Rodent Control Aided by Emergency Conservation Work

The Western plains have long been a battlefield between farmers and the countless rodents that ravage crops—prairie dogs, ground squirrels, gophers, and even rabbits. From the early days of settlers hauling strychnine around Cape Horn to modern federal initiatives, the fight for effective control has shaped the region’s agricultural landscape. This book traces that ongoing struggle, showing why managing these small mammals remains as vital today as pest‑insect spraying was once for the East.

In the 1930s the Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) program brought together the Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other agencies to tackle the problem on a massive scale. Over three years nearly 20 million acres of public land were treated, and thousands of young workers received hands‑on training in safe, wildlife‑friendly poisoning techniques. The narrative also highlights the educational outreach that accompanied the work—films, leaflets, and lectures that taught crews about broader conservation goals while protecting beneficial species.