Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-17
COYOTES.
A Mean Contemplate Coward and
Sneak Thief.
An Animal that Even the Indian Dogs
Look Upon With
Contempt.

GREEN RIVER, WYOMING, May The
first experience of the Eastern traveller on
the Northern Pacific Railway usually has
some reference to the coyote. As the train
gradually ascends the plateaus that merge
into the Rocky Mountains on the way west
from Omaha, the FIRST form of animal HE
observed is the coyote standing on some DIS
tant knoll or half hiding in the scanty ssge
brush and gazing wistfally at the pasting
train.
The coyote is the sneak thief, the pick
pocket of the Rocky Mountain region. Al
though the dog belongs to the same genus
of animals, yet the hunters end trappers In
expressing their contempt for Digger In
dian will compare him to coyote, but never
to a dog. Even the Indian dog, which is a
coyote tanned through long generations, de-
spises his ancestor and fights him at evesy
opportunity with great show OF contempt
So cowardly is this animal that he never.
dares to seize bird which faces him, but
Springs WleQ It's DdCh Is tuIuc1.
The dismal bark of the coyote at night
reminds one Of the jackal OF the Orient
Nv first experience with these animals was
when sleeping in tent after hard days
ride in Wyoming on the back of broncho
The night was dark and threatening. Sud
denIya chorous of unesrthly sounds came
from high rock overhanging the tent
What on earth is that?
"Coyotes" said the guide, with a curse,
turning over for renewed sleep.
took shotgun and cartridge OF heavy
slugs aud bl.zed away at half dozen 6g.
ures dimly outlined on the rock above 1t
there were any more strange noises that
night slept too souudly to hear them. In
the morning two dead coyotes were found
near the tent. off which the remainder OF
pack and perhaps other animals had man.
aged to make q meal during the night. The
COYOTES followed US wherever we travelled,
10! 500 miles through the mountains, al
WAYS Sinking away in the distance. and at
night, somewhat em0oldened. stealing into
camp and eating the refuse OF our meals.
| shot a number Of these animals and dis
seeted them. If any one can mention an
not eat, he ought TO give it 20 the world at
once as curiosity. To my knowledge
they are carniverous, inseCGverous, hereby
erous, grsniniverous, frug3Yerous, and the
rest.
The antipathy between the coyote and the
Indian dog is one OF the features OF life in
the West that attract general attention.
| Some naturalists have been in haste to use
{ this fact to prove that the latter is not de-
scepdant from the former. Plainly, the
antagonism between the animals is proof
that they are Identical species. The Indian
dog has been trained through long genera
tions to protect the interests of his master.
The coyote is in opposition to the interests
of man, and makes it his business to steal
and plumber. The interests of the wild AMI
tanned coyote are consequently antognistic,
and it is natural that they should S5ht. A
Western artist has photograph which
shows an Indian dog and coyote side By
side. Any one who can point out any diff
ference in looks is welcome to the fame OF
his discovery.
Sportsmen, in the absence Of game, often
ride down the coyote, but find the chase
brief and with few features of fox hunting.
| rode one down, but never repeated the
operation.
In the fights between the Indian dog and
the coyote the dog usually gets an unmercr
full threshing, particularly If he strays far
away from camp. In such cases the coyote
calls his neighbors, snd the entire pack Sc,
upon the dog, and often kill him. If the
coyC,e is alone and can obtain rs help he
makes haste to sneak away tail between
his legs. The Indian dogs and the coyotes
however, interbreed commonly.
The coyote is found over a very wide sec
ton Of country. Evidently their range i:
from sea level to 10000 feet above. | saw
large numbers of them in Wyoming, Idaho
and Montana, between 5000 aud 5000 fee
above sea level. When first seen they are
usually standing motiouless on some higt
elevation or among the sage bush II M
harm is likely to come 10 them, they vii
stand and scrutinize the traveller from g
very near point. In fact they are safel
hear by than at distance, as one is apt t
take them for Indian dogs if they appear
tame. In Idaho l saw them hunting il
their usual snesking way, the large sag,
hens Indeed, when had taken the troubl
to shoot one of these birds ! was surprise,
to see uimble coyote step ont from uude
tall sage brush seize the bird, and das'
away AZ that time was riding through
the mountains in double buggy, aud vs.
unable to give chase. One day | climbs
an almost perpendicular elevation of sbou
1900 feet. On the narrow Top was a coz
ole, who, in his haste to escape, lesped to
far, and fell over the precipice on the oppo
site side, several thousand feet deep. 1
captivity the coyote is the most servils an
despicsble rascal imaginable. How the Ia
dams ever had patience to homestead
them cannot imagine Although the Ia
dan may be w;leless and wigwsnless, he i
never dogless. ". I'D.