The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-01-24
Our Farm Bureau Page
Edited by the County Agent
THE GOPHER REPORT

THE GOPHER REPORT
BY T. B. Murray, Assistant Biologist
Bureau Of Biological Survey
Many farmers living in the Aber-
deem and springfield sections of
Bingham county have possibly won
dered what those fellows were doing
that were seen at different times and
places, walking over the fields carry
ing piece of iron and every so often
punching q hole and dropping some
thing down the hole that they
punched in the ground. The mystery
is solved II you will but read the fol-
lowing report of the work done
under the supervision of T. B. MUIR
ray, of the Bureau of Biological
Survey, U. 8. Department of Agricul-
ture, for discriminating pocket
gophers on some 10000 acres Of
land.
The work of distributing bait on
the infested areas was commenced
October 26, and finished November
"a. A crew of four men was used
for the first week of work, after
wards only three men and the SUI
pervisor was on the job. 1t was
found that four men was an ideal
sized crew and that a minimum OF
time was lost in transferring from
one area to another as the work was
finished. Weather conditions were
ideal for doing the work. No delays
from storms or any of the usual
causes The same crew of men
worked right thru from the begin
ming and became very proficient in
doing the work. The work was done
upon the request of farmers and
landowners living in the districts
named in order that the gophers be
exterminated from the cultivated
and waste areas to protect the canal
systems from serious breaks and re-
sulting losses from damage and lack
Of water as this was the most appar-
ent damage being done, but in adj
dition farmers were suffering losses
in crops due to their work. The
work was supervised by an employee
of the bureau of biological survey
because that Is the federal bureau in
charge of such work in the state, and
because such supervision was re-
Quested by county officials and
others.
All equipment for doing the work,
including q Ford car for transport
ing the men to and from work, was
furnished by the bureau of biological
survey. All necessary expenses for
maintaining the supervisor and run
ming the car ETC., was furnished
without cost to the farmers on whose
land the work was done. The value
these services and supplies furnished
and used In doing the work was
more than 5000. The farmers, gem
orally speaking, were glad to see the
work done. Some few bought poison
or traps and cleaned up their own
land. Some had had their land
cleared of gophers for some time. No
work was done on any areas where
the farmers said they had killed all
the gophers, or where they said the
work would be done. A thoro check
of all areas infested with gophers
was made and where they were
found work was done to get rid OF
them. Most of the land was given
one treatment only, the worse in
fected areas were given two treat
ments.
No trapping was done due to the
slowness of the process and the cost.
The appropriation, or revolving fund
put up by the county commissioners /
for buying the supplies and paying
for labor, was small due to the state
of stringent finances of the county.
Because of this, and the desire OF the
farmers that as much work as pos
sible be done, no attempt was made
to make a thoro cleanup of the
areas treated. However, the work
done on areas where one application |
oh 0nnd |
results. The average percentage OF
gophers killed on these areas was
found to be from rs to IS per cent
or better. On the badly infested
areas where two applications OF bait
we're put out, it was found that from
90 to 100 per cent was killed. 1t
requires three applica-
tions of bait to make q thoro clean
up.
1t will require consistent work on
the part of every landowner and
farmer to get rid of this pest II no
more work is done on an organized
basis, However, the plan Is to con-
tinue this work for a period of two
Or three years until the work Is fin
Ished and the country is free of this
pest. Some may say that this is
hardly possible, but it can be done
thru united effort on the part of the
farmers and all concerned. The work
lone this year included lands from
The Power county line on the south,
,ast to the river bluff and north to
he town of Aberdeen, in a general
course east of the main county high
way south of Aberdeen. From Aber-
ieen east to the arid areas and north
n tho low wet bottom lands south of
he town of Sterling. No work was
lone in the vicinity of Sterling, ex-
:ept in three or four instances. The
eason for this was the lack of funds
o pay for the labor, and because the
erritory adjacent to Springfield was
more badly infested and needed
more immediate attention. The work
a and around the town of Spring
eld was done on lands east and
outh to the river bluff, and east to
he arid areas. This section was
cry badly infested and will require
more work to- clean up.