COMMON MAMMALS OP WESTERN MONTANA. 



23 



or early summer, before the seeds and berries which form their favor- 

 ite food have ripened. Since wheat is liked by chipmunks better 

 than any other grain, it forms the best medium for the administration 

 of poison. Dried currants are relished even better than wheat and 

 make an excellent bait when treated with the flour coating described 

 below. "When a waterproof poison is desired, the tallowed wheat 

 recommended in Formula IV will give good results. To be effective 

 these poisons must be placed in the spring or early summer. If 

 grainfields are to be protected, a strip of adjoining country must be 

 poisoned before the grain begins to head. 



FORMULA III. FLOUR-COATED WHEAT. 



Wheat 20 quarts. 



Strychnine alkaloid (powdered) 1 ounce. 



Flour \ cup. 



Water 1 quart. 



Mix the flour with a cup of cold water to form a thick, smooth 

 paste, and then stir in the remaining 1^ pints of cold water. Heat 

 to boiling point over a slow fire, stirring constantly. Then remove 

 from the stove, mix in powdered strychnine alkaloid, and mix with 

 the wheat until every kernel is evenly coated. Spread and dry the 

 preparation, and it may either be used at once or kept indefinitely. 



Although alkaloid of strychnine is here recommended, because it 

 is less quickly bitter than sulphate, the latter may be used if the 

 former can not be secured. The addition of one-half ounce of pow- 

 dered dry extract of licorice and \\ tablespoonfuls of strawberry or 

 raspberry sirup to the hot starch coating will make the baits more 

 acceptable, but these materials are not necessary. 



FORMULA IV. WATERPROOF WHEAT POISON. 



Wheat , 1G quarts. 



Strychnine sulphate 1 ounce. 



Water 1 gallon. 



Dissolve the strychnine in 1 gallon of boiling water and pour it 

 over the wheat, stirring until all the kernels are well wetted, then 

 mixing it occasionally so that the moisture will be evenly distributed. 

 After allowing the grain to stand for 12 or more hours, until it has 

 absorbed all the water, place it in trays and dry it in the sun, not in 

 an oven. Then return it to the mixing vessel, add 1 pint of melted 

 mutton or beef tallow, and cook for about 25 minutes over a hot stove, 

 stirring constantly. The poison is then ready for immediate use, or 

 can be kept in a dry place as long as desired. The advantage of this 

 preparation is that it is waterproof and will withstand heavy rains. 



OTHER METHODS OF DESTROYING CHIPMUNKS. 



If it becomes necessary to protect small areas from chipmunks 

 after the animals can obtain such an abundance of seeds and berries 



484 



