318 GRAZING INDICATORS. 



this, perhaps, is the group of loco plants. Animals do frequently acquire a 

 taste for loco and under some circumstances will eat nothing else, even in the 

 presence of other forage; and yet the initial feeding in the case of loco plants 

 is almost invariably brought about by the scarcity of food. 



"It has long been known that loco eating is ordinarily commenced in the 

 winter season or in the early spring, when the loco plants are green and lus- 

 cious and before the grass has started. The loco plants at that time are the 

 most prominent plants on the plains and animals commence to eat them be- 

 cause of lack of other food. In the matter of other plants, the relation be- 

 tween starvation and the eating of the poisonous plant is still more marked. 

 For instance, the larkspurs spring up immediately after the snow leaves the 

 mountains and grow much more rapidly than the surrounding grasses, and if 

 cattle are allowed to go up to the upper ranges before the grasses have had a 

 fair start they find already occupying the ground the succulent larkspur 

 plants in large numbers. Sometimes the cattle come from dry winter feed 

 and are anxious to gorge themselves with any green material they find. Under 

 such circumstances, if they come upon a field of larkspur they frequently eat 

 enough to produce fatal consequences. Later in the season there is very 

 much less danger from larkspur because of the abundance of other food. If, 

 however, cattle are driven from one range to another and the trail passes 

 through a mass of tall larkspur, it is not at all unusual for the hungry animals 

 to grab hastily at the plants and this may result in disastrous consequences. 

 Under such circumstances it is important that the cattle shall not be driven 

 rapidly, for they will snatch all the more, and they should also have been 

 thoroughly fed before going on such a drive. 



"It is also evident from what has been said earlier in this paper, that if 

 cattle can be kept off fields of larkspur until after the plant has blossomed, 

 little trouble may be expected. This method has been employed for many 

 years in Colorado, where it is a common practice to "ride for poison," as it is 

 called; that is, the herders ride and keep the cattle down from the higher 

 ranges until the larkspur has blossomed and matured, after which there is no 

 further danger. The same thing has been accomplished in certain regions by 

 putting up drift fences which are designed to keep the cattle on the lower 

 ranges until the danger is past. There are valleys known as death traps for 

 cattle. Frequently it will be found that in these valleys the tall larkspur is 

 thriving in large clumps and cattle drifting in will feed freely upon it. It is 

 often possible, under such conditions, to clear out this larkspur or enough of it 

 so there will be no danger. In order to kill the plants the roots of most species 

 should be cut off at least 6 or 8 inches below the surface. 



"The losses of sheep from death camas (Zygadenus) occur under very 

 similar conditions to those of cattle from larkspur. Zygadenus grows very 

 early in the spring. It precedes the grasses in its growth and is present in a 

 succulent condition at a time when other forage is extremely scarce. Inas- 

 much as it occurs frequently in large masses, if sheep are trailed over these 

 places they are liable to get enough to cause heavy losses. It is particularly 

 important in the handling of sheep in such localities that, if possible, they be 

 grazed in loose order. When the animals are massed together, they will eat 

 everything in their course, and because of jealousy will take particular pains 

 to get every available plant. 



"This applies equally well to lupine poisoning. When sheep are allowed to 

 feed freely upon a lupine patch and are moved without haste, no harmful 

 results will occur. If, however, they are massed together and driven in close 

 formation over such a patch, they are almost certain to be poisoned if the 

 plants are in pod at the time. The remedy in such cases clearly is to see that 



