674 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



in which the grain should be soaked for 24 to 36 hours, or until it has 

 all been absorbed. During this absorption the grain should be fre- 

 quently stirred. A tablespoonful of grain is sufficient to scatter about 

 each burrow. Allowing 50 burrows to an acre, a bushel of grain then 

 would poison prairie dogs infesting 40 acres of land. 



Fumigation. Bisulphide of carbon is used almost wholly for 

 this purpose. It is a volatile liquid which should be kept in tightly 

 corked bottles or cans ; as it is highly inflammable, it should never be 

 opened in the vicinity of fire. Its fumes are heavier than the atmos- 

 phere and when introduced into the burrows sink quickly to the bot- 

 tom. The usual dose is about one tablespoonful to the hole or burrow. 

 This is poured on some absorbing substance and dropped into the 

 mouth of the hole, which should then be covered. (Y. B. 1901.) 



GROUND SQUIRRELS. 



There are three or more species of ground squirrels found in the 

 central and western United States. In many ways the ground squir- 

 rels resemble the prairie dogs of the prairie states. While not so 

 distinctively social, yet they live more or less in communities. The 

 burrows are two to three inches in diameter and have from one to 

 five openings to the exterior; these openings are usually on higher 

 ground and have a little mound of well packed earth around the hole 

 to exclude the water. The burrow has an average depth of from one 

 to two feet and often extends from ten to fifty feet in length. 



The young are usually born in March or April. In the northern 

 United States they bring forth but one brood a year ; the number in 

 a litter varies from 2 to 15. They hibernate from September to 

 March. Observers are not agreed as to whether or not food is stored 

 for winter use. 



The natural enemies are chiefly hawks and owls, and the carniv- 

 orous animals of the region inhabited by squirrels. These animals 

 are known to do the greatest injury to grain and forage crops and 

 interfere with irrigation. They eat the young shoots of plants as 

 they appear above ground and also feed on the ripening grain. In 

 irrigated lands the burrows or squirrels often cause great annoyance. 

 The most effective methods of destroying these pests are by poisoning 

 and by the use of carbon bisulphide, a highly inflammable and vola- 

 tile liquid. Grain, raisins, cornmeal, etc., may be soaked in a solu- 

 tion of strychnia sulphate and put in the holes, or small balls of cot- 

 ton may be saturated with carbon bisulphide, put in the holes and all 

 the exterior openings of the burrows closed. (Nevada B. 58; Wyo. 

 B. 12.) 



COYOTES. 



From the early days until the present time ranchmen of the 

 western states have suffered serious loss from the depredations of 

 these animals. They are abundant in most parts of the range coun- 

 try, except in the north and in thickly settled parts where waste lands 

 are scarce. 



Coyotes breed once a year, the mating season being late in Jan- 

 uary or early in February. The period of gestation is about 63 days. 

 Young are brought forth in dens and number from 4 to 8 or even 10. 



