Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Review Of Current Vertebrate Pesticides, D. Glenn Crabtree

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

For the purpose of this brief review, emphasis will be placed on development, physical properties, physiological action, experience and limitations of vertebrate pesticides primarily of current opera¬tional importance in the control of field rodents and predatory animals.

STRYCHNINE (C21H22N2O2)

SODIUM MONOFLUOROACETATE (FCH2-CO-0Na)= "1080"

THALLIUM (Thallous-Sulfate TL2SO4)

ZINC PHOSPHIDE (Zn3P2)

CYANIDE (Compounds Yielding HCN on Hydrolysis)

RED SQUILL (Urginea maritima)

ANTU Alphanaphtylthiourea (l-(l-Napthyl)-2-thiourea)(C11H10N2S)

ANTICOAGULANTS--warfarin, diphacinone

TRACKING POWDERS

ARSENIC ERIOXIDE (AS2O3)

ENDRIN (1,2,3,4,-10, 10-hexachloro-6,7-epoxy-l,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octa-hydro-1,4-endo,endo-5, 8-dimethanonaphthalene)

CALCIUM CYANIDE (CaCN2)

CARBON DISULFIDE (CS2)

PYROTECHNIC (GAS) CARTRIDGES

Federal Law And Vertebrate Pest Control, Justus C. Ward

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

Shortly after the passage of the Federal Insecticide Act of 1910, mammal control specialists in the Bureau of Biological Survey began to consider a similar law to cover the chemicals with which they were concerned. Work on the project went slowly and spasmodically, but reached the point of having a Federal Rodenticide Act available for study and possible revision in 1928. At this time, the mammal control chemicals in use were limited to strychnine--alkaloid and sulphate-arsenic, barium carbonate, thallium sulphate, phosphorus, sodium and calcium cyanide, carbon disulphide, and red squill. Strychnine alkaloid was about the only predatory animal control agent, …

Concluding Remarks Of Appreciation With Comments On Histoplasmosis And Cryptococcosis, Philip J. Spear

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

The record of this meeting will stand as a permanent tribute to Dr. Walter Howard and his associates. It should remind them for years to come of their worthwhile contribution in conceiving, organizing, promoting, and handling the details of this first Vertebrate Pest Control Conference. Those of us privileged to attend will be grateful for the opportunity to enlarge our acquain¬tance with the workers in the vertebrate pest control field, and to share in this exchange of information. The National Pest Control Association, whose members provide among other services, control of many vertebrate pests, draw information and guidance from many …

Vertebrate Pest Control Conference: Contents

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

Proceedings of a meeting held at Sacramento, California, February 6-7, 1962. Sponsored by National Pest Control Association, 250 West Jersey Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey, and California Vertebrate Pest Control Technical Committee.
GENERAL CHAIRMAN OF CONFERENCE: Walter E. Howard, Associate Vertebrate Ecologist, Field Station Administration, University of California, Davis, California

Vertebrate Pest Control, Walter E. Howard

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

It is a pleasure and privilege for me to welcome all of you to this conference. And it is a conference, not a convention. No motions or resolutions will be entertained, as this conference is made up of representatives of many governmental agencies and countries; hence, not a place for resolutions. We are here to get acquainted with each other and to listen to experts from North America and Korea tell us about the best methods of controlling troublesome and pestiferous birds, mammals and snakes, and to discuss related problems concerning diseases and pesticides. Since the program is crowded, each …

The Pest Animal Problem: Keynote Speech, W. C. Jacobsen

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

There is an inscription across the top of the impressive facade of the National Archives Temple in Washington, D. 0., which reads: "What is Past is Prologue." So be it. Perhaps it applies to us here- At least the inscription furnishes a basis for me to indulge in a few com¬ments of historical significance as we undertake consideration of vertebrate pest control in its many phases. The earlier documents available to us reveal that with every expansion or westward advance into newer areas of agricultural production or livestock enterprises there also arose a variety of pest animal problems. However, it …

Control Methods For Snakes , Elbert M. Brock, Walter E. Howard

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

Of the various types of wildlife that home owners find undesirable, snakes are probably the leading offenders. Because of much false teaching, many persons have a great dread of even non-venomous snakes; hence control often is practiced when not needed. Nevertheless, very few people are willing to accept the presence of snakes in their gardens or their yards, especially if there is a concern for children playing in the area. For this reason snake control is often desirable about homes and suburban housing areas. Other situations where controls might be justified are recreation areas, farms, bird sanctuaries, duck nesting marshes, …

Methods Of Controlling Coyotes, Bobcats, And Foxes, Weldon B. Robinson

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

In reviewing methods of predator control, it would first seem appropriate to define what is meant "by "methods" and what is meant by "control." Taking the last term first, control, as applied to the predatory coyotes, bobcats, and foxes, may be defined as regulating the numbers of these animals to the point where the economic losses for which they are responsible will be reduced to a practicable minimum. In some situations, area control, i.e., limiting the numbers of the offending predator over wide areas, may be necessary for satisfactory reduction of economic losses; in other situations, spot control or localized …

Wolf Control In British Columbia, Canada, G. A. West

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

Up to 1949, the Fish and Game Branch employed personnel, some of whom were temporary, to attempt control of the extremely high wolf pop¬ulations of the central and northern portions of British Columbia. Coyotes were also very numerous in the central and southern regions and had to be considered because of their depredations. The field men were keen and conscientious but their efforts were not co-ordinated. Control areas were severely restricted in size as techniques were not adaptable enough and because of a lack of manpower. Eventually, sheepmen went out of business entirely over wide areas, cattlemen were subjected to …

Meeting The Meadow Mouse Menace, William D. Fitzwater

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

The orchardist has many ways to lose money but one of the best is to ignore his mouse problem. This apparently insignificant, short-tailed little rodent by his unobtrusive but systematic attacks on the growing tissue of trees can be very expensive. The Indiana Extension Horticulturist has stated that mice are the number one cause for orchardists going out of business in recent years in that State. Moreover, the problem is not a recent one as a questionnaire to county agricultural agents in 1924 (Davis, 1925) showed that field mice were even then considered a problem in 40 per cent of …

Control Of Opossums, Bats, Raccoons, And Skunks, Howard A. Merrill

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

Opossums at times cause economic losses, especially around poultry farms, truck crops and river bottom corn fields. Under such circumstances, control may be required.

When bats invade homes and occupied buildings to establish their roosts, they often become nuisances, necessitating some measure of control. Interest in bats has increased greatly during recent years due to the transmission of rabies to humans. Rabies virus has been isolated from over 20 species of bats in 36 States. Since 1953, five human deaths have been attributed, to rabid bat bites. More recently one field investigator has reported an experience which indicated that rabies …

Mole And Woodrat Control, Rex E. Marsh

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

MOLES: In regions where moles thrive, lawns in golf courses, parks, cemeteries and home yards are often made unsightly by dirt mounds and ridges pushed up by the active little animals. In cultivated land, moles may cause consider¬able economic loss through their burrowings. Mole control can be divided into six basic categories: exclusion, repellents, gases, toxic baits, reduction of food supply, and trapping. Un¬changed over the years, trapping is still considered the most reliable of all methods of control, however, under certain conditions or situations, the other methods of control may be extremely useful. WOOD RATS: The native wood rat …

Control Of Pocket Gophers, Maynard W. Cummings

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

Pocket gophers occur only in North and Central America but within this vast area few other native rodent groups are more widely distributed (Anthony, 1928). None are more adaptable, either to natural extremes of habitat or to changed conditions brought about by agricultural development and other man-made environmental modifications. They occupy coastal areas, inland plains and valleys, desert and alpine meadow, from sea level to above timber line in a multitude of vegetation and soil types. This practically universal distribution has, of course, led to the recognition by naturalists of many species and subspecies. California alone contains at least 75 …

Ground Squirrel Control In California, Richard H. Dana

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

The control of ground squirrels in California is important in two ways. First, it is necessary to prevent destruction of agricultural crops. Second, it is important from a health standpoint where rodent-borne diseases have been demonstrated to be present. Ground squirrel control in this State is the responsibility of the county agricultural commissioners, the State Department of Agriculture and on Federal lands the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Most control measures are concerned with but two of the nine species of ground squirrels found in California. These include four subspecies: Beechey ground squirrel (Citellus beecheyi beecheyi), Douglas ground squirrel …

Controlling Muskrats, Rollo E. Talbert

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

Today damage attributed to muskrat activities occurs both to irrigation systems and waterways serving agricultural interests as well as to power company installations, waterfowl refuges and hunting clubs. Direct damage or destruction of agricultural crops is relatively minor although the muskrat is known to feed on a variety of produce including ear corn, alfalfa, clover and carrots and frequently will cut a rather wide swath of rice near water control boxes separating rice paddies. The brief activities of fur trappers appear to have little significance as applied to alleviating these losses, so we are forced to recognize that we will …

Linnets, Horned Larks, Crowned Sparrows And Woodpeckers, James W. Koehler

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

CALIFORNIA HOUSE FINCH Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis: Depredations. In California the linnet is an abundant resident throughout the State wherever food and water are available. It is most numerous on the valley floors and in the foothills where man's development has created an extensive favorable habitat. The linnet is primarily a seed eater and before the introduction of domestic fruits into California probably lived largely on weed seeds. Linnets attack the ripening fruit of the apricot, cherry, peach, pear, nectarine, plum, prune, avocado, grape, apple, fig, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and many others. They disbud almond, apricot, pear, peach, plum, prune and …

Controlling Yellow-Billed Magpies (Pica Nuttalli), Rex Lynda Ii

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

The yellow-billed magpie is a little smaller than the American or black-billed magpie, but the difference in size is very slight. The birds look exactly alike, except one has a black beak and the other has a yellow bill and a bit of yellow skin back of the eye.There are concentrated populations in the Los Banos area, Gustine area, and along the course of the Merced River comprising about 19,100 acres. They are occasionally seen in other areas of the County, but only infrequently observed in the southwestern portion of the County. The heaviest populations are in walnut orchards, dairy …

Methods Of Controlling Starlings And Blackbirds, Adolph Zajanc

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

Most people have accepted the fact that all living things can be beneficial to mankind in some way or other. This is especially true of our wild birds, since they provide enjoyment and wholesome recreation for most of us, regardless of whether we live on farms or in the city. But despite the fact that wild birds are for the most part beneficial, at times individuals or populations of certain species can seriously affect man's interests. When such situations occur, some measures of relief are desirable and usually eagerly sought. This report is not intended to answer all the questions …

Banquet Address: People, Pests And Some Plans, Daniel G. Aldrich Jr.

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

We can probably say that the California way of farming has made California fanners the most over-run hosts to vertebrate pests in the agricultural world. We can certainly say, too, that new pests—and here I don't mean people--are on their way. I'm told that the starlings are just exploring here now. The relatives are coming later. We'll see, and hear, a lot more of them. Our problem is: How do we keep from being such good hosts to our small vertebrate guests? I have been told by experts that right now the vertebrate pest control man is woefully underequipped for …

Control Of Meadow Mice, Kangaroo Rats, Prairie Dogs,, John A. Ludeman

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 1st (1962)

Meadow mice, kangaroo rats, prairie dogs and cotton rats are broadly classified as field rodents. The control of their populations have been necessary since man first began to farm and raise livestock within the areas in which these rodents live. The intensity of control has varied with land values and the population fluctuation of the rodents. Rodent control, like other farming practices must be profitable to the land owner, or he cannot afford to undertake a control program. If he is to continue in business his control efforts must be done efficiently and as successfully as possible. To accomplish these …

Farm Flora Sancturies, Robert Dunlop Royce

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

NOW that several species of native plants have become totally extinct and many more are becoming rare almost to the point of extinction, interest in the scientific and aesthetic potential of the West Australian flora is awakening.

Winter Management Of Salt Land, T C. Stoneman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

WITH the emergence of crops, many farmers will again be seeing bare patches or thin stands of cereals due to salt accumulation.

Would these areas be better left out of cultivation, or should they have been planted to saltbush and bluebush?

Stilling Coastal Sand Drifts With Marram Grass, J L. Mcmullan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DRIFTS in dunes on the coast between Albany and Geraldton may be stabilised by planting marram grass (Ammophila arenaria).

However, it should be anticipated that much of the planted grass will die before an area is finally stabilised.

Light Lands In Western Australia. 2. Their Nature, Distribution And Climate, George Henry Burvill

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LIGHT land development for agriculture is a major feature in the story of agriculture in Western Australia. Sixty years ago there was less than one million acres of arable land.

The total area planted to all crops was less than 250 thousand acres and the wheat harvest was less than one million bushels.

Flooding Of Salt Land, C V. Malcolm

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Many farmers have expressed concern and some have gone to considerable expense in trying to alleviate flooding problems on salt affected land.

Some consideration will be given here to flooding, its causes, effects on salt encroachment, methods of prevention and alleviation.

Palatability Of Forage Plants In North-West Sheep Pastures, R H. Collett

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A DECLINE in carrying capacity has occurred in large areas of the Pilbara district of the North-West, due to the decrease in palatable plants and the increase in unpalatable ones.

The relative palatability of the various species to sheep is therefore a matter of considerable importance to pastoralists.

Fallowing And Soil Conservation, J E. Watson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Soil Conservationists don't always disapprove of fallowing, says Soil Conservation Service adviser J. E. Watson.

They are prepared to compromise, and accept fallowing as a useful practice where it means better pasture establishment or more effective land reclamation.

Wild Life In A Modern Age, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE present human population of the earth is estimated at about 2 1/2 thousand million, and reliable sources consider that this figure will be doubled by the year 2000.

Although the pessimistic forecasts of Malthus have not yet come true, it is obvious that the world's food requirements, must lead to increased exploitation of land and other primary resources, with consequent repercussions on all forms of wild life.

Reclaiming Salt Land With Bluebush, Stanley Thomas Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN Western Australia there are approximately a million acres of salt land, some of which is a serious economic problem to individual farmers, unfortunate enough to have the major portion of their properties affected by salt encroachment.

Industrial Wastes: Bio-Assays For Control Of Industrial Effluents, Croswell Henderson, Clarence M. Tarzwell

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Waste effluents from many industries are toxic to fish and other aquatic life. The control or treatment of these wastes for safe release into receiving waters presents a problem of consider able magnitude.

Much effort has been expended by some industries to solve this problem, primarily through chemical analysis for possible toxic components and then generally by a search of the literature to find out how toxic a particular component may be. Unfortunately, this approach has not been successful, nor can it be expected to be productive of satisfactory answers.