736 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



An early formula (1873) called for 24 ounces of strychnine to two 

 quarts of wheat. The strychnine was first dissolved and the grain 

 boiled for a time in the solution. Brown sugar was used to sweeten. 



Another control method was suggested, due to the fact that ground 

 squirrels lived in burrows, which could have only a limited cubic capacity. 

 "Why not force in something that would stifle or suffocate them? Cer- 

 tain enough it was tried, and about this time one of the earliest fumi- 

 gators for controlling squirrels was invented which used sulphur fumes 

 as basis for its action. Hot coals were kept glowing by means of a 

 draft supplied by an attached bellows while a stream of powdered sul- 

 phur was dropped upon the coals. A multitude of similar devices have 

 been evolved, but at no time have found the favor which followed the use 

 of later perfected fumigants. 



The first commercial poison which rapidly gained a reputation was 

 "Wakelee's squirrel poison." It was well advertised and extensively 

 used throughout a greater portion of the state. Even in 1917 numerous 

 localities were encountered where the virtues of " Wakelee's squirrel 

 poison" were still being extolled. Other druggists and poison manu- 

 facturers began to place proprietary products on the market to exter- 

 minate squirrels, each with a positively sure and certain result, namely, 

 dead squirrel. Some were secret formulas, others were patented 

 processes, but whenever the layman saw fit to make up a batch of grain 

 himself following a good formula his efforts were generally greeted 

 with successful returns. The idea was widespread that crystals of 

 strychnine and cyanide had to be used, and that the grain must be 

 soaked in a solution of these crystals. Under practically all circum- 

 stances a sweetening substance was added, usually sugar or honey, but 

 it evidently was not considered that the amounts prescribed had little 

 or no effect upon the bitterness of strychnine. It was argued that if 

 a good result was desired one must use the type of grain upon which 

 the animal had been feeding, inasmuch as he was accustomed to it, 

 while on the other hand it was concluded by some that squirrels desired 

 an occasional change, hence in order to be certain of the effectiveness 

 of the poisoned grain a different bait should be substituted. 

 • Before 1880 contractors to do squirrel eradication were heard of in 

 various parts of the state. One partnership, Gerow Bros., earned for 

 itself a good reputation by doing a thorough job before asking for the 

 payment of 5 cents per acre, which was their charge. We hear of 

 them first in Solano County, later in the squirrel-ridden Contra Costa. 

 Strychnine to the amount of one ounce on eight quarts of wheat was 

 their formula, using sugar to sweeten and some sort of scent to attract 

 the squirrel. They worked early in the day and used the most satis- 

 factory means known to properly scatter grain, namely, from horse- 

 back. Not only could the burrows be seen more readily, but the likeli- 

 hood of grain falling in piles was more remote. 



The formulas for poisoned grain appearing from 1870 until the time 

 of extensive experimentation to perfect the old formulas can be grouped 

 into the following classes: (1) strychnine-cyanide, and (2) phosphorus. 

 There were a few aberrant recipes using as a basis for the death-dealing 

 qualities of the bait, arsenic and other poisons commonly used for rats. 



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