EODENT PESTS OF THE FARM. 



17 



Each quart of the prepared grain is sufficient to treat about 50 

 prairie-dog burrows. Scatter the grain on clear, hard ground near 

 the mounds or burrows, never on loose soil or in the holes. With 

 reasonable care, cattle, sheep, or other live stock on the range will 

 not be endangered. 



This poison is effective at any season wdien prairie-dogs are active, 

 but, on the whole, early spring or a time of drought, when green 

 food is scarce, is preferred for poisoning operations. In the South, or 

 wherever the animals do not hibernate, winter poisoning is recom- 

 mended. The cost of complete extermination of the animals, in- 

 cluding labor, need 

 not exceed 4 or 5 cents 

 an acre. 



WOODCHUCKS. 



The woodcliuck, or 

 ground-hog, is the 

 largest of our mar- 

 mots. The common 

 woodchuck (fig. 13)^ 

 inhabits eastern North 

 America from north- 

 ern Georgia and mid- 

 dle Alabama north- 

 Avard, including the 

 greater part of 

 Canada. In the 

 United States it 

 ranges westward to Arkansas, eastern Kansas, and eastern Minnesota. 

 In Canada it is found as far north as Great Slave Lake and west- 

 ward to the base of the Rocky Mountains. Another species of 

 woodchuck^ inhabits the higher country of the Black Hills, Rocky 

 Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and other ranges in the West. 

 This mountain form seldom comes in contact with agriculture, but 

 the eastern species frequently damages garden vegetables, clover, 

 and other crops. Also, its burrows and mounds interfere with mow- 

 ing and other farm operations. In some States the animal is re- 

 garded as so obnoxious that local bounties are paid for destroying it. 



Woodchucks, while somewhat gregarious, seldom occur in large 

 colonies, and may, therefore, be kept in check by shooting or trap- 

 ping. They may be poisoned by strychnin inserted in pieces of sweet 

 apple, carrot, or sweet potato. The animals are often destroyed in 



^ Marmota monax mona.r and several geographic races. 



- Marmota fiaviveniris flavivcniris and nearly a dozen races. 



