In 1934, the Lykens Valley had a rat problem. Rats were everywhere, and the residents, in cooperation with the County and Federal government, devised a plan to completely eradicate them. The bait was ordered, distribution centers were set up in Millersburg, Elizabethville and Gratz, and the plan was executed on the night of April 17, 1934. No news article was located that told of the success of the evening, but it is likely that at least one pair of rats survived.
From the Lykens Standard, March 30, 1934:
RED SQUILL BAIT BEING PREPARED UNDER COVERNMENT SUPERVISION
Word of the Lykens Valley rat campaign, planned by County Agricultural Agent A. S. Frommeyer and Ernest M. Mills, Federal rodent control specialist, for Tuesday April 17, has spread rapidly since being announced a few days ago.
Requests for bait are pouring into county headquarters and to the local leaders from all directions, with some farmers ordering a double does for good measure. Convinced of the need of community and neighborhood cooperation for success of the drive, effort is being made to get every last farmer to cooperate.
Hundreds of pounds of the poisoned meat, fish and cereal bait will be needed to meet this demand, and it is being mixed right now in a canning factory in Massachusetts, under federal supervision, where the freshness of the product and the correct proportion of poison is assured. Bait shipments will be in the hands of the county agent a few days ahead of the campaign and supplies placed at the various community centers where the farmers are to call for it.
April 17 is the date of the rat banquet, when farmers turn waiters, to serve their rat colonies with the first food ever willingly left in the pathways. At least 100 teaspoon servings of each bait will be ready on every farm at sunset that night, after which the family pets will be locked up, the other animals tied, and an effort made to have peace and quiet for the remainder of the night while the rodents eat, ache, and die.
Preparation of the bait under the cooperative plan makes it possible to bait farms at the small cost of 50 cents each. All that is necessary to take part is to telephone or drop a postcard order to bait to the county agent, or one of the committee, then call for the bait as directed on the given day. It’s a simple process, and easy job, but a high paying one. Members of the Rat Campaign Committee are: A. H. Erdman, Elizabethville; Ray Snyder, Gratz; J. J. Kahler, Millersburg.
____________________________________________
From the Lykens Standard, April 13, 1934:
SINGLE NIGHT DRIVE EXPECTED TO POISON ENTIRE RAT POPULTION
Tuesday evening, April 17th, will be Zero Hour for the rats of Lykens Valley. That day marks the community’s first attempt at a cooperative drive to rid the area of rodents.
The campaign has been arranged by local farmers and is being conducted by County Agent A. S. Frommeyer with the aid of the U. S. Biological Survey through Ernest M. Mills, Federal rodent control specialist.
Over 100 farmers have made advance preparations to take part in this single night baiting bee, having their order in, and will call for them at local centers.
An extra supply of bait has been ordered, so that anyone who has not placed an order can secure their bait on Tuesday by calling at one of the following distribution points: Millersburg Milling Company, Millersburg; Miller Brothers Store, Gratz; Steever’s Drug Store, Elizabethville.
_____________________________________________
Articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.