The Ground-Squirrel Plague and the Bomb That Sent Them to 'Squirrel Heaven'

It has been the hope and prayer of all farmers in southern and eastern parts of Whitman county for several years past that some kind of disease would break out or could be inoculated into the ground squirrels. Several attempts have been made to spread that kind of disease among them, but all seem to have been unsuccessful.

In view of these unsuccessful attempts and the interest taken in the matter, considerable excitement was caused a few days ago by the report coming from near Penawawa that there was some kind of disease killing the pests in large numbers and the country was in hope to be free from their devastating ravages.

A Spokesman correspondent has made an extensive trip through the infested district in order to investigate the authenticity of the reports and the extent to which the disease is proving fatal. There seems to be no doubt that there is a contagion among them which is proving fatal to a few, though not to the extent that has been represented. The first effect on the animals is to make them dumpy or stupid, then scabs or sores appear on the body of the animal, and soon they lose the use of their hind parts and are barely able to get around. Very few dead squirrels were found, but the animals seem to be less numerous than they were a few weeks ago. This decrease in numbers is explained by some observers by the fact that the females have gone in their holes to have their young, but it has also been noticed in districts where the young squirrels are old enough to get out of the holes.

The adult squirrels seem to be more numerous in proportion in those parts of the country where they are thickest, although in some places where they are very thick, there is no sickness noticeable. In some places about one-third of all the squirrels seem to be affected, but it was difficult to estimate to what extent it is fatal. The district affected by the disease is in the form of a strip thirty or more miles long and six or eight miles wide extending west from Penawawa to the Palouse river. It seems to be at its worst along Alkali flat, about Henry A. Herman's place. Some places in this strip the disease has not been noticed at all.

Already preparations are being made to spread the disease. Inquiries come from all over the country concerning the authenticity of the reports and the effect it is having to decrease the numbers and ravages of the pests.

But while farmers are anxiously watching the outcome of the infection, they are by no means idle in aiding nature to destroy their enemies. Traps, guns, and all kinds of poisons are used to aid in their destruction. One Colfax firm has already sold over 500 ounces of strychnine and other poisons in proportion. Arsenic seems to be springing into favor as a destroyer, but some who have been experimenting with it report rather unfavorably. Since the success of the western one-third of this county depends almost entirely on the discovery of some method which will promptly and effectively exterminate these mischievous little animals, all new suggestions to that end are thankfully received and given a fair trial.

In Spokane county 500 patent bombs for the extermination of squirrels have been received by the county commissioners for distribution among the farmers.

'They operate,' said Commissioner Thorp, 'on the same principle as the giant powder cones now in general use, except that they are charged with sulphur and other paralyzing ingredients and at the close of the process a slight explosion occurs, producing a pyrotechnic display that sends the victims off to squirrel heaven in a blaze of glory, so to speak, from beneath the depths of the earth. The only objection we have to the bombs is that they come too high. The owners of the patent want two cents apiece for them. We feel that the county cannot afford to pay that price while practically the same results are obtained by the giant powder suffocating process, which comes a great deal cheaper.'

'The fact has leaked out,' said a farmer at the courthouse, 'that much of the opposition to the giant powder remedy for the extermination of squirrels has been wrought up by agitators in the interest of patented contrivances and venders of poisons who are traveling over the country decrying the efficacy of all methods but their own.'

More than a dozen farmers testify to the good results of the giant powder method as advised by the commissioners. One man expressed the opinion that if systematically operated there need not be a ground squirrel left in the state of Washington within two years.