Lab tests show that prairie dogs find the bait “delicious”
July 15, 2016 1:15 PM   Subscribe

 
Where can I get myself one of these m&m cannons?
posted by Nanukthedog at 1:39 PM on July 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


This article was amended on 15 July 2016. An earlier version incorrectly reported that the drones would shoot vaccine-laced M&Ms. In fact the vaccine takes the form of pellets made in-house by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
1. Create plan to save cute critters using vaccinated M&M's
2. Buy lots of M&M's with gov't money
3. Reveal "better" plan involving fish pellets
4. EAT THE M&M's
posted by rouftop at 1:42 PM on July 15, 2016 [47 favorites]


Is it April 1st again so soon?
posted by datawrangler at 1:46 PM on July 15, 2016


The ferrets would probably more appreciate the air dropping of vaccine-laced prairie dogs.
posted by Dip Flash at 1:47 PM on July 15, 2016 [4 favorites]


The article mentioned M&Ms when I read it and put together this post. Thanks Guardian for making me look like I can't read. Either one sounds better than the rabies vaccine chicken heads rained on the countryside mentioned in this link on the PopSci article.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 1:47 PM on July 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


(@Clinging to the Wreckage, I didn't mean to imply you couldn't read, I knew you had bad luck with your timing)
posted by rouftop at 1:53 PM on July 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


Prairie dogs are, like, the most venomous animal outside of Australia, aren't they?
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:53 PM on July 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


Now they just need to try this at a few Marin County daycares!
posted by higginba at 1:55 PM on July 15, 2016 [37 favorites]


Prairie dogs are, like, the most venomous animal outside of Australia, aren't they?

You're thinking of corn dogs, and they'll leave you alone if you leave them alone.
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:10 PM on July 15, 2016 [22 favorites]


No no no. Corn dogs are aggressive and should be avoided. Pronto Pups will leave you alone and even come check you out if you're very still.
posted by VTX at 2:17 PM on July 15, 2016 [6 favorites]


and thus we fulfill our weekly quota for articles about drones pooping on things
posted by indubitable at 2:30 PM on July 15, 2016 [7 favorites]


Wait, I was always told that corn dogs were more afraid of me than I was of them. Are you saying my childhood was lies?
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:19 PM on July 15, 2016 [4 favorites]


Not far from where I live, there's a large prairie dog town. My new plan is to run through it throwing handfuls of vaccine pellets while screaming 'Save the ferrets! Save the ferrets!'
posted by medusa at 3:40 PM on July 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


Don't run. You'll step in a hole and break your ankle, and then they will have to shoot you with M&Ms.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:47 PM on July 15, 2016 [13 favorites]


When did Rube Goldberg become Secretary of the Interior?
posted by putzface_dickman at 4:14 PM on July 15, 2016 [6 favorites]


I suppose this will lead to a big flap over elephant ears.
posted by lhauser at 5:07 PM on July 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


Drones to drop vaccine-laced M&Ms all over Colorado to vaccinate stoners again munchies.
posted by GuyZero at 5:15 PM on July 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


Machett said lab tests show that prairie dogs find the bait “delicious”, with a dye added to the mix reliably showing up on the animals’ whiskers.

This is such a cute way to find out if the bait is being eaten. Leeetle prairie dogs with technicolor whiskers
posted by Fig at 5:54 PM on July 15, 2016 [7 favorites]


An earlier version incorrectly reported that the drones would shoot vaccine-laced M&Ms
I'd love to hear a recording of the original interview. I can only imagine it was something like, "we shoot vaccine laden food pellets - little round things about the size of M&M's - into their habitat," "did you say M&Ms?," "that's right, M&Ms."

Though, in a slightly more interesting and less nice world, the writer could have made up the M&M thing entirely from scratch, fully intending to retract it after the first ten million clicks.
posted by eotvos at 6:36 PM on July 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


My first thought was, "What's the LD50 for theobromine in prarie dogs?" My second though was, "Eh, the cacao content of M&Ms is probably so low it doesn't matter." But apparently it's a moot point anyway.
posted by sibilatorix at 7:03 PM on July 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


The vaccine was developed by the good folks at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center here in Madison, WI. I went on a tour of their BS3 facility where they tested the vaccine- they had a heck of a time building an artificial prairie dog habitat that kept the critters happy, was easy to clean, and wasn't easy for the prairie dogs to destroy. The NWHC is working on all kinds of different notable wildlife diseases, among them white nose syndrome in bats, chronic wasting disease, west Nile, and avian flu dispersal. They also do necropsies on all dead eagles that are found anywhere in the country. If you live in the Madison Area, I highly recommend going to an open house, which happen every year or two, generally in the fall.
posted by rockindata at 8:01 PM on July 15, 2016 [11 favorites]


My almost four year old is intrigued by this idea of vaccines by M&Ms. She thinks it sounds much better than how she's been getting her vaccines.
posted by Anne Neville at 7:29 AM on July 16, 2016 [4 favorites]


How does she feel about getting her whiskers dyed in the process?
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:39 PM on July 16, 2016 [6 favorites]


Vaccines by M&Ms and face painting? She'd love that.
posted by Anne Neville at 12:33 PM on July 17, 2016 [3 favorites]


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