The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-01-16


on Reservations Under Protection
of Government
The governments accounting to the
American people of its stewardship of
| their wild animals and birds during
the last fiscal year. as exercised
through the bureau of biological sur
vey, United States Department of Agri-
| culture is contained in the bureaus
annual report just made public.
In its supervision over the wild life
resources and liabilities of the nation
the government deals with those birds
and animals of distinct value to agri-
culture, commerce and industry, as
well as with those injurious species
whose natural habits in years past
have cost the country many hundreds
of millions of dollars. On the asset
side of the balance sheet the total
mounts, and the liabilities, thanks to
the increasing efficiency and thorough
ness of the governments supervision,
are shrinking. Sketched in it's high
lights and dealing only with major
facts and totals the bureaus work dur
ing the last year shows, among other
things, the following results:
saving to farmers and stockmen
of about $14OOO,0O0 during the year
at cost of S1,345. 220-in the cam
paign west of the Mississippi against
wolves lynxes and bobcats, coyotes,
mountain lions, bears and rodents.
Destruction by rifle, trap and poison
of approximately $4,000 of the pred
atory animals
Continuation with marked success,
of the work begun five years ago of
Kidding the ranges-and thereby MAX
ing them safe for grazing-of pred
atory animals.
Saves $11 100000 Annually.
An unreenting campaign against
prairie dogs and ground squirrels,
during which 1881 1861 acres of
federal, state and private lands were
given a first poison treatment and
follow-up work was done on 4.402 .662
acres One hundred thousand farmers
and stoc1nen took part In the work
1926 tons of poison grain were pre-
pared and distributed under the
bureaus supervision; and an annual |
saving Of more than $11 100000 is es- !
timated to have been effected through |
this phase Of the bureaus work alone. |
Wholesale destruction in idaho, Ore
gon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, and |
Arizona of Jack rabbits, whose forag
ing annually damaged alfalfa cotton,
hay, and other crops to the extent of
millions of dollars. In one Idaho
county alone, 168,166 jack rabbits
(actual COUNT were killed, and In
other counties as many as $4,000 Jack
rabbits were disposed of in organized
drives
The beginning of active and inten-
sive campaigns against meadow mice
and pine mice whose depredations In
orchards, gardens and truck farms, an
nually mount into the millions.
Strengthening Rats.
Destruction in one campaign alone
lin Texas of $4,000 rats by actual
count, and continuation of the nation
wide campaign against this most de-
structive and ubiquitous of rodents.
Protection of valuable fur-bearing
encouraging of their importa-
ton and study OF best methods for
raising them The rearing
of silver black and cross foxes alone
has grown to the extent that during
the last year there were $40 fox
ranches in this country having 1880
breeding animals with stock and equip
ment valued at more than S4,2S0,000.
It's Investigations have resulted also
IN protection for the great army Of
birds which are of inestimable aid to
he farmer; checking so far as pos
sible, the depredations Of the few
Gathered marauders which damage
and crops.
Continued and painstaking study of
he habits of various kinds of BIRDS
hat the valuable ones might more in
and definitely be de-
ermined.
Survey of the feeding grounds of mi
wild fowl and recommending
measures for improving them.
Bird Migration Studies Continued.
In continuation Of the nationwide
Investigation on bird migration the in
ormation of the survey covering
abits, distribution and migration of
irds has increased and becomes very
aluable.
Further study has been made of such
ljurious rodents as ground squirrels, \
ocket gophers, rabbits, kangaroo rats
nd pocket Rice in order that more
Elective means against their depreda- n
ons might be found and made avail b
BILE for use by American farmers. Ii
Under the protecting care Of the bu- a
.au big game on government reserva- F
ons has multiplied fast The animal h
.nsus shows 500 buffalo on such reser-
atoms now, as compared with POT five f
ears ago; 5O4 elk, as compared with +
80; 90 antelope, as compared with 40 o
I'd so on. n
Care of the birds progressed ma
rally during the year through post Il
n and dafininn boundaries of many "