326 Bulletin 81 



strychnine can be dusted over the bait by means of a salt shaker in the 

 proportion of Ys ounce of strychnine to 2 quarts of the baits. 



"The poisoned grain, prunings, or green baits are dropped along rabbit 

 trails or in places frequented by the rabbits, care bemg exercised in plac- 

 ing them to prevent any possible injury to live stock." 



Rabbits are especially fond of sweet potatoes and these are the3-efore 



better than alfalfa for poisoned- bait. 



Several years ago the writer killed laige numbers of rabbits, mainly 

 jackrabbits, on the plains of Texas, where the rabbits were numerous, by 

 mixing a little powdered strychnine with salt, dampening this so the wind 

 would not blow it away, and placing it in rabbit trails and along woven 

 wire fences, out of reach of stock. In portions of the Southwest where 

 there are alkali spots or "salt licks" to which the rabbits resort, this salt 

 bait may not be effective; but where they cannot obtain salt readily the 

 poisoned mixture would be efifective. 



The following salt bait has betn used successfully in Oregon: 



2 quarts salt 



1 quart sugar 



1 oz. powdered strychnine 

 One tenth of an ounce of saccharine may be substituted for the one 

 quart of sugar and would be much better. 



Put this mixture out in small heaps of 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls each on 

 hard ground where stock will not get to it. 



Still another poisoned bait for rabbits consists of 



1 lb. powdered arsenic 



1 gal. bran 



1 qt. molasses 



Mix thoroughly and spread small quantities in rabbit runways as the 

 sun is going down. 



PROTECTION AGAINST RABBITS 



The surest method of securing against damage by rabbits is to fence 

 against them. For this purpose a woven wire fence at least 30 inches high 

 should be used. It is more economical to put in a fence of good, stout 

 wire than one of small and weak wire, like common poultry netting, which 

 cannot usually be stretched taut. The mesh should be small enough to 

 prevent cottontails and young jackrabbits from getting; through. One 

 to one and one half inch mesh should extend to 16 inches above ground, 

 and then the openings may gradually increase. Cottontails have the bad 

 habit of digging under fences. To insure against this the bottom strand 

 should be stretched taut upon the surface of hard ground, or 3 to + 



