8 MAMMALS IN THEIR RELATION TO SPOTTED FEVER. 



MICE AND WOOD RATS. 



AATiile the food habits of the several species of mice in Bitterroot 

 Valley vary considerably, all the species, and also the wood rat, are 

 fond of grain, and may be readih^ poisoned with the wheat, starch, 

 and strychnine preparations given on page 7. The manner of dis- 

 tributing the poisoned gTain most effectively depends on the habits 

 of each species, which are briefly outlined in the following pages. 



POCKET GOPHERS. 



Pocket gophers rarely leave their underground burrows, but they 

 are easily caughi in traps. By following the directions liere given, 

 they may be poisoned with a preparation of strychnine and corn or 

 other grain, or strychnine in raisins, prunes, or small potatoes. 



Dissolve an ounce of strychnia sulphate in a pint of boiling water. 

 Add a pint of thick sugar sirup, and stir thoroughly. The sirup is 

 usually scented by adding a few drops of oil of anise, but this is not 

 essential. If preserved in a closed vessel, the sirup will keep indefi- 

 nitely. 



The above quantity is sufficient to poison a half bushel of shelled 

 corn or other grain (corn recommended) . The gTain is steeped in hot 

 water and allowed to soak over night. It is then drained and soaked 

 for several hours in the poisoned sirup. Before using, corn meal may 

 be added to take up the excess of moisture. 



Dry crystals of strychnine also may be used. They are introduced, 

 by means of a knife, into small pieces of potato, beet, carrot, or 

 sweet potato or into entire raisins or dried prunes. A single large 

 crystal (or several small ones) is enough for each bait. Eaisins are 

 especially recommended because they are easily iiandled and contain 

 enough sugar to disguise the bitterness of the poison. 



The baits having been prepared, the operator inserts them one by 

 one into the gopher tunnels. The tunnels ma}^ be readily located by 

 the use of a pointed stick or a prod consisting of a spade handle shod 

 Avitli a metal point and having a metal bar for the operator's foot 

 about 15 inches from the point. The prod when withdrawn leaves a 

 hole through which the bait may be dropped into the gopher runs. 

 The hole may be covered or left open; no difference in results has 

 been noticed. The prod saves the labor of digging down to the 

 tunnel and enables a man in a day to distribute gopher poison to 30 

 or 40 acres of badly infested alfalfa land or meadow. For loose soils 

 a pointed stick will answer, but for sod or harder soils the iron- 

 pointed prod with foot bar is far better. 



RABBITS. 



Rabbits are more easily poisoned in winter when green food is 

 scarce and they eagerly eat well-cured alfalfa hay. The formula 



[Cir. 82] 



