| United States Department of Agriculture Bureau of Biological Survey | ||
| Wildlife Research and Management Leaflet BS-54 | ||
| Washington, D. C. | Rev., December 1936 | |
RODENT CONTROL AIDED BY EMERGENCY CONSERVATION WORK
By Stanley P. Young, Chief, Division of Game Management
Contents
| Page | |
| Need for rodent control | 1 |
| Federal, State, and local cooperation | 2 |
| Training of E.C.W. crews | 2 |
| Timeliness of emergency aid | 3 |
| Forest and forage protection | 3 |
| Aid in erosion control | 4 |
| Examples of benefits derived | 4 |
| Safeguarding harmless species | 5 |
| Control work illustrated | 6 |
| Prairie dogs | 7 |
| Ground squirrels | 13 |
| Pocket gophers | 15 |
| Kangaroo rats | 20 |
| Rabbits and hares | 25 |
| Porcupines | 27 |
| A typical E.C.W. crew | 30 |
Need for Rodent Control
The Emergency Conservation Work Program has been of inestimable valuein the control of prairie dogs, ground squirrels, pocket gophers, kangaroorats, rabbits, and porcupines. The citizens of the West have been forced tocarry on campaigns for the control of these rodents since the settlers firststaked out claims on the prairies. To the agricultural interests of the Westthe control of rodents is as vital as is the proper spraying of trees throughoutthe East to prevent damage by insects. These small mammals cover the westernranges by countless thousands, and control is necessary if crops are to begrown.
Rodent control is nothing new. Re