The baits most commonly used in the
rat poisoning campaigns of the Biological
Survey are prepared according
to the following formulae, also recommended
for general use, though a
variety of other foods are sometimes
advisable:
a. Meat bait-
1 lb. powdered red squill, high toxicity
15 lb. ground fresh beef, uncooked
1 lb. corn meal
Mix corn meal and squill dry; then mix
into meat, adding a very little water if necessary.
Squill must be thoroughly mixed
through the meat.
b. Cereal bait-
1 lb. powdered red squill, high toxicity
11 lb. rolled oats of good quality
4 lb. corn meal finely ground
Mix ingredients dry and then stir in enough
water to make a rather moist dough.
In the eastern states canned red squill
rat bait prepared under Biological Survey
supervision is being used.
The two baits described above are
kept separate and are exposed in teaspoonful
lumps where the rats will find
them, alternating a lump of meat and
a lump of cereal. It is very necessary
that enough bait be put out at the first
baiting to supply all rats that may visit
the premises. Every rat requires a
good big teaspoonful of bait, and a
dozen spoonfuls put out among 100 rats
will show little results. If there are
100 rats, there should be 150 spoonfuls
of bait.