How TO Combat Rabbits, etc. 325 



with great success. Many rabbits are being trapped in one of these in a 

 single night. A door in the side of the pit or box can be arranged, through 

 which the rabbits can be removed. 



During late fall and in winter cottontails make excellent human food, 

 and the young ones are good to eat at all times of the year. Young 

 jackrabbits are also good to eat during fall. and winter, if they are soaked 

 overnight in salt water to which a little baking soda has been added. 

 This will remove the "wild" odor and taste. 



Rabbits of all kinds make excellent food for poultry. Even poisoned 

 rabbits may be used for this purpose without danger of poisoning fowls, 

 or other animals, provided the head, stomach and intestines are removed 

 and buried. Strychnine acts upon the nerves and kills the animals before 

 it is absorbed into the circulatory system. One jackrabbit per day fed 

 along with a grain ration is sufficient for 35 to 40 hens. The rabbits 

 may be ground or chopped finely, or if fed fresh, may be cleaned and then 

 nailed to a post for hens to pick at. 



poisoning 



Both jackrabbits and cottontails can be controlled and largely extermi- 

 nated by systematic poisoning. However, care should be exercised in 

 using poisons. The U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Biologi- 

 cal Survey, recommends as follows: 



"When the law permits, poison can often be used to advantage, es- 

 pecially at times when the natural food of the rabbit is scarce. The fol- 

 lowing formulas have been employed with considerable success: 



"Alfalfa poison: Dissolve 1 ounce of strychnine sulphate in 2 gallons 

 of boiling water and sprinkle over 16 pounds of leafy alfalfa hay, chopped 

 in 2-inch lengths. The poisoned hay may be scattered in small heaps 

 along rabbit trails in inclosures from which stock is excluded. 



"Grain poison: Mix together 1 ounce of powdered strychnine (alkaloid) 

 and 1 ounce of baking soda. Sift this into 1 pint of thin hot starch paste 

 and stir thoroughly. (The starch paste is made by mixing 1 heaping table- 

 spoonful of gloss starch in a little cold water, which is then added to one 

 pint of hot water and boiled until a clear thin paste is formed. Add one- 

 tenth ounce of saccharine and stir. 



"Apply to 12 quarts of oats, rolled barley, milo maize or feterita. Mix 

 well until grain is evenly coated. Use as directed for alfalfa poison. H 

 the powdered strychnine alkaloid is not available, strychnine sulphate 

 crystals may be used if prepared as for prairie dogs. 



"This same creamy paste can also be applied to orchard prunings. 

 The smaller twigs should be cut up into 2 or 3 inch lengths and the poison 

 applied in the same way as with oats. 



"Poisoned green baits: Cut up a supply of sweet potatoes, carrots, par- 

 snips, apples, or other similar baits into cubes lA to 1 inch in diameter. 

 Insert in each a small quantity of powdered strychnine or a small strych- 

 nine crystal. When a larger quantity is to be prepared, the powdered 



