Show county agent receives letter april 1 1035 mr E I 1 L Guy guymon nion county agricultural ag agent ent randolph utah dear mr guymon correspondence has been received from various parts of the state to the effect that field rodents are appearing iu in numbers at this early date which naturally causes alarm among farmers the early appearance ot of these mcdents is likely due to mild weather conditions and while it is true that ground squirrels and prairie dogs will abec accept pt bait in limited quantities dur lug the early part of the se season ason it is not practical to encourage early balting baiting the present season reason Is ia almost parallel with last years weather conditions dit ions and from the field tests made ir IL a number of counties last spring which substantiated previous tests we ars are quite convinced that the bulk of our baiting for ground squirrels and prill rip ie dogs should be put off until green feed ap appears pears and we have continued warm weather there is also another ang ingle gle to early baiting and one which we must not overlook that is the possibility of poisoning certain of our song birds which might pick up grain bek because ause of the absence of insect life nubile NN while bile a comparatively fc few v birds will L lat ent at rolled oats bait it if placed early a sufficient number will die from poisoning to cause alarm among our cooperators and since there is a decided disadvantage to early poisoning because only the male rodents actually get the bait it is recommended that no bait be placed on areas in the state until the season is well advanced thereby protecting our bird life and insuring more uniform control of rodents we may be sate safe in advis advising inq 17 our farmer cooperators that bait will be supplied just as soon as conditions are right but not until it appears that from the experience you have had in controlling rodents over a number of seasons your expert advice is the farmers best guide very truly your yours R SCOTT district agent division of game Maua gomont |