Show 10 II 10 Conservation Notes by By W. W Earl Rhinehart II II I IIII III 1111 III II III I 1111 II IIO II A short feature article recently appearing in the Salt Lake Tribune Tribune Tribune Trib Trib- une to my attention a conservation practice we haven't said much about That is the subject subject subject sub sub- of Rodent Control It t seemed that a muskrat hole In the base of the Idaho Power Company dam north Of lif Bellvue was believed to have caused a washout about feet south of the Penstock Intake to the tho power plant The water backed up by the earth bank was released and flooded the old Liggett ranch These small animals including including including ing rabbits prairie dogs gophers ground squirrels and porcupines can really give e the farmer trouble at times County Agents State Fish and Game and Wildlife Service Soil Conservation Service Ser personnel through local soil conservation districts and other agencies are attempting to help the farmer and rancher in control methods While were we're on this subject let us take the most common rodent we have In this part of the state and try to figure him out The pocket gopher gopher He He damages root crops young trees and burrows into earth structures structures ures Cultural ways to control this pest include changing to grain and row crops in hazard areas areas areas- particularly along washes rotate crops and protect their natural enemies enemies owls Methods of ot direct control Include traps Macabee traps poison polson bait grain potatoes po- po and carrots In burrows gas and Irrigating them out Large area kills are n never ver per cent effective It is always alwa's necessary to follow up This follow follow tollow fol tol- fol- fol low up Is left up to the Individual farmer and rancher Another Item which possibly we should mention is that all rodent poisons and gases are dangerous to humans and domestic domestic domestic do do- animals Poultry Is fairly resistant to strychnine but this poison polson is deadly to humans and andall andall andall all other animals and to birds Cyanide gas gas is deadly one deadly one deep breath may kill a man Thallium poison Is deadly to all life Ufe and there Is no known antidote There is a new rodent poison known as 1080 that Is highly lethal but not much Information is yet available Colored grains Continued on last page in 1 I Conservation Notes 1111 11 Continued from tram page 1 are are being experimented with because because because be be- cause rodents are color blind and will eat the tho colored grain Birds avoid colored grain |