Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-06-24
NARRATIVE REPORT
Ground Squirrel Campaign
Lincoln County, Season 1921

Active operations We're brought to a
close on the Sth of June The in
tensive ground squirrel campaign IN
Lincoln County was organized through
the cooperative efforts of the County
Commissioners, Fasm Bureau com
munify committee of the Dietrich
tract, Geo. f. Maroney. County Agent
and W. e. Crouch. Biological Assist
ant representing the State and Govern
ment
The object in view Of this cam
paign was the complete extermina-
ton as far as possible of the ground
squirrels on the Dietrich tract ana
private lands and State government
land. Direct supervision of the work
was in charge Of N. E. Maurer. Field
Assistant Z. OF 1. under the direction
of W. E. Crouch, Biological Asst. Of
the Bureau Of Biological Survey. Boise
Idaho.
The Method Of procedure was as
follows:
the farmers of the tract at which
meeting the county agent explained
the method of carrying on the work.
The unanimous consent of the farmers
was obtained at this time.
At later date Mr. Crouch met with
the farmers in a meeting at which
time they made a request for the work
and assured him Of their desire for
cooperation. At Nhe next meeting of
the County Commissioners the COM
missioners appropriated a fund on
which to draw for the purchase of
materials other than strychnine and
saccharine and also payment of labor
and other expenses incidental to the
work The University Extension
Division supplied the necessary strych-
nine and saccharine. Each described
piece of public and private land was
charged with the cost. The county |
was debited with the cost of private
and county lands to be collected as a /
direct tax in accordance with the Ida I
ho Rodent Control Law. The public I
lands We're charged to the State. The I
State was given credit for supplies
furnished and the county credited with
the balance of cost on state lands. The
balance is to be paid to the county
from the State funds appropriated for
rodent control.
Opportunity was given farmers
wishing to save labor costs, by the
placing Of bait on sale at the Farm
Bureau office, Shoshone, Borden Nero.
Co. of Dietrich and by Mrs. Maurer at
he warehouse at Dietrich which was
engaged for storage and mixing of
materials. Bait was also carried by
Mr. Maurer in his car at the time when
farmers were interviewed in advance
If the field operations. This bait was ,
sold at the nearest Approximate cost to .
,e figured in advance Of the termina-
ion of operations. The cost of mater
ais of the bait was charged against .
he county fund to be reimbursed by
ash receipts from sales or taxed
harges. Materials on hand mixed and = =
Inmixed, also were charged to the
ounty at a cost subject to storage or s
ale County lands poisoned and taxed S
harges running over 10c per acre !, :
verage in accordance with the county 7
commissioners agreement were also g
harged against the county. The sur c
'lus, derived after all county costs
5ere figured on county operations viz, n
rivate lands poisoned and bait sold, r,
7as credited to the county. The State ?
yas credited with the surplus due to
difference in actual cost Of bait and
Lbor used on public lands and the ap-
roximate cost as per reports.
After the first survey Of lands by
fr. Maurer prior to operations 10000
cres was estimated amount to be
overed. But after a second survey
ear the completion of the work, 50.-
20 acres was found sufficient.