File:Control of field rodents on California farms (1965) (20665860736).jpg

Title: Control of field rodents on California farms
Identifier: controloffieldro535stor (find matches)
Year: 1965 (1960s)
Authors: Storer, Tracy I. (Tracy Irwin), 1889-1973; Jameson, E. W. (Everett Williams), 1921-
Subjects: Rodents
Publisher: (Berkeley, Calif. ) : Division of Agricultural Sciences, University of California
Contributing Library: University of California, Davis Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: University of California, Davis Libraries

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vised trappers at other seasons to keep down the muskrat population. Poisoning. Baits must be placed where available to muskrats and not to other animals or birds. A floating bait box (fig. 23), anchored near burrows, will offer bait only to muskrats or house- rats. For stability the box should be about the dimensions shown, supported on 4 x 4- inch redwood floats (preferably painted) ; sealed metal tanks also will serve as floats. It is desirable to keep the bottom of the box above the water so it will be dry. The box provides a roof to exclude other animals, a landing platform, and corner troughs for bait. Various grain, fruit, and vegetable baits have proved acceptable but rolled barley or rolled wheat poisoned with an anticoagulant—warfarin or Pival® (in a 19:1 ratio of bait to poison)—is accept- able and effective. Bait boxes should be examined and cleaned daily, with replen- ishment of bait, until muskrats no longer are visiting. Anticoagulant baits of rolled barley cast in paraffin blocks, as described for meadow mice, have been tried. Each is cast on a slender pointed stick by which the bait is fixed in a place where musk- rats travel. Baits with zinc phosphide and strychnine have been tried but gave poor results; any muskrats that survive the initial treatment will be bait-shy. This does not result with anticoagulant bait. Gassing. Near Bakersfield muskrats were controlled by pumping carbon di- sulfide gas into burrows at a season when water had been withdrawn from the canals and ditches and the tunnels were easily found.
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Fig. 23. Floating bait box for muskrats. (43)

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