RODENT PESTS OF THE FARM. 19 



has been built, into which, with the help of wing barriers, thousands 

 of rabbits are driven and then slaughtered. When these hunts take 

 place in cold weather the rabbits are usually shipped to large cities, 

 whore the carcasses may be sold to canning establishments, distrib- 

 uted to public charities, or otherwise used to supplement the meat 

 supply. 



Many of the States which have a close season for cottontail or 

 other native rabbits permit landowners at any time to protect prop- 

 erty from the depredations of the animals. Usually, however, close 

 hunting and trapping in the open season afford ample protection, 

 and only in exceptional cases is it necessary to resort to other meas- 

 ures for relief. 



Except where deep snows fall, orchards or other crops on small 

 areas may be protected by the use of rabbit-proof fencing. Individ- 

 ual trees may be safeguarded by metal or wooden protectors attached 

 to the trunks. In Idaho a poisoned wash of strychnin, glycerin, and 

 starch proved effective to save trees from jack rabbits, and the method 

 is recommended for trial in any locality where conditions warrant 

 its use. The wash is prepared as follows : 



Poison icash. Dissolve 1 ounce of strychnin (sulphate) in 3 quarts of boiling 

 water. Dissolve ^ pound of laundry starch in 1 pint of cold water, stirring 

 thoroughly. Pour the starch into the vessel containing the strychnin and boil 

 the mixture a short time until the starch is clear. Add 6 ounces of glycerin 

 and stir. When the paste is cool enough apply to tree trunks with a paint 

 brush. 



The mixture adheres well and forms a thin coating. If rabbits 

 attack the tree they will be killed before they can seriously injure 

 it. The wash should not be used if live stock, especially young cattle, 

 have access to the orchard. 



For poisoning jack rabbits in winter the following formula is 

 recommended : 



Poison baits. Good oats, 12 quarts; powdered strychnin, 1 ounce; laundry 

 starch, 1 tablespoonful ; soda (bicarbonate), 1 ounce; saccharin, ounce; water, 

 1 quart. Prepare as directed for mixing prairie-dog poison. Not over a table- 

 spoonful of the poisoned grain should be used in a single bait, and this should 

 be scattered considerably. A little alfalfa hay may be used to attract rabbits 

 to the grain. The poison is especially effective when snow covers the ground. 



Partly ripened or ripe heads of barley or wheat soaked in a 

 sweetened solution of strychnin or coated with the starch-strychnin 

 paste just described have also proved effective bait for rabbits, but 

 care must be exercised in using them, as they are likely to be eaten 

 by live stock. 



OTHER NATIVE RODENTS. 



Other native rodents that occasionally damage crops or other prop- 

 erty are the muskrat, mountain-beaver (fig. 15), 1 woodrats, 2 tree 



1 Genus Aplodontia. 2 Genus Neotoma. 



