Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1921-02-06


state wide campaign against mountain
lions, wolves. coyotes, pocket gophers.
prairie dogs, jackrabbits, etc., are pour
ing into the state headquarters of the
Bureau of Biological Survey of the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture located at Room 416, Heard build
ing.
The state has matched federal aid
funds for this purpose during the past
year and has co-operated with the fed
eral government through the agricul-
tural extension service of the Univers-
ity of Arizona and the livestock sani-
tary board
A circular letter was sent out to over
5000 cooperating farmers and stock
men and according to the signed state
rnents received to date, field crops, fruit
trees, range grasses and livestock to a
value of over s800,000.00 has been saved
as direct result of the past years
campaign
The years work was carried on at a
cost of $4,000 to the federal govern
ment and $4,000 to the state.
Practically 1000 farmers were as
sisted in distributing over $4,000 quarts
of poisoned grain and gas over 100000
acres of land infested with pocket
gophers prairie dogs and jackrabbils.
Over 3,244 predatory animals We're
destroyed during the year. This was
the number of skins and scalps actually
taken while thousands of others which
were poisoned could not be found in
time to be turned into the office This
number included >S3 of the worst cattle
killing mountain lions of the state, and
rs of the notorious lobo wolves. and
300 coyotes.
Hundreds of the letters telling of the
immense practical value of this work
have been placed before the state legis-
lature. as the matter of the state
matching federal funds for this pur
pose during the next two years has
been introduced by Senator Charles E.
Burton of Yavapai county.
Following is a report of M. E. Nus
grave, predatory animal inspector, and
d. A. Gilchrist. rodent pest director,
made to Senator Burton of Yayapai
county.
Phoenix, Arizona,
January 266 1921.
Hon. Charles E. Burton,
State Senator,
1 Yavapai County,
Phoenix, Arizona.
! Dear Sir:
In reply to your request for informa-
ton relative to the eradication of ro-
dent pests and predatory animals we
take pleasure in submitting to you the
/ following report.
In 1918 we made a complete survey
/ of the state and found that rodent
pests, such as pocket -gophers, prairie
dogs, jackrabbits, etc, annually de-
crops, fruit trees and range grasses
and that mountain lions. wolves CO.
votes, etc, annually destroyed over
i 81, 100000 worth of livestock. poultry
4 and game.
The fourth regular session of the
state legislature enacted law whereby
the state matched dollar for dollar al
funds used by the Bureau of Biological
Sursey, United States Department OF
Agriculture within the state of Ari-
| iona for eradicating predatory animals
and rodent pests. During the fisca
year ending June 80, 1920, the United
005.46 and the state s25.993.s1 towards
! the campaign in Arizona.
Il Senate bill number so which you nov
have before the legislature would con.
tinue the state cooperation for the
next two years under the same plan
I.According to the present estimates o.
congress, Arizona should receive be
tween SIS, 900 and $4,000 year FOL
the next two years for this purpose
but the amount Arizona receives from
thes federal government will depend
considerably upon the cooperation of
fered by the different states.
The following is a summary of tn,
work accomplished during the pas
! year:
In the campaign conducted In Ari
IONA against prairie dogs, jackrabbit
and pocket gophers, we assisted 3,90
farmers and stockmen in distributin,
57349 quarts of poisoned grain and ga
lover 439,424 acres of infestation.
A circular letter was sent out to al
who were assisted and according to tn
; signed statements of the farmers an,
stockmen, crops of oats, wheat, beans
corn, maize, alfalfa, cotton, rang
grasses, and fruit trees of total valu
OF 1886 $50 were saved as a direct re
suit of the campaign
Plans for 1921 1922. Rodent Pest Worl
! If the proposed legislation passes a.
I extensive campaign against poke
gophers, prairie dogs, ground squirrel
and jackrabbit pests could be carrie
on in every county of the state.
: Furthermore units of agricultural O
grazing Importance would be organize
: and the pests completely exterminate
within definite boundaries. Under thi
plan the prairie dogs have PRACTICAL
|, been exterminated during the past yea