H-USN 



-3- 



6/5/31 



Tho .-lOthods G:-.ployod var-r with the locality and with the different pests. 

 Some of tho larger and less nunorous posts are hunted down "by expert r.arksinen. 

 Sono are tra-^ipcd. Othars are poisoned. Tho nothod ado-ptod in any particular 

 Case are designed to get the r.ost effective control with the least danger to 

 other wild aninals and do-^.estic stock and *ith the least suffering to the pre- 

 dators then selves. 



For killing coyotes, for instance, poison, used as directed hy the Biologica] 

 Survey, has been found r.ore huiTiane than steel traps, and its use has been safe- 

 guarded so as to protect as auch as possible the sr.aller fur bearers and other 

 foms of wild life. 



To Icnov/ v7ithout question of doubt the exact econor.ics status of each 

 predator, the naturalists go back to the food habits of the anir.:als thenselves. 

 This sij.v.^.er a branch "laboratory will be established in the ^est to carry on in- 

 vestigations of tho s'-onach contents of coyotes and other predatory aninals to 

 suppler.ont the laiowledge that has been accumulated over a nunber of years by 

 field exaziinations of stor.achs of anir.als killed. 



A knowledge of the peculiarities of diet and other feeding habits of the 

 different wild aninals also aids in selecting and so placing then as to get the 

 best results with the least danger to beneficial wild animals. 



Don't get the idea, "However, that such control operations are being 



carried on everywhere in the wilds. They are carried on only where control is 



needed to protect properly other forr.s of life both interesting species of the 



wild and donestic livestock. 



In naay parts of our national forests, on Indian reservations, and on 

 other public lands, the United States Biological Survey is doing absolutely no 

 work for tr.--^ control of either the predatory anir.als or the rodents, and the 

 officials tc'l r-.e they are -olanning none. In such rer.ote -olaces and in the 



ational parks they are le.^ving nature to take care of her own, and in these 

 preas the struggle of life in the wild goes on without interference, and the 

 prinitive conditions of the co-untry are not disturbed. 



AIIMOUNCS/ISxIT ; 5>/ery two we^ks this Station joins with the United States 



Depart-.ent of A^^riculture in presenting you sor.e of the activities of Uncle San's 

 Naturalists. We will have another of these talks two weeks fron to-day. 



