The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-08-21
POISON CHEAPEST WAY
TO GET The RABBITS
The Life Of Farming and Live
Stock Industry Depends
Upon Prompt Action.
q. e. Mcpanlels. County Arenn

-"-'s~tot OChhht ahtuAl
Owing to the agitation for bounty
on Jack rabbits coupled with the pub
lished statements that the work of
destruction could not be accomplish
ed by poison. II mighe be well at this
time to discuss the bounty question
solely on its merits.
Everyone 10 aware that thoy are
hardy, and propagate with astonish-
Ing rapidity and owing TO heir ability
TO travel long distances. they are tho
most destructive pest with which we
must contend. They are equally des-
tructivo to all classes OF vegetation.
destroying grain, grass or root crops
wherever found.
Ten adult rabbits will devour
range or forage equal to row. Az
long as the grass and woods are soft
and green they scatter out over the
hills and grasing lands but as soon
as the range dries up thoy return 10
the meadows and cultivated crops for
food. When the snow covers the
grass. they congrcgate In countless
thousands around the hay stacks.
This fact makes their destruction
by poison 70 Q large degree . matter
only OF desire and perseverance on
the part OF those Interested in their
destruction. Any claims that poison
Is not effective under such conditions.
are unfounded as has been proven
times innumerablc aside from drives
no system of determination then has
been devised when the grass In green
and soft.
The cost OF poison is not excessive
and even the least OF caution dis
played In the distribution OF tho pot
son will prevent loss OF stock, The
poison method is the least expensive
method known since one ounce OF
strychnine dissolved In two gallons
OF warm water and poured over II
TO l6 pounds OF alfalfa leaves ut a
cost of not 10 exceed $3.50 will ac-
count for more rabbits In one night
than any method OF tapping or
shooting will for ten times that sum
How. or by whom or for what pur-
pose the poison IN distributed Is i'm
material. The sole question now be
fore the people OF Harney County is
the determination Of the rodent and
other pests within It's borders
The oi,ice NJ the County Agent in
tends 10 enforce the state law regard
ing the determination OF such pests
To the letter. believes, and with good
reason. that this work on decided
lands can best be done by organiz-
ing communities along the lines fol-
lowed In the ground squirrel work
this summer when each land owner
stood his proportlonate share of the
cost and assisted In the distribution
Of the poison.
In the event OF mild winter and
light snowfall where the rabbits are
not forced by hunger to the cuitivat-
ed lands, the community plan will not
give satisfaction for the reason that
the acreage of government range
lands aud untitled holdings of non
resident owners far exceeds the cul-
tivated areas and the expense at
tached 10 the relatively small num-
Der of settlers would be entirely
out OF REASON, especially when the
federal governments and non resi-
dents should stand their proportion
ate share of the expense.
The only method left In the evont
OF light snow fall would be the en-
ployment OF professional poisoners
and trappers under proper supervls-
ion or the offering of a bounty, As
a rule the principle of the bounty
system is absolutely wrong but there
are exceptions to all rules.
iho 'ory iio VI TUG iai hinb anu
livestock industry OF the county de-
pends upon the prompt determination
OF the rabbits at the earliest possi-
BILE moment. The question Of means
or cost is of secondary consideration.
With favorable snow conditions and
regardless OF the adoption OF boun-
ty system, the County Agent, through
the enforcement of the state law, in
tends to rid the county OF rabbits
as quickly as possible, being inter
ssted In results and not In the method
of accomplishment,
This work cannot be accomplished
CONTINUED on page four)