USE OF POISONS FOR DESTROYING NOXIOUS MAMMALS. 431 



In winter rabbits may be poisoned with alfalfa hay prepared by 

 the formula for poisoning prairie dogs, or by baiting with twigs cut 

 from apple trees and dipped in a rather thick solution of strychnine 

 and sugar. Both baits have the advantage of not endangering birds, 

 but the poisoned alfalfa should be fed in inclosures from which live 

 stock is excluded. At the same time the rabbits must be carefully 

 fenced away from haystacks, or they may not eat the poisoned bait. 



POISONING MEADOW MICE. 



The most effective poison for the short-tailed field mice is strych- 

 nine. In the recent outbreak of these pests in Nevada, the best baits 

 proved to be alfalfa and crushed wheat. 



An ounce of strychnia sulphate dissolved in 5 or 6 gallons of 

 water will effectually prepare 30 pounds of chopped dry alfalfa hay ; 

 or, with IJ gallons of water, will prepare 45 pounds of green alfalfa 

 cut into short lengths. The poisoned food is distributed near or in 

 the mouth of burrows, a small pinch at a place, especially in cold 

 weather, when the animals do not feed in the open. Green alfalfa 

 bait should not be put out when the sun is hot. 



In the absence of alfalfa, crushed wheat is an excellent bait. An 

 ounce of strychnia sulphate in 2 gallons of water will poison 60 

 pounds of crushed wheat. The prepared wheat is distributed in the 

 mouse runs near burrows, very small quantities at a place. No more 

 food than the mice can eat should be put out, especially as the wheat 

 endangers a number of kinds of birds. 



Mice in orchards and other places where they occur in normal 

 numbers may be destroyed by feeding the prepared baits under shel- 

 ters where birds will not find them. Piles of brush, wide boards, old 

 tin cans with the ends crushed inward, and drain pipes have all been 

 recommended as coverings for the poisoned food. Twigs of apple 

 trees poisoned as for rabbits have also given excellent results with 

 field mice without danger to other animals or birds. 



POISONING HOUSE RATS AND MICE. 



It is usually undesirable to poison rats or mice in occupied dwell- 

 ings, since, notwithstanding statements to the contrary, no poison 

 is known which when eaten will prevent decomposition of the ani- 

 mal's body. Hence traps are the chief reliance of the householder 

 to keep his home free from these rodents. The more slowly acting 

 poisons have sometimes been recommended as permitting the rats time 

 to leave houses before dying. Barium carbonate most nearly fulfills 

 this requirement, but if rats eat much of the poison they frequently 

 die on the premises. The powder may be spread or sprinkled upon 

 small pieces of buttered bread ; or one part by bulk of barium car- 



