A comparison of two rodent repellents in broadcast seeding Douglas-fir.

Abstract

Broadcast seeding of cutover lands is a promising, yet still problematical, means of tree regeneration. Substantial progress has been made since 1950, particularly with the introduction of new rodenticides and repellents suitable for direct application to the seed. One of these is tetramine (tetramethylene disulpho tetramine), a highly lethal repellent that has shown considerable success in protecting broadcast Douglas-fir seed from rodents. However, the original supplier of tetramine soon discontinued production of the chemical, primarily because of hazards associated with its manufacture. This seemingly unfortunate occurrence intensified the search for alternative protectants that would equal or exceed tetramine in effectiveness. The Wildlife Research Laboratory of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Denver, Colorado, has offered "Endrin" as a possible candidate. To test the comparative effectiveness of the two chemicals, the U. S. Forest Service cooperated in establishing a replicated field experiment early in 1955.

Citation

Dimock, Edward J., II. 1957. A comparison of two rodent repellents in broadcast seeding Douglas-fir. USDA Forest Service Old Series Research Notes No. 20: 1-17