The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1886-10-23
COWARD AND SNEAK THEFT.
An Animal That Even the indian Dogs
Look Upon with CONTEMPT.

fCreen River wv. IT, Cor. Chicago HERALD
The first experience of the easter
traveller on the Northern Pacific rail
way usually has some reference to tn
coyote. As the train gradually ascend
the p~lateaus that merge into the Rock,
mountains on the way west from Omahi
The first form of animal life observed is
the coyote standing on some distant
knoll or half hiiing in the scanty sage
brush and gazing wistfully at the pass
ing train.
The coyote is the sneak thief, the
pick-pocket of the Rocky mountain
region. Although the dog belongs to
the same genus of animals, YETI r.
hunters and trappers in expressings-c
contempt for a Digger Indian will &C a.
pare him to a coy ote, but never to a
dog. Even the Ipdian dog which is a
coyote tanned through long generations,
despises his ancestor and fights him at
every opportunity with great show oil
contempt. 30 cowardly is this animal
that he never dares to seize a bird
which faces him, but springs when its
back is turned.
The dismal bark of the coyote at
night remicds one of the iackal of the
Orient. My first experience with these
animals was when sleeping in a tent
after a hard days ride in Wyoming on
the back ola broncho. The night was
dark and threatening. Suddenly a
chorus of unearthly sounds Game
from a high rock o~yerhanging the tent.
What on earth is that's
Coyotes said the guide, with a
curse, turning over for renewed sleep.
Il took a shotgun and a cartridge of
heavy slugs and blazed away at half a
dozen figures dimly outlined on
the rock above. If there were any
more strange noises that night /
slept too soundly 10 hear them. In tho
morning two dead coyotes were found
near the tent, off which tho remainder
OF the pack and perhaps other animals
nad managed to make a meal during
the night. The coyotes followed us
we Travelled, for 500 miles
through the mountains, always sinking
in the distance, and at night.
embolden, stealing into camp
eating the refuse of our meals. l
shot a number of these animals and
them. If any one can men 1
ION an edible article in existence that (
he coyote will not eat he ought to give j
! 10 the world at once as a curiosity.
10 my knowledge they are c%arniyorous, Z
herbiyorous, graminiyor- ! !
frugiyorous and the rest. '
h antipathy between the coyote n
ND the Indian dog is one of the feat {
res of life in the west that attracts r
attention. some naturalists r
ave teen in haste 10 use this fact to {
that the latter is not a descendant !,
the former. Plainly, the antag- u
nlsm between the animals is proof that
ley. are identical species. The Indian e
og has been trained through long gen :
'atlons to protect the interests Of his 3
asler. The coyote is in opposition to 8
le interests OF man, and makes it his =
lsiness to steal and plumber. The in -
rests OF the wild and tame coyote are s
'nsequently antagonistic, and it is =
'tural that they should fight. A west 3
n artist has photograph which shows %
indian dog and a coyote side by side. =
ny one who can point out any differ SAD
&c IN looks is welcome to the fame of Ha,
discovery. hid
S%portsmen, in the absence of game.
EN- ride down the coyote, but find the
use prlet and with few features oil fox .
ntlng. | rode one down, but never N"e
,eated the operation. -
- - hS"t hetMetu the indian dog
1 the coyo.e the dog usually gets an
mcrclful thrashing, particularly if he
ays lar IRON camp. In such cases
coyote calls his n~eighbors, and the
ire pack set upon the dog, and often
nm. IL the coyote is alone and can
no hcip he makes haste to sneak
", tai between his legs. The Indian
: ana the coyotes, however, inter
commonly.
lie coyote is found over a very wide "a,
ION OF country. Evidently their
Is from sea level to 10, 600 feet
'c' saw large numbers of them in
omlhS, iuaho, and Montana, between
" ana c,oO0 feet above sea level
'n nrSt seen they are usually stand
on some slight elevation
mong tho sage brush. If no harm
>eiy 10 come to them they will stand w
ScrntinI]e the traveller from very a
point. In fact, they are safer near Ipy
AZ Il Instance, as one is apt to take
Tor indian dogs if they appear
IN Idaho saw them hunting in VI
uSuai sneaklng way the large sage
:, indeed, when | had taken the
Oieto shoot one of these birds ] was an,
riseu 10 seeanimble coyote step out
under a tall sage brush, seize the
and dash away. AT that time
riding through the mountains in a
/ l' 6 S"ss aa and i . WAS unable BIZ t. give WatCI
'ndicular elevation of about 500
On the narrow top was a COYOTE.
nd fell ovor tba -; io"pou .oo and sa
site side sovoraI prSeip'ee on .he roundlr
In captivity the COYOTE is the -
servile and despicable rascal i'm,
bic. How the Indians aver bod I'll
ace to domesticate them and make -
geous and faithful dogs of them I
G be l MifsIaSs AL AdlthGugh the Indian Here
dogless.