American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-03-15
TO CONTROL POCKET GOPHER IN
IDAHO.

~ WV lDVh III WI T. ~
IDAHO.
The pocket gopher, which in several
localities in Idaho causes consider
able loss in crops, especially such hay
crops as alfalfa, can be controlled eff
fectively and economically. A great
part of this loss results from the go
piers interfering with irrigation. The
numerous burrows which it makes in
a field render it difficult to turn water
properly from irrigation bitches, be-
cause they offer ready access to the
water, and in this way carry it in un-
desired directions, in many cases to
the subsoil, where it is lost by drain
age. The pocket gopher also destroys
many of the plant roots, and its dirt
mounds make the harvesting of the
crop difficult.
The use of the several makes of
traps commonly on the market is ef-
fective in keeping small areas free of
pocket gophers. For Kidding alfalfa
fields, orchards, pasture lands and
long stretches of ditch entertainments
OF the pest, poisoning is a very sue
c~essful, much more practical, and less
expensive method. Bats of sweet DO
tato, carrots or parsnips may be p1ac-
ed in their underground runways.
To Make Poisoned Bait.
The poisoned bait is prepared as
follows: Cut 4 quarts of sweet po-
tatoes, carrots or parsnips into cubes
about half inch square and 1 inch
long; mOfsten with water and drain.
Sift a mixture of Is ounce of powder
ed strychnine alkaloid with Ito ounce
OF saccharin over the bait and stir well
to distribute the poison evenly. In
mixing a smaller quantity of bait, use
LA ounce Of powdered strychnine
alkaloid with 100 ounce of s%accharin
for about "a quart of the cubes.
TO Spread Bait.
The runways, which are usually 4
to S inches beneath the surface. can
be located by means of a probe made
OF any strong handle about an inch
in diameter and 80 inches long. One
end shouldsxbe bluntly pointed. Into
the other end should be fitted a piece
of 3-S inch iron rod, protruding about
Y inches, and bluntly pointed. A foot
rest aids in probing in hard ground.
BY forcing this iron rod down near
gopher workings, or a foot or two
back of fresh mounds, the open tunnel
can be felt as the point breaks into
it. The blunt end of the instrument
is now used carefully to enlarge the
hole, about two bats are dropped into
the run and the probe hole closed with
grass, leaves or other coarse material.
Bats need be placed at only two
points in each separate system of 10
to 30 mounds, as this is usually the
home of a single gopher. Experience
has demonstrated that bats placed
fairly in the open runs have almost
invariably killed the animals. The
method has found great favor wher-
ever introduced.
IL Cents an Acre Cleared Area in For
. Hall Reservation.
In order to ascertain the possibility
OF etxerminating the pocket gopher
from infested fields in Idaho by poi
soning and to get an estimate of tn,
cost, an experiment was undertaken
on an area of 4S.1S acres on the For
Hall Indian reservation, and accurat,
data on all the work were kept. Fields
were gone over thoroughly until prac
tically the entire pocket gopher popu
lation was exterminated from the area
The cost of the poisoning materials
estimated at the present retail price
amounted to one and One-half cent
f an acre, and the labor. at 80 cents al
: hour, to 15.4 cents an acre.
r From this and other experiments il
: Idaho, it is evident that the poke
gopher can be successfully controller
by poisoning if thorough and syste
, matte work is done.
Uncle Sam VIII Help.
A representative of the bureau o
biological survey, United States de
Y partment of agriculture. who is work
ing in cooperation with the state eS
n tension service of Idaho, will gladl
p demonstrate the method of p~OisOnin
. the pocket gopher in any communit
q in Idaho and, if arrangements ar
/; made so that several farmers can b
o reached at a time. will render an
5 other aid possible to control this pes
q Farmers and others interested in max
d ing arrangements for demonstration
Q should write to the bureau of biOlC
! gical survey. Washington. D. c., or v
" f. Crouch, Pocatello, Idaho. the loo;
V representative of the biological SUI