Some persons uninformed as to the need for rodent control and the
methods followed by the Biological Survey in carrying on the work have
stated that control by use of poison and C.C.C. workers endangers the
existence of other forms of wildlife. This, however, is not the case.
The Biological Survey has studied rodent-control methods for more than
twenty years and in this period it has developed the most scientific
and selective poisons possible. Scientific investigations conducted
by the Bureau are bringing increasing knowledge of the habits of
economically injurious species and of their physiological reaction to
various baits. This has made it possible to use more and more specific
control methods and so to select, prepare, and expose poison baits as
not seriously to endanger animals other than those for which the baits
are intended. When these scientific methods are carried out under
direct supervision of trained personnel, the total number of beneficial
species destroyed is negligible.
The Biological Survey is a conservation organization and will undertake
no work that will be detrimental to any species of animal not
interfering too greatly with the interests of man. Those conversant
with actual conditions in the range States realize that if agriculture
is to survive, the control of injurious rodents is as essential as
is control of the corn borer, the chinch bug, the boll weevil, the
grasshopper, the coddling moth, and numerous other agricultural
pests. The Survey insists that in conducting work of this sort, the
most careful supervision by trained technicians must be given. All
cooperating agencies recognize the necessity for such supervision, and
as a result a most worth-while program has been carried on during the
past three fiscal years. The Biological Survey has entered into written
cooperative understandings with the various governmental agencies under
which rodent-control activities have been conducted. These agreements
place the responsibility for technically supervising all rodent-control
activities in the hands of the Bureau, leaving the cooperating agencies
responsible for administration.