in 1934. After the 1934 nesting season, many canyons that had one or two 
paifs of quail in 1929 now had more than-100 birds. With greater precip-— 
itation in 1934 and the fine breeding nucleus available, the increase in 
numbers of quail was astounding. In 1936, 120 birds were shot in a half 
mile of one canyon, and more than 300 live quail were counted in this 
area on the lest day of the hunting season. -The increase occurred gener- 
ally over the entire 77,000 acres of this ranch, and similar observations 
were made on large tracts in Monterey and Los Angeles Counties. A marked 
increase in quail followed reduction of the squirrels. 
In May 1936, some 300 acres around headquarters on the San Joaquin 
Experimental Range were poisoned with strychnine-treated barley to remove 
the ground squirrels. Glading checked the area carefully and failed to 
find dead quail or any reduction in their numbers. . In 1937, the area was 
poisoned again, and the same results were obtained. Valley quail census 
figures for 1936 show 90 birds on the poisoned area and, by coincidence, 
90 on an unpoisoned check area adjacent. In February 1937, 229 quail were 
on the poisoned and 135 on the check area. In August 1937, following the 
second poisoning and the annuel hatch, 420 quail were on the poisoned. 
tract and 299 on the control area. Glading states that some birds migrated 
from the poisoned to the unpoisoned area. 
From the observations described, it is evident that ground squir- 
rels play a serious part in causing nesting losses of valley quail and 
that squirrel-control measures may be of value as a management tool. 
That strychnine as available in squirrel poisoning operations is 
not detrimental to valley quail has been demonstrated by pen studies and 
field experience, which were reported by Garlough and Keyes in 1925 (2; 
pp. 1-8). That thallium is not destructive to quail is well demonstrated 
by results on the 77,000-acre Quinto Ranch in Santa Clara County and in 
1,000 acres in Moraga Valley, Contra Costa County, where an experiment 
was conducted (6, Di. 5) before thallium was recommended for more general 
use. When dead quail are found, ordinarily their death is attributed 
without proof to poison. The significant result is the beneficial effect 
of the poisoning campaign upon the breeding stock of quail. Ground squir- 
rel control by hawks and other predators is hopelessly inadequate. Al- 
though such predators are numerous, there are still 10 California ground 
squirrels to the acre on large sections of the San Joaquin Experimental 
Range. 
SUMMARY 
1. California valley quail require sound management, including 
definite regulation of the kill, so that adequate breeding stocks will 
remain, 
2. A violent fluctuation in quail occurred in at least one sec- 
tion of the State following a rapid increase to the saturation point in 
OSH. 
