Presented by
Monty Sullins
Vertebrate Pest Specialist
Montana Department of Agriculture
Soil tillage/cultivation
Crop Rotation
Irrigation
Burning / Debris Removal
Grazing Management
1. Ground squirrels, prairie dogs, marmots
2. Can be effective on small areas/localized
problems
3. Expensive, time consuming ineffective on large
areas
Types:




Pocket gopher pincher and box traps
Conibear
Live traps
Ground squirrel traps
Can be effective on small areas
…… but labor intensive
Plague, Tularemia, etc. occur naturally but
cannot be used as a managed control
Prevents access of rodents into buildings
Expensive and labor intensive
Ignitable gas cartridge:
a. General use
b. Lighter than air – may not filter
throughout burrow
c. May be a fire hazard in dry conditions
Aluminum phosphide
a. Restricted use
b. NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS
c. Requires good soil moisture
d. Used primarily for ground squirrels and
prairie dogs
Zinc Phosphide grain baits
Registered (restricted Use) for controlling all field
rodent pests in Montana
 Formulated on grain
 Must be prebaited in all applications except for voles
 Single dose – no antedote
 May be spot baited, broadcasted, or used in burrow
machines
 Special requirements for broadcast application –
contact Montana Dept. of Agriculture
 Cannot be used in bait stations

Rozol






Anti-coagulant – Chlorophacinone
Registered for controlling ground squirrels, pocket
gophers, and voles – NOT prairie dogs
Antedote – Vitamin K
Can be used in bait stations – also Ra,ik Green
MUST follow application instructions completely – 2
applications 2-3 days apart
Spot application only – cannot broadcast
Strychnine


Illegal to use except for pocket gopher control ONLY
– applied underground by hand or in burrow
machine
Formulated on oats or milo
1. Rodents are a food base for hawks, owls,
eagles, coyotes, foxes, badgers, etc
2. Help reduce rodent numbers but may not be
enough to adequately reduce damage
1. Oxygen/propane exploders
a. Expensive, labor intensive, poor results
2. Gum
a. No evidence that it works