Idaho County Free Press

HOW TO EXTERMINATE SQUIRRELS
Suggestion From a Garfield Man Seems Plausible.

Garfield, April 3.—The accounts recently published concerning a new disease which is afflicting the ground squirrels in the western part have made very interesting reading for the farmers in this vicinity. But while all interesting and very destructive, no efforts are being spared to get rid of the pests in other ways. The Spokesman-Review's correspondent is informed of a method, which is claimed to be entirely successful, which has not been tried to any extent throughout the country. The method is this: Thoroughly mix two parts sulphur and one part gunpowder; wrap about a heaping teaspoonful in heavy paper, connect a fuse and place in the hole, then stop up the hole. The sulphur smoke will kill them, but when used alone at the first scent of the smoke the squirrel burrows into fresh earth and escapes, but mixed with powder the explosion fills the hole almost instantly. The gentleman who furnished this recipe thinks it the same composition as patent bombs, but as it was used long before the date of the patents, no one need be afraid of prosecution for infringement. If the fuse is too expensive they can be made at a trifling cost and almost no expense in this way: Make a strong solution of saltpetre; saturate thick paper with the solution; dry; roll or fold into suitable shape for use. A few grains of powder put in when rolling will make them burn freer.