The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1940-08-08
Wildlife Research
Laboratory Formed

a. new research laboratory
which consolidates two units in.
vestigating wildlife food habit!
and methods for controlling
predatorS and rodents has beer
established in Denver, Colo, by
the Fish and Wildlife service
Secretary of the Interior Har.
old L. IckeS announced recently
The consolidation is expected
to bring about economies in ad-
miniStration and better correla-
ton of the closely allied eco
nomic and geological projects O.
the formerly separate units.
E. r.. Kalmbach, biologist Of
the Section of Food Habits, Di-
vision of Wildlife Research, who
headed the food habits unit al
Denver has been appointed di-
rector of the consolidated labo-
ratory. F. E. Garlough, director
of the control methods unit
has been transferred to Wash
ington, D. c., to become techn1-
cal adviser to the chief of the
Division of Predator and Rod
eht control.
Besides Director Kalmbach,
the new Wildlife Research lab
oratory includes IL scientists
who will conduct Investigations
in the food habits and economic
status of western wildlife and
in preventive and control mea-
SureS against destructive rod
entS and predatory animals.
The Denver Food Habits lab
oratory was established in 1881
TO study the food habits and
economic relations of predatory
and other mammals and birds
in the West. Through identifi-
cations of items of food found
in the Stomachs of specimens,
investigators have been able to
determine the economic status
of many wild animals.
The services Investigations of
methods for controlling coyotes,
bobcats, jack rabbits, prairie
dogs, and other predatory ami
mails and rodents, began in 1887
when DR.. A. K. Fisher carried
on experiments with various
poisons to determine practical
methods of destroying injurious
species of mammals that were
damaging property in certain
areas. In 1905, S. E. Piper star
ted field and laboratory expert
mentS with bacterial viruses,
poisons, traps, and other meth
DDS for the destruction of ro-
dents. AS both fields of work
developed, it was found essen
tial to bring these studies to-
gether in one unit. In June,
1920, the Control Methods Re
search Laboratory was estab-
Eshed with Mr.. Piper in charge.
Since 1920, the predator and
rodent control investigators
have developed scientific meth
DDS of controlling injurious
species of animals by means
that are practical, efficient, &c
onomical, and at the same time
Selective so as to minimize dan
ger of harmless or valuable
species. Because Of constantly
varying soil, climatic, and eco
logical conditions, new and i'm
proved methods of control are
constantly being perfected.
Kalmbach Authority
on Crows, Sparr0ws
RecOgniZed as a leader in the
study of all forms of bird de-
predations, MI. Kalmbach is
particularly well-known for his
extensive Investigations of bot
I1liSm, or "duck sickness" and
the habits and status of the
crow, and startling, and the
English sparrow. The federal
government has issued % leaf
lets and bulletins he has writ
ten on botulism, blackbirds,
crows, magpies, and other birds.
Born in Grand Rapids, Mich,
on April 20, 1884, Mr.. Kalmbach
was educated in the public
schools there. He was appointed
Assistant Director of the Kent
Scientific Museum, of Grand
Rapids, in June, 1908, and held
the post until June, 1910. On
July 1, 1910, he joined the Bu-
reau of Biological Survey and
Immediately embarked on his
career as a food habits special
iSt.
During his first % years as
an employee of the Biological
SURVEY, he was assigned to the
washington. D. c., laboratories.
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