North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Henry <treehugger53ah@yahoo.com>]

I searched for "plaster of paris pest control" and found the MYTHOLOGY OF 
VERTEBRATE PEST 
CONTROL, from the University of Nebraska, 1990:

"Plaster/Cement and Rats 
"Boelter (1909) states that plaster of paris (calcium 
sulfate) mixed with sugar has long been recommended as a 
rat poison. This bait is placed near water. When the thirsty 
rat drinks, the plaster hardens in his intestinal tract and 
"literally stiffens him." Fitzwater (1990) fed caged rats (Rattus 
norvegicus) plaster of paris mixed 50% with their dry feed. 
He also fed a mixture of portland cement in the same ratio 
to a second set of rats. After 14 days on these diets, there 
was no mortality in either test and the animals appeared 
perfectly healthy except for sore rectums due to their large 
bowel movements. It is probably safe to assume the digestive 
fluids in the alimentary tract prevent these substances from 
hardening. Other suggestions along this line, such as 
dehydrated potatoes and bath sponge or cork pieces soaked 
in butter or bacon fat, can be presumed to be equally 
ineffective."

--Henry Fieldseth
Minneapolis, Minnesota, zone 4/5



 > Subject: Re: [nafex] how to keep squirrels of trees
 
 Jerry,
 
 I seem to remember seeing a recipe for squirrel bon bons. I
 think it was 50/50 peanut butter and plaster aparis. They
 eat the bon bons and they don't return. Squirrel problem
 solved.
 
 Good luck,
 Little John
 
 "If we do not initiate the boys, they will burn the village
 down" -African Proverb