Caught in traps; bait, cheese. It is locally accused of killing young chickens, but I could obtain no reliable evidence on the point.
Evotomys gapperi (Red Vole).—Uncommon. I only caught them on cultivated land.
Microtus (Pedomys) minor (Grey Vole).—Not at all uncommon. Appears to live only in very wet places. I fancy, from remains of shells found in tussocks of rush where they were caught, that their food consists partly of water-snails, although I could not catch one, using snail as bait. Trapped with cheese and almonds.
Microtus drummondi (Brown Vole).—Very plentiful. Appears to be equally distributed over open prairie, bush, and cultivated land. One caught by hand, January 28th, 1902, in open, when thermometer registered 30° below zero.
An old half-breed trapper—who has for many years made the greater part of his living by trapping fur for the Hudson's Bay Company, who do a large business with the Indians, trading goods for fur—gave me many useful hints, on which one or two notes may be of use to other collectors.
When trapping, if unsuccessful, try change of both bait and style of trap, as one or the other will frequently result in a catch where traps have remained for days untouched. Best bait for Mice, Voles, &c, cheese and ordinary eating-almonds. Smoke and water will be found useful in getting burrowing animals where traps are not at hand. For small holes, pour water in gently, and the occupant will gradually come to the top to escape it; if poured in too fast, they are drowned inside. For large holes, make a good fire in the mouth of one hole; when well alight put on a good handful of grass; immediately close both that hole and all others, except the one from which you wish occupant to bolt. If, as sometimes occurs, the animal remains to be suffocated, it is lost, unless it can be reached with a pliable willow. Select a willow having several branches at the thin end growing close together, cut these off so as to leave a bunch of ends about three-fourths of an inch long. This can then be inserted into the hole till the animal is felt, when by gently twisting the stick the fur will usually get hung up in the short ends, and the animal can then be drawn out. It is impossible
