The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-03-19
Big Annual Loss In Grain Crops
Prompts Promotion Of Radi-
cal Measures To DESTROY
Rodents
BY w. E. Crouch, Rodent Control
Specialist, University of Idaho
Extension Division.


crops caused by the ravages of the
ground squirrel in Idaho, an article
on the subject Of ground squirrel con-
troll may we'll be considered timely.
The successful promotion of any
rodent control work is based upon
several fundamental factors. each of
which must be analysed and studied
in its relation to the others. and also
in its relation. to local and statewide
conditions. The length of time needed
to make a practical clean up of ground
squirrels in any given area will de-
pend somewhat upon the local con-
ditions, such as topography, percent
age of cultivated land, nonresident
land owners, degree of local interest,
and cooperation.
Now Use All<aloid.
The recommended method of pre-
pairing poison bats is the ultimate re-
suit of extensive and systematic in
vestigation. carried .on by the Bureau
of Biological Survey, U. S. Depart
ment Of Agriculture under actual con-
ditions. These formulas have proven
to be the most effective and econ
omical poison yet devised for the
practical determination of the ground
squirrels in Idaho.
- The fundamental factor in strych-
nine poisoning is to have the strych-
nine absorbed into the blood. In the
recommended method Of preparing
paison bats, different form of stry-
chime is used, that is. strychnine ak
aid (powered) which is only slightly
soluble in water and contains more
strychnine to the ounce than the stry-
chime sulphate, making it more diff
ficult for the squirrel to detect the
bitter taste of strychnine and making
the poison stronger per ounce of
strychnine. In this method the
strychnine is not dissolved in water;
the grain is not soaked and the poison
acts through the mouth instead of the
stomach. The recommended formul-
as for the preparation of poison bats
for ground squirrels that inhabit the
state of Idaho are as follows.
Directions for poisoning ground
squirrels in Idaho, other than the Col
umbian ground squirrel:
Mix tablespoonful of gloss starch
in Il teacup of cold water, and stir in
to u pint of boiling water to make a
thin clear paste. Mix ounce of pow
dered strychnine (alkaloid) with one
ounce of baking soda (bicarbonate),
and stir with the starch to a smooth,
creamy mass free of Jumps. Stir in
Ia pint of heavy corn syrup and one
tablespoonful of glycerine, and fin
ally scsnt teaspoonful of saccharine
Apply to IL quarts of clean oats and
mix thoroughly to coat each kernel.
+ Oats Are Best.
Each quart of poisoned grain is suf.
ficient for 40 to 90 bats. This guam
tity, scattered { l teaspoonful to a
place) along squirrel trails, or or
clean, hard surfaces near the holes
will not endanger stock.
Caution: All poison containers and
all utensils used in the preparation oil
poisons should be kept plainly labeled
and out of reach of children, irres
ponsible persons, and livestock.
Oats are used because these partic
ular ground squirrels like these grain.
' better than any other cereal. bait; thu
oats put the strychnine. just where i
will kill most effectively, that is, il
the mouth, and these bats, using
clean grain will not kill small insec
tivorous birds; in that very few. !
any, small birds eat oats. A big ad
vantage in this formula over the OLE
soaked wheat method is that the pre-
pared poison bait may be kept il
quantities for a comparatively lon,
time without molding or deterioratinl
in any way. When prepared in larg
quantities for an entire community,
may be placed in properly labele'
sacks and put out at the earliest op
perfume time.
For Columbian Squirrel.
Because of the fact that the Colum
bian ground squirrel hulls the oat
*ery carefully and thereby escape
the poison. a little different metho
than that used in the case of the Rich
ardson ground squirrel is used Tn
poison prepared according to the Co
umbian ground squirrel formul;
flakes off readily in the squirrel