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Show FARM NOTES BY GOLDEN L. STOKER Beaver County Agent One thousand two hundred pounds of government - treated steam rolled oats for poisoning squirrels is now available for distribution. dis-tribution. This bait can be secured se-cured at the Milford Feed store, the Marshall store in Minersville, and at the county agents office in Beaver. M. R. Scott Zimmerman, of tlje biological survey, suggests that the first of May will be early enough to set out bait for squirrels in Beaver county this year. Better results are obtained in controlling ground squirrels if the spring is pretty well advanced, the weather warm and the day clear and quiet. In attempting to poison ground squirrels too early in the spring we find they refuse to bait because they are not in the condition condi-tion to eat heavy foods such as grain. Their systems havo been resting all winter, and after coming com-ing out ofa six to seven months fast, nature only requires succulent succu-lent grasses, light food, etc. Later on when the grass toughens up and the days get warm and long, they are ready to accept a heavy diet and we get better results later than earlier. Squirrels, as most people are aware, can do considerable damage by feeding on farm crops, cutting of roots, covering crops with mounds, digging up seeds, and drying out the soil by honey-combing the soil with burrows. According Accord-ing to figures obtained from the Biological survey, 32 ground squirrels squir-rels eat as much as a sheep and 160 will eat at much as a cow. It is pssible that some areas have as many as 160 squirrels on an acre and, if this be the case, it is evident that a tremendous loss will be sustained in our county for this pest if it is not controlled. In one 10 pound bag there are approximately 1000 squirrel baits. Actual counts have shown as high as 100 squirrels killed per pound of bait used. This bait will cost 40c foi' a 10 pound bag. It is possible pos-sible to soli this bait at such a low price only because we are able to have it delivered at Beaver by the division of grazing trucks. If we are not so fortunate in the future as to have this delivered by the government the price of bait will naturally be higher. |