Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Effects Of Taste Stimuli (Quinine And Sucrose) In Pelleted Granulated, And Wax Block Baits On Feeding Preferences Of Northern Pocket Gophers (Thomomys Talpoides), Stephen A. Schumake, Geraldine R. Mccann

Proceedings of the Eighteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference (1998)

A two-choice, taste preference study was conducted using 18 northern pocket gophers to evaluate pelleted sorghum, granulated sorghum, and wax block baits containing either 0.01 to 0.05 % quinine or 0.10 to 5.0 % sucrose. Bait consumption was significantly higher across treatments (P≤.001) for granulated sorghum, followed by pelleted sorghum, and wax blocks. Gophers also showed a high frequency of moving the granulated bait in their cheek pouches to be deposited at alternate locations within their cages. Although increasing sucrose concentration did not produce significantly (P ≥.10) enhanced consumption for any of the baits, a trend toward increasing preference with …