difficult one, however, since
these animals breed with alarming
rapidly and adapt themselves to al
most all conditions. Individual eff
fort will accomplish little. since a
dwelling OF farm freed from the
pests is soon repopnlated by migra-
ton from adjacent territory. 1t is
for this reason that the department
advocates the waging OF organized
warfare on rats and mice, including
the formation of rat clubs.
Existing Rat Clubs
These organizations are not I'M
tried, the bulletin says, since the,
exist both in the United States and
in some foreign countries. A club
in Kent, England, destroyed 10000
rats in three seasons at an insight
fcant cost. Women's municipal
leagues in the United States have
recently taken up the matter of rat
eradication, notably in Baltimore
and Boston. The department be-
lleves there is an excellent oppor-
tunlty for these activities to spread,
and expects boards OF trade, civic
societies, citizens associations. wom-
ems clubs, both in town and rural
communities, boys corn clubs. Bow
Scouts, and similar organizations to
take up the work.
The Part of States and Cities
In addition to the work of local
organizations, there is much that
a be done toward rat eradication
by States and cities, the bulletin
points out. Through laws and or
dtnances, builders and owners can
be required to ratproof all new
buildings, and specifications can be
ADOPTED in the construction OF
sewers, drains, wharves, railroad
loading platforms, and other struc-
lures, that will prevent rats finding
haroorase about them. Better san
ltary measures can be enforced
ABOUT markets and stores and
throughout cities, villages, and coun
Try districts. States may help the
work by protecting native hawks
OWLS, and other enemies of rats
which destroy fewer poultry than
rats themselves. Farmers NAV dc
tnelr part by r%at-proofing dwellings
ana barns, by threshing grain earli.
er' and by moving it from the farm
promptly, so that rats andsmice will
NOT be harbored and fed. Indiyi.
duals everywhere may help by trap.
ping and poisoning rats and mice
ana destroying them in other wavs