farmers' bulletin 896. 



enactments. The recent pla^jne eradication work of the United 

 States Public Ilealth Service in San Francisco, Seattle, New Orleans, 

 and at various places in Hawaii and Porto Rico required such ordi- 

 nances and laws as well as financial aid in prosecuting the work. 

 The campaign of Danish and Swedish organizations for the destruc- 

 tion of rats had the help of governmental appropriations. The leg- 

 islatures of California, Texas, Indiana, and Hawaii have in recent 

 years passed laws or made appropriations to aid in rat riddance. It is 

 probable that well-organized efforts of communities would soon win 

 legislative support eA^ery where.- Communities should not postpone 

 efforts, however, while waiting for legislative cooperation, but should 

 at once organize and begin repressive operations. Wherever health 

 is threatened the Public Health Service of the United States can co- 

 operate, and where crops and other products are endangered the 

 Bureau of Biological Survey of the Department of Agriculture is 

 ready to assist by advice and in demonstration of methods. 



IMPORTANT REPRESSIVE MEASURES. 



The measures needed for repressing and eliminating rats and mice 

 include the following: 



1. The requirement that all new buildings erected shall be made 

 rat-proof under competent inspection. 



2. That all existing rat-proof buildings shall be closed against rats 

 and mice by having all openings accessible to the animals, from 

 foundation to roof, closed or screened by door, window, grating, or 

 meshed wire netting. 



3. That all buildings not of rat-proof construction shall be made so 

 by remodeling, by the use of materials that may not be pierced by 

 rats, or by elevation. 



4. The protection of our native hawks, oavIs-, and smaller preda- 

 tory mammals — ^the natural enemies of rats. 



5. Greater cleanliness about markets, grocery stores, warehouses, 

 courts, alleys, stables, and vacant lots in cities and Adllages, and like 

 care on farms and suburban premises. This includes the storage of 

 waste and garbage in tightly covered vessels and the prompt dis- 

 posal of it each day. 



6. Care in the construction of drains and sewers, so as not to pro- 

 vide entrance and retreat for rats. Old brick sewers in cities should 

 be replaced by concrete or tile. 



7. The early threshing and marketing of grains on farms, so that 

 stacks and mows shall not furnish harborage and food for rats. 



8. Removal of outlying straw stacks and piles of trash or lumber 

 that harbor rats in fields and vacant lots. 



