ASTM E554-95

Guide for Use and Development of Strychnine as an Avicide (Withdrawn 2000)

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the use of strychnine as an avicide and has been developed to supplement registered labeling. Strychnine has an established history as an avicide.
1.2 Regulation of toxic materials in the United States presently prevents further alteration and development of this and other vertebrate pesticides.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific safety statements, see Sections 5 and 9.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 09-Nov-1995
• Withdrawal Date: 09-Oct-2000
• ICS: 71.100.99 - Other products of the chemical industry
• Technical Committee: E35 - Pesticides, Antimicrobials, and Alternative Control Agents

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 554 – 95
Standard Guide for
Use and Development of Strychnine as an Avicide
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 554; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Vertebrate animal control as a science lacks many of the methods and procedures which are well
established in other pest management areas. It requires skills that are highly dependent upon field
experience. This is particularly true with wild species that are capable of developing learned
behavioral patterns. Control of these species is difficult and sometimes impossible to standardize. The
committee recognizes that an effort to standardize must be made to improve the science and to provide
reasonable safeguards for legitimate environmental concerns.
1. Scope characteristics such as size, porosity, and digestibility.
1.1 This guide covers the use of strychnine as an avicide and
4. Storage
has been developed to supplement registered labeling. Strych-
4.1 Store strychnine or strychnine-treated bait, or both, in a
nine has an established history as an avicide.
locked cabinet in a room where there are no extremes in
1.2 Regulation of toxic materials in the United States
humidity and temperature. Do not store oils, insecticides, or
presently prevents further alteration and development of this
other odor-emitting materials, in the same room, since odors
and other vertibrate pesticides.
may be imparted to baits and could adversely affect accep-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tance. Keep a record of all materials removed or placed in the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
cabinet.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.2 All containers used for storage and transportation should
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bear appropriate labels.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
statements, see Sections 5 and 9.
5. Formulation
5.1 Mixing strychnine baits requires training, care, proper
2. Significance and Use
equipment, and adequate facilities. It is recommended that
2.1 This guide is meant to aid trained bird control personnel
individuals lacking these resources purchase prepared baits
in the safe and effective use of strychnine avicide formulations
from established sources. When preparing strychnine baits,
in urban and rural areas.
gloves, an appropriate respirator, and protective clothing, must
3. Product Types be worn. Eating or smoking are prohibited until hands have
been thoroughly washed following mixing operations. To
3.1 Strychnine, an odorless, colorless, crystalline alkaloid,
reduce environmental exposure, use strychnine with a water-
has an extremely bitter taste, and is relatively insoluble in
soluble adhesive.
water. The sulfate salt is moderately water soluble.
5.2 Care must be taken to formulate bait materials that are
3.2 Use strychnine only on grain or seed baits at concentra-
acceptable to the target species and that minimize hazards to
tions of 0.6 % or less (except where other baits are used against
nontarget species. Bait concentrations and materials must be
corvids). Always use the lowest effective concentration. (New
carefully selected to correlate the amount of strychnine used
unpublished research in this area indicated that lower toxic
with the size of the bait particles and species to be controlled.
levels can be developed, 1995.)
A universally satisfactory formulation does not exist.
3.3 Strychnine is used as a single dose avicide.
3.4 Strychnine toxicity may be altered by the use of certain
6. Areas and Species to Be Treated
adhesives or diluents in formulations and by bait matrix
6.1 The principal use areas for strychnine baits are agricul-
tural croplands or urban and industrial structures, including
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-35 on Pesticides,
locations outside food processing plants. Other areas of use
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E35.17 on Vertebrate Control
include ranches and farms where live stock feeding operations
Agents.
occur. Use only as prescribed by labeling and as permitted by
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1995. Published January 1996. Originally
e1
laws, regulations, and local ordinances.
published as E 554 – 75. Last previous edition E 554 – 89 .
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 554
6.2 Target species may be house sparrows, domestic pi- limited amount of time (not more than 3 days). Remove all
geons, magpies, horned larks, house finches, and certain other unconsumed bait when baiting is completed and dispose
Icterids and Fringillids. according to state and federal regulations.
9.3 Pick up dead birds as promptly as practical and dispose
7. Frequency and Timing of Application
of properly. In agricultural situations where carcasses may be
7.1 Govern placement and timing of application by the type
widely dispersed, make reasonable efforts to recover visible
of site, human activity, and the populations and activity of carcasses.
target and nontarget species.
9.4 Dispose all used strychnine containers, disposable uten-
7.2 Property owners or their agents must be notified that sils, and carcasses, in accordance with federal, state, and local
strychnine is to be used on their premises.
regulations.
7.3 Map bait placement locations or annotate by applicators 9.5 Strychnine baits must not be used where they might
in their records as to location.
contaminate food, milk, feed stuffs, cosmetics, drugs, or other
items, intended for human or animal consumption.
8. Physical Restrictions in Application
9.6 Killing protected nontarget species during baiting op-
8.1 Time of use will vary, but should not include the
erations may result in legal action. Before baiting, the appli-
migratory and breeding seasons of protected susceptible birds.
cator should contact the governing conservation agency in the
Thus observe an April through October exclusion above 39°
region for information on protected nontarget species.
latitude and a March through November exclusion between 37°
10. General Requirements
and 39° latitude. The local situation will govern in areas South
of 37° latitude.
10.1 Persons using strychnine should be trained and expe-
8.2 Urban or industrial sites are norm
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