THE POCKET GOPHER 121 



at only two points in each separate system of 20 or 30 mounds 

 which is usually the home of a single gopher. In fields in which 

 mounds are so numerous that separate groups cannot be recognized, 

 baits inserted into the runs at intervals of 50 or 60 feet will prob- 

 ably kill all the gophers. Small stakes are useful to mark the 

 locations of baits. In our experience, baits placed fairly in the 

 open runs have invariably killed the gophers. The method has 

 found great favor wherever it has been introduced. ' ' 26 



Mr. Gwynri, manager of the Welch Nursery of five hundred 

 acres at Shenandoah, informs the writer that gophers cause con- 

 siderable damage, and that a constant warfare in the way of 

 trapping and poisoning is carried out. Sometimes crystals of 

 strychnia sulphate are placed in apples or pumpkin seeds which are 

 buried along with apple and plum seeds planted for future nur- 

 sery stock. 



Trapping. In places where gophers are not too abundant trap- 

 ping gives effective results at a minimum expense. Willis Adams, 

 who does considerable trapping in the vicinity of Chariton, reports 

 that in 1912 on one farm near this place and working an average 

 of from two to three hours daily he caught 664 of these pests. 

 Many other and similar instances have come to hand from time 

 to time. 



The ordinary steel trap (No. 0) is successfully employed in 

 most places. To set this trap, open up the irain runway of the 

 gopher with a spade and place the trap so that the top is about 

 level with the bottom of the tunnel. The chain should be made 

 fast to a stake or heavy object and the hole closed with boards and 

 sod in order to exclude light. 



There are other and special gopher traps which are used ef- 

 fectively, and these are often set in the laterals as well as in the 

 main runways. One of the best of these traps is the Macabee 

 Gopher Trap, which is made and sold by Z. A. Macabee, Los Gatos, 

 California. Size No. 3 is best for use against our pocket gopher. 

 Directions for proper setting accompany the traps, which cost 

 about $2.00 a dozen. 



In setting these traps, after selecting- the freshest mound of 

 earth, the trapper should dig back with a trowel to the open part 

 of a lateral and place the trap there. The hole should be covered 



^Bell, W. B., and Piper, Stanley E.. Extermination of Ground Squirrels, 

 Gophers and Prairie Dogs in North Dakota: N. Dak. Agr. Exp. Sta., Circ. 4, 

 9-10, 1915. 



