Efficacy of Zinc Phosphide and Strychnine for Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Control

Abstract

Three rodenticide treatments, zinc phosphide (prebaited) and strychnine (both with and without prebait), were evaluated immediately following treatment for efficacy of controlling black-tailed prairie dogs in western South Dakota. Active prairie dog burrows were reduced 95% with zinc phosphide, 83% with strychnine (prebaited), and 45% with strychnine without prebait. Zinc phosphide was the most effective in reducing active burrows of prairie dogs.