.6- 



There are several things that can be used to put the poison in, such 

 as pieces of pipe, mailing tubes, short pieces of tile, boards nailed up 

 against the wall where mice run, or a home-made type poison station. Usually, 

 tablespoon amounts of poisoned baits distributed throughout the storage in 

 poison stations is sufficient for effective feeding and control. Small amounts 

 v;ell distributed seem to ivork better than large amounts in fe^ver places. This 

 vdll supply a permanent poison available to the mice at all times. Powdered 

 strychnine. Arsenic, and Thallium are effective poisons. (ZnP is not a good 

 poison to use because it releases odors and does not last long, i.e., it oxi- 

 dizes readily.) There are several choices of poisons to be used because there 

 are several animals to deal with. Follov/ing is a report of the effectiveness 

 of these poisons on the three mice with which we have to contend in storages. 

 Strychnine is effective only in the control of deer mice; moreover, resistance 

 to it can be built up. Arsenic gives good results in the control of all three 

 mice but is an emetic at certain level's! Thallium, moreover, is exc ellent for 

 all three mice because it has no v;arning powers or taste. 



Suggestions for permanent type bait materials for use in mouse control 

 in storage are as follows: Attractants Used. Since all these mice are grain 

 eaters and since grain is both a good attractant and an easily worked ingredi- 

 ent, steam crushed oats, oatmeal, dried bread crumbs, or a mixed grain of oats 

 and v/heat nre desirable. Of course, other small grains can also be used. Ad- 

 hesives Used. To any one of these attractants an adhesive must be added. And 

 only enough of the adhesive is used to permit the poison (powder) to stick to 

 the grain or attractant. Either a shrup or an oil is desirable as an adliesive. 

 Of the various oils, light oil is preferred, such as mineral oil or olive oil. 

 If a material such as cottonseed oil or peanut oil is used it should be cooked 

 first. In any event don't use bacon grease, lard oil, etc., because you are 

 dealing with the meadov; mouse and these arc not acceptable to him. Of the sy- 

 rups, corn syrup is satisfactory. Ra tio of Poison to Attractant . Strychnine 

 is mixed in the proportions of 1 oz. of pcv;dered stryclonine to 12 quarts of 

 cereal (Strychnine sulphate should not be used because it is more bitter, less 

 toxic, and more costly); arsenic is mixed in the proportion of 1 oz. of micro- 

 nized arsenic to 10 quarts of cereal; viith regard to Thallium no data can be 

 given except through personal contact (Thallium may be purchased on the open 

 market) . 



Poisoning can be supplemented by using small vrooden-base snap traps 

 baited vdth material acceptable to all three mice. These traps should be set 

 at various places throughout the storage. Traps, however, must be looked at 

 once a day or oftener depending upon the number of mice. Moreover, traps 

 should be reset and rebaited frequently, as fresh bait is preferable. In 

 summarizing mouse control in storage, the prerequisite in any storage place 

 is to so construct the building that it is rat or mouse-proof. Even v.'ith a 

 mouse-proof structure nice do got in, therefore, poisoning before packing is 

 necessary. Permanent tj^pe baits should be prepared and put in tablespoon quan- 

 tities in bait stations frequently placed throughout the storage. Moreover, 

 this poisoned bait may be supplemented by the use of snap traps. 



