COMMON MAMMALS OF WESTERN MONTANA. 



39 



so much of their lives underground that their relation to spotted fever 

 can not be considered of much importance. 



POISONING POCKET GOPHERS. 



These animals may be readily destroyed by either trapping or 

 poisoning. Until recently the former method was the more effective ; 

 but. owing to investigations carried on during the fall of 1910 and 

 spring of 1911 by T. H. Scheffer, of the Biological Survey, an ex- 

 ceedingly satisfactory method of poisoning the animals is now avail- 

 able. The following are Mr. Scheffer's directions for preparing and 

 using the poison : 



Fig. 32. — Pocket-gopher mound in wheat field. 

 FORMULA VII. POISONED VEGETABLES. 



Sweet potatoes, parsnips, or carrots 8 quarts. 



Medium starch or flour paste, cold I pint. 



Strychnine alkaloid, powdered \ ounce. 



Saccharine A ounce. 



Place the vegetables in a wooden pail or tub and with a sharp spade 

 cut them into pieces about half an inch square. (Small quanti- 

 ties may be cut with a knife.) Mix the powdered strychnine into 

 the paste and pour it over the chopped vegetables, stirring them 

 until each piece is coated. Sulphate of strychnine may be used 

 instead of the alkaloid if the latter is not available. If carrots are 

 used the pieces should be spread and the outsides allowed to dry 

 slightly before the starch is applied. 



About a tablespoonful of this bait should be placed well down into 

 the main tunnel at one or more points. This is best accomplished by 



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