140 MISC. PUBLICATION 434, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



For the various species of Peromyscus and for the Perognathus, an 

 effective bait has the following ingredients: 



Powdered borax 2 ounces. 



Powdered dry glucose (corn sugar) 1 ounce. 



Wheat flour 1 ounce. 



Strychnine alkaloid 1 ounce. 



Glycerin 2 ounces. 



Steamed rolled oats or groats 12 pounds. 



Boiling water % pint. 



Cold water yi pint. 



Dissolve the borax and glucose in the boiling water. Mix wheat flour 

 and strychnine and add the cold water. When well mixed stir into 

 the boiling solution and heat until a thin, smooth paste is obtained. 

 Stir in the glycerin and pour mixture over oats or groats and stir until 

 the grain is uniformly coated. 



Another satisfactory strychnine bait for the mice may be prepared 

 by treating wheat, oat groats, or canary seed with the following prepa- 

 ration: 



Strychnine sulfate 1 ounce. 



Grain 8 pounds. 



Oil of anise ){ ounce. 



Heavy molasses 4 ounces. 



Hot water 8 ounces. 



Dissolve the strychnine in the hot water and pour this solution while 

 hot over the grain, stirring throughly meanwhile. Mix the anise and 

 molasses and pour over poisoned grain. Stir until the grain is well 

 coated and allow to dry before packaging. 



There are two ways of exposing the bait. Where there is plenty of 

 grass or other vegetative cover and the mice have distinct runways on 

 the surface of the ground beneath the cover, place a teaspoonful of the 

 bait directly in the runway and cover well with grass. This offers the 

 least disturbance to their natural habitat and the acceptance is the 

 best. There is no danger to birds if bait is properly covered. 



In some locations, however, it may be necessary to use a container 

 for the bait to give proper cover, not only to prevent birds from gaining 

 access to it but also to enable the mouse to feel protected while eating 

 the bait, which is a vital factor in aiding acceptance. A simple, 

 inexpensive mouse-bait container is the 1 -quart can used for distrib- 

 uting motor oil. As usually discarded at the filling station, this can 

 already has the proper size hole cut in the top. The side of the can on 

 which the hole at the end is located should be crimped slightly to 

 prevent the bait from coming out or water getting into it. 



Another more expensive type of shelter is made of 20-gage galvanized 

 sheet iron. Cut pieces 6 by 7 inches and roll these so as to make a 

 channel 6 inches long, about 2 inches high, and 3 inches wide at the 

 open side. A square or round pan 3 inches across and % inch deep 

 will serve to hold the bait. Place this pan along a runway and invert 

 the channel over it as a cover. 



Since the bait molds quickly in boxes or cans, baiting must be done 

 frequently enough to keep fresh bait available. 



In locations where the meadow mice will not take the baits men- 

 tioned above, expose pieces of apple. If this bait is taken, dust 2}i 

 quarts of %-inch cubes of apple with % ounce of powdered strychnine 

 alkaloid and expose as described, putting out one piece at a place. 





