production to the Unit of forase resources. The protection of flocks 

 and herds, on the livestock ranj:;es of the Nation, fron direct destruc- 

 tion by predatory wild anirials is a najor factor in fulfilling this 

 requirenent. The loss of sheep to predatory aninals is the greatest 

 single cause of sheep losses on the Nation's livestock ranges. 



In the Western States raore than 37,000,000 adult sheep and lan'bs 

 graze on open ranges that arc infested with coyotes and other large 

 predators. These have "been protected by predator-control opero^tions 

 conducted over the greater part of the range areas "by the Service and 

 its cooperators. Thus, losses of essential raw materials required in 

 the prosecution of the war have "been reduced. 



In April 1942 a project for pernanent rat control was inaugurated 

 in St. Louis County, Mo., and plens were nadc for sinilar work in the 

 City -of St. Louis. A r?„t -control project v;as ina,ugu.rated in Plint , Mich,, 

 and plans were drawn for other extensive rat control projects throughout 

 the raidv/e stern States where the problcn of protecting stored grain and 

 feed supplies is of paranount inportance. 



Excellent results are "being accormli^hed under the cooperative rat 

 control projects at New Orleans, La. , Miani, Pla. , and in Dade County, 

 Fla, At New Orleans, for- 'exaiiple ,. a large r)roduce conpany reported 

 that previous, to rat control it sustained an annual loss of $3,000 worth 

 of produce to rats. Since control no losses are noted. Assistance has 

 "been given also to the- Arny' in field rodent a.nd rat control at various 

 amy canps, air "bases,' ahd Q^arteruaster Storehouses. 



Control of rodents and predat-ory aninals, an imoortant aid in wa.r- 

 tine food production and- pu"blic health work, has presented new pro"bleins 

 due to the fact that the usual control agents — strychnine, red squill, 

 and thalliun — are cut off fron foreign inport.. Su"'^stitute natcrials 

 have "been devised for certain species, and efforts continued to find 

 others. Red squill, a nost i;^ortant- rat poison, cones fro.n Mediterranean 

 countries, and inport s have been s to-oped by the war.. Exnerlnental propa- 

 gation in the "United States is being' developed through coop'eration with 

 the Bureau of Plant Industry. Extensive plantings of seeds and bulb 

 cuttings have been nade in different sections of the country a,nd to date 

 a few plants of high toxicity have been i->roduced in California. Red squill, 

 hov/ever, requires 4 to 5 years to nature, hence, the building up of a sub- 

 stantial crop is a slow lorocess. 



A process for the fortification, or st re n-,::t he.nl ng of low-grade 

 squill, developed by the Service last year, is now being put to practi- 

 cal use in rat control work. In addition to the Service's snail labora- 

 tory plant at Denver, x\rhich has been running full capacity developing 

 fortified squill for the needs of the Service and its cooperators, a, 

 plant was established this yep,r in Nevr Orleans, under the technical 

 direction of Service scientists, to sup-oly toxic squill for rat control 

 at this inportant nilitary pOrt, 



