The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources's (DANR) Bait Mixing Facility, located in Pierre, was transferred to the department through a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Interior in 1971. Under the terms of the agreement and those contained in a Memorandum of Understanding dated July, 1969, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, United States Department of Interior, "extended to the State of South Dakota the facilities for preparing and distributing to cooperators at approximate cost, baits and toxicants and other materials used in control programs".
The hours of operation at the bait mixing facility may vary. Please call to ensure that someone will be there to assist you.
South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Bait Station
4075 Airport Road
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: 605-773-4432
Authorization for the South Dakota Secretary of DANR to purchase and make available to governmental subdivisions and individuals, supplies and equipment for the suppression and control of unprotected birds and non-game animals was granted to the Department in 1971 by the State Legislature through the provisions of SDCL 38-20. The Secretary of DANR makes the supplies and equipment available through the Department's Bait Station.
The South Dakota DANR's Bait Mixing Facility, located at the Pierre Municipal Airport, was transferred to the Department through a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Interior in 1971. Under the terms of the agreement and those contained in a Memorandum of Understanding dated July, 1969, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, US Department of Interior, "extended to the State of South Dakota the facilities for preparing and distributing to cooperators at approximate cost, baits and toxicants and other materials used in control programs". In 1971 and 1972, supplements to the Cooperative Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding completed the transfer.
Current Department policy concerning the Rodent Control Fund and Bait Station is to provide, to governmental agencies and the public, quality baits that are not available from normal sources at approximate cost and to maintain a facility for research on new control methods and chemicals.
The Department currently makes available zinc phosphide bait, manufactured at the bait mixing station, and gas cartridges obtained from the US Department of Agriculture's Pocatello Supply Depot. The 2% Zinc Phosphide bait is sold in 50 pound bags and labeled only for prairie dog control. This toxicant is classified as a restricted use pesticide by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The gas cartridges, packaged 100 per case, are used primarily for treating small infestations and cleanup operations following bait treatment of larger infestations of prairie dogs.
In addition to manufacturing baits for sale to cooperators and individuals, the Department maintains the bait mixing facility for the manufacture of experimental baits, such as the research done on the use of 1080 bait for control of rodents, that was done in the early 1980s. The Department has made the Bait Station's equipment available to SDSU researchers for the manufacture of experimental bran bait for grasshopper control (1987) and continue to make it available to Animal Damage Control for the manufacture of coyote lure and bait (1995).
The necessity to insure quality, economically priced rodent baits and maintain a facility capable of producing experimental toxicants for pest control is as important today as it was when the bait station was accepted from the US Department of Interior. It is important, however to evaluate the options the DANR has relative to what baits should be manufactured and what devices for control should be made available.
At the present time the bait mixing facility is utilized for the manufacture of 2% Zinc Phosphide Oat bait which is labeled only for use on prairie dogs.
Currently there are only three active ingredients labeled for use on prairie dogs in South Dakota; they are zinc phosphide, aluminum phosphide and gas cartridges. Zinc phosphide is registered for sale in South Dakota by four manufacturers, South Dakota DANR. Bell Laboratories, Hacco Inc. and R & M Exterminators. While some product labels may have black-footed ferret survey requirements, the entire state has been "block cleared" so restrictions only apply where black-footed ferrets are known to exist.
Aluminum phosphide is registered for sale by several different companies and in many formulations which are readily available since it is used as a grain fumigant. All of these products require notification of the US Fish & Wildlife Service prior to application when using to control prairie dogs.
Gas cartridges are registered for sale only by USDA APHIS and distributed by the South Dakota DANR. This product requires notification of US Fish & Wildlife Service prior to application when using to control prairie dogs.