Strychnine Or Mole Traps ?

[earth-thrower 494]

For those of you who used the poison, ( before 2006) can anyone answer honestly ,whether you prefered it to the traps,or not ? Also, anyone have any opinions, on the ban of it ?

[DIDO.1 22,857]

fecking evil stuff. My dad used it for years and I was brought up seeing it used. countries better off without it.

[paulus 26]

Belongs in the same part of our history as ddt "the past"

[Matt 160]

I was one of the biggest users of Strychnine in the Southwest, and did thousands of acres every year.... BUT... I've always preferred trapping.

 

When I first started using 'snow', there was less regulation of it, and as long as you were sensible, you could use it pretty much anywhere. Then they tightened the rules a little bit (about '90 or '91) and the ministry decreed that you couldn't use it anywhere except agricultural land. I reverted to the traps on everything except agricultural land, and the odd few organic holdings and wise farmers.

 

When I got married, my wife wasn't very keen on me using the stuff, and the final straw came when HSE came to visit and advised me to have a shower fitted in the shed with a separate waste water system, and I was also told that I could no longer bury empty bottles. I packed it in, and reverted to traps.

 

In 2004 I moved further up country to work for a national, and found myself using the stuff again. I put forward a good case for that company to stop using it and they did. Training of some technicians in trapping took place, and to the best of my knowledge, that company has stuck to trapping ever since.

 

The one thing that you can't get away from is that Strychnine certainly was effective, and in the right hands, easy to use.

 

By the way; it wasn't 'banned' it was withdrawn. Subtle, but important difference.

[DIDO.1 22,857]

What method did you prefare matt, springleing it on the worms in a jar or cutting a worm with a scaple and baiting each one individually?

[Phil Lloyd 10,739]

Used it,..hated it,..

 

Trapping is, and always has been,.. my prefered choice....

[Matt 160]

Worms in a bucket.

 

In later years it was the only way you were allowed to do it.

 

At one time I employed schoolboys at spring half term to walk behind the plough worm picking for me...... busy, busy days.

[Matt 160]

Here ye go Earthy.... does this bring back any memories?

 

[Matt 160]

[snakey 4]

Here ye go Earthy.... does this bring back any memories?

 

 

Worms in a bucket.

 

In later years it was the only way you were allowed to do it.

 

At one time I employed schoolboys at spring half term to walk behind the plough worm picking for me...... busy, busy days.

Tell me something Matt, how did you charge using strychnine?

[Matt 160]

Last time I used it myself ('98) I charged £55 for the first hour and £35 per hour thereafter.

 

For every hour spent on a farm using the stuff you had at least another one filling in forms and maps and doing all the other crap that went with it.

 

Good money if you got it right; nothing but hassle if you didn't.

[BORDERSCOT 3,816]

Used it extensively years ago - much prefer traps...the Russian Roulette slant was uncomfortable...seen it abused too away back in the mists of time...but some things are best left untold...I agree with Paulus best consigned to history...

[Matt 160]

Used it extensively years ago - much prefer traps...the Russian Roulette slant was uncomfortable...seen it abused too away back in the mists of time...but some things are best left untold...I agree with Paulus best consigned to history...

 

Same here I think.

 

A farmer once said to me, "what should I do if you poison yourself?" "knock me on the head and bury me; but whatever you do, don't phone an ambulance" was my reply.........

[DIDO.1 22,857]

I feel sick just thinking about the stuff, but as has been said some stories are best left in the past. I know phostoxin gas can be dangerous but compared to striychnine and cymag it is positivley harmless

[Matt 160]

I feel sick just thinking about the stuff, but as has been said some stories are best left in the past. I know phostoxin gas can be dangerous but compared to striychnine and cymag it is positivley harmless

 

Cymag was actually a very safe product to use. Antidote on hand, and not as toxic as Phosphine.

 

It's a common myth; people think that Phostoxin and Talunex are safer than Cymag - nothing could be further from the truth.