The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-03-09
"POIsON MONTH"


|. "POISON MONTH"
The state of Washington is facing
a serious menace in the disease known
as rabies or hydrophobia among dogs
and coyotes, especially the latter. The
state department of agriculture has
issaed a quarantine order requiring
leAe mnzzling OF all dogs in eastern
Washington, which II properly en-
forced by the peace officers and other
citizens, will control the disease inso-
far as dogs are concerned, but the
Question of eradicating the coyotes
and thereby eliminating the disease
known as rabies Is far more diff
:ult problem.
Coyotes, which includes diseased
animals. are causing great losses
among livestock in all the western
range states and are great menace
to the public health. so the legislature
acting upon the recommendation of
the department Of agriculture have re.
stored the bounty on predatory
animals and have made appropriation
therefor.
Funds In the amount OF SIS. 900 have
also been provided for cooperative e
work between the state department
|or agriculture and the United States
department of agriculture. The bureau
Of biological survey of the United
States department Of agriculture en-
|ploys trained trappers who are under
the supervision of Mr.. Edgar Averill,
|of Pendleon, Oregon. At the present
time there are seventeen Of these men
Operating in the state of Washington
and the new appropriation will admit
|of additional work during the next
two years.
The bounty and the trapper system
will be the two very effective means
in combating the coyote evil, and will
undoubtedly greatly lessen the num-
Der OF coyotes, but still more ef-
fective weapon exists in a united and
systematic poisoning campaign of
these animals by our farmers, sheep
men and woOdsmen. Therefore the
state department of agriculture has
designated March as Poison Month"
and asks farmers and others living in
the coyote infested areas of eastern
Washington to put out poison bats
during the month Of March, also T.
make war on these predatory animals
by every possible means such as coy
ote drives, hunts, traps, etc.
Directions for Poisoning.
Under winter conditions the best
results are obtained from small bait
composed Of lard and sugar, each with
a poison dose of two and three fourths
grains OF strychnjne-< ssrpd aka.
loid.) The strychnine Hsday be con-
tanned in No. 2 capusle or it may be
placed in loose form in a 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 absorbs
the extremely bitter taste of strych-
nine.
The entire process of preparing the
bats 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
bats. Good, odorous, home made lard
is considered better than the market
article.
The department strongly advocates
that each live stock association em-
ploy a competent man to make the
bats in quantity, to supply members
and cooperators, and that every effort
be made to poison the ranges during
the remainder of the winter.
In general operations of the kind
it is important that inhabitants of
the district to be notified and other
prearangements be made to insure
the safety of dogs that are valuable.
Directions for Preparing Bait.
(A)-In a warm place mix thorou-
ghly together home rendered lard and
sugar in about equal parts. Place out
side to cool until stiff enough to mold
into balls about the size of small
walnut, or into discs about the same
size. Press in the cavities for the pois
on; place in rows on clean board
and set outside to become thoroughly
cold and hard. With large pointed
goose quill or other suitable measure
place the poison in the cavities with
care so that none be left on the sur
face. Close the cavity by applying the
lard-sugar mixture with case knife
and transfer each bait to a small pa
per bag and twist securely shut. Keep
in cool place out of the reach of any
one not knowing what it may be for.
(B)-A modification of the above
method well worthy of recommends
ton when the strychnine is used in a
loose form, is that the cavities for the
poison be made with red hot iron
thus forming a pocket with schorche
walls, which prevents the strychnine
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
IL may be said that poison bats
should be placed as carefully as traps
|are placed. The following methods are
recommended:
O-Place the poisoned lard balls
in and about carcasses and especially
Oh trails twenty to hundred fee
from them. Old carcasses are attrac.