124 



THE MUSEUM. 



Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and 

 Kansas. It is not so abundant in 

 these states as in Wyoming, neither is 

 the damage done by it in these states 

 so extensive as in Wyoming. The 

 Laramie Plains are overrun with these 

 squirrels; being met with on every 

 hand. It seems as though this section 

 is especially adapted to their condi- 

 tions, although they are more or less 

 numerous through the entire state. 

 They are fond of diggings burrows and 

 sit at the mouth of these burrows on 

 warm pleasant days, barking at the 

 passerby. Away from the traveled 

 roads they are not shy, but near well 

 traveled roads they seek their burrows 

 upon the least alarm. They are quite 

 diffiult to secure when shot, as their 

 death struggles are always directed 

 toward pushing themselves further 

 into their burrows. They are usually 

 gregarious, living in colonies or small 

 villages, the openings of their burrows 

 being on the top of a gravelly knoll, 

 they burrow within a few feet of each 

 other. Several pairs often entering 

 the same hole. 



In this portion of the state they 

 usually make their appearance as soon 

 as the frost is out of the ground. I 

 have seen them at the mouth of their 

 burrows while the ground was yet 

 frozen. The average time of appear- 

 ing is about the middle of March. 

 From this time until the middle of 

 August, or until the first of September, 

 they wage destruction against growing 

 crops. They do most of their damage 

 during the hottest portions of the day. 

 They usually go into winter quarters 

 about September ist, although but 

 few specimens were seen in 1892 after 

 August 20. During the summer the 

 grain and seeds are stored for winter 

 use. (The word Spcnnopliilc, mean- 

 ing seed lover.) The mouth of the 

 burrow is plugged with earth in order 

 to keep out the winter frost. 



The methods of destroying these 

 pests are numerous. Many drown 

 them out of their burrows and then 

 kill them. This is a long and tedious 



method. I have seen water running 

 from an irrigating ditch into one of the 

 burrows for half a day, and it seemed 

 as though another half-day would have 

 been insufficient to have filled the bur- 

 row. Then again, in this region, water 

 is often diffiult to obtain. It would in 

 many instances have to be drawn in 

 barrels or tanks for perhaps a half- 

 mile, or further. 



Many ranchmen and gardeners use 

 strychnine, rough on rats, arsenic and 

 other poisonous substances. Usually 

 corn or some kind of grain is soaked 

 in a solution of one of these poisons 

 and is then placed near their burrows. 

 This method has in some instances 

 been satisfactory. There is danger 

 arising from the practice of such a 

 method: Stock, poultry and the wild 

 birds are as liable to get the grain as 

 are the squirrels. 



During the summer of 1892, a num- 

 ber of experiments, having in view 

 the destruction of these squirrels, was 

 carried on upon the Laramie Experi- 

 ment Farm. For this purpose a 

 quantity of bi-sulphidc of carbon was 

 used. This liquid is Iiiglily inflavi- 

 iiiablt and should NEl^ER be broitglit 

 near a fire, for fear of an explosion. 

 It is not poisonous or corrosive to the 

 skin, and may be handled with impun- 

 ity. Avoid breathing it; the vapor is 

 unwholesome. The only danger is 

 when brought in the presence of fire — 

 a lighted pipe, cigar or match would 

 in all probability cause an explosion. 

 Bi-sulphide of carbon should be kept 

 from children and irresponsible per- 

 sons, as they are liable to drink it, 

 and the consequences might be serious. 

 The unpleasant odor is easily and 

 readily detected and by observing the 

 proper precaution, no danger need be 

 feared. The method of applying is to 

 take a ball of cotton, about the size of 

 an egg, and thoroughly saturate it 

 with the bi-sulphide of carbon. With 

 a rolling motion throw the cotton 

 into the burrow and close the opening 

 with some earth. The operation is 

 simple and the result certain. The 



« 



vniiaRiiBOBitausK.rvmiwsft'x'jw.:; 



