Chlorophacinone 0.005%, Diphacinone 0.005% and Zinc Phosphide 2.0%

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Time of Year:

• Late spring and early summer is the best. The appropriate time for baiting is related to vegetation more than calendar dates. In portions of central and northern California, the 6-week period from May 15-June is often the best treatment period. The optimum treatment period would occur earlier in southern California. After the optimum period, estivation is likely. However, in unusual years with late spring rains and cool temperatures such as in 1998, the "window" for treatment can be pushed back considerably.
  
  Too hot for squirrels
• When herbaceous vegetation should be brown and dried out. Green vegetation upon which ground squirrels are feeding should not be present. 
• This time usually corresponds to the time when young squirrels emerge from their burrows
• Do not bait during hot periods when estivation is likely or is occurring.
• Do not bait if a storm is due within 48 hours.
• Apply bait in the morning.

Reduce Materials:

• Conduct a bait acceptance test, described below. This will tell you whether or not the squirrels have switched to a seed and grain diet and whether or not they will take the poison bait. If you just put out the bait and they are still eating green vegetation, you risk wasting all of the bait you put out.
• Prebait with clean grain 2-3 days before distributing the poison bait
• Do not over bait. Use only the amount specified on the label . Increasing the amount of bait does not increase efficacy.

Non-Target Species:

• Local county ag commissioners can give advice on how to avoid non target species. If kangaroo rats or other non-target species are at risk, use anticoagulants in modified bait stations (Box or PVC).
• Do not have bait available in areas accessible by farm/ranch animals, domestic animals, or children.
• Do not graze animals in treated areas.

Safety:

• Use a bait spoon. Do not touch bait with bare hands.
• If being used in an area where crops, vineyard, or orchard is grown for food or fee, apply to bare ground only.
• Keep poison bait out of reach of children, pets, and other animals. Be sure to lock it up when not in use.
• Clean up and dispose of all spilled bait or bait that was put out but not consumed.

Laws and Regulations :

• NA

Directions For Use:

1. Conduct a bait acceptance test.

2. Prebait with the same type of grain used for poison baiting 2-3 days prior to bait application (zinc phosphide only).

3. Bait in the morning.

4. Scatter the bait in infested areas:   
                 
Chlorophacinone and Diphacinone --Evenly scatter 1/3 cup of bait over 40-50 square feet around active burrows.  Repeat application every other day for 3-4 applications.

Zinc Phosphide - Evenly scatter 1 tablespoon of bait around each active squirrel burrow. Do not apply more than once per year to the same treatment area. 

If bait will be applied to crops, orchards, or vineyards grown for food or feed, APPLY BAIT TO BARE GROUND ONLY .
                
5 . In areas that are used for food or feed, apply to the ground so the bait does not come in contact with the crop; or apply only during the dormant season. Do not graze animals on treated areas.

6. Be sure to collect dead carcasses daily and dispose of properly.