Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-03-07
WOLVES AND COYOTES.
How tho Terrors Of Western Sheep-Men
Are Exterminated.

'One of the greatest pests that the
sheep-men of the West have to en-.
dure." said Robert P. Dodd, large
sheep-owner of Hugo, COL, to a re-
porter, ''arises from the ravages of
wolves and coyotes. The great gray
wolves of the plains are particularly
fond of mutton, and are very dainty in
their tastes when they have chance
to crafty them. If wolf gets into
flock when the shepherd is out of sight
he will kill at least a dozen sheep in
half an hour as he does not pretend
to devour them. but sucks the blood
from their threats, and then turns to
another. Fortunately the wolves are
scarce, and the amount of damage
actually done is small But with the
coyotes it is different These ami
mails are very plenty, and seem.
unlike all other wild animals, to in
crease as civilization advances. The
coyotes are very timid. and do not at
tack the sheep in the daytime when
the shepherds and dogs are never far
off: But at night they get into the
corrals, and do an immense amount
of execution before they are discov-
cred and driven away. One night
some half dozen coyotes got into my
corral, and next morning had seven
ty-slx dead sheep on my hands. The
sheep dogs -ere powerless against
them, as the coyotes could run two
feet to their one, and were never capt
ured. Some four or five years ago
several sheepmen, myself among the
number. bought dozen greyhounds,
intending to run down these animals
and rid the country of an intolerable
pest. But the experiment was by no
means success. as, although the
greyhounds could easily run down
the coyotes. when they came to
close quarters the latter were
far more than match for the
dogs. Turning over on their backs,
they would snap to the right and the
left with their sharp teeth, inf1icting
severe wounds. and by the time the
following horsemen came up the
hounds were badly injured. In short
time the hounds could not be induced
to go anywhere near the coyotes, and
we got rid of the useless animals. We
had given up in despair any hope Of
Kidding ourselves of the pests, as poi
soned meat had more disastrous effect
upon our dogs than upon the wolves
and coyotes, and by shooting we could
not dispatch any number worth count
ing But last summer Mr. Lane, of
Cheyenne. recommended us to buy a
pack of Scotch deerhounds that had
proved of great use on the Laramie
plains. We bought half pack. six
teen dogs, and since then we have en-
joyed some of the grandest sport ]
ever saw in my life. These animals
are shaped somewhat like a
grey hound, but are heavier not
quite so fleet and are very fierce.
They possess ample speed to run down
a coyote, and when once they have
overtaken one are sure to kill j..
At first they did not escape without
wounds. as the coyotes. generally so
cowarlly. will. when cornered. fight
desperately. But it was beautiful to
watch the way in which the dogs
would deal with one. When over
taken the coyote would lie on Its back,
presenting keen row of teeth for the
inspection of the hounds. Instead Of
springing on him all at once the pack
would wait until some old veteran, Of
which we had four. came to the front.
This dog would stand over the coyote
and make movement as if to seize
him by the throat, but woull imm,-
diatcly draw back his head Snap
would go the sharp teeth, AMI before
the coyote could again prepare himself
the dog would have him by the throat,
and in a few seconds he would be
throttled. Daring last july and
August the dogs must have killed
upwards of two hundred, and the losses
among the sheep have almost entirely
ceased.
But when the hounds got after an
old gray wolf.' continued Mr. Dodd,
"there would be a battle royal. The
great gray wolves are larger and fa1
stronger than the hounds, and figh,
furiously. They do not lie down tc
receive the attack, but turn on the
hounds, and in moment there is q
writhing, struggling mass of yellow
hair, in the center of which can be
seen the long, gray fur of the wolf
The fight lasts from five to ten min
;utes and although the wolf always
,succumbs to nusu bers, there are usu.
ally three or four crippled dogs to be
:taken care of, and during the sum-
mer nine were killed outright. We
bought some twenty-five additional
hounds last fall, giving us full pack,
with several over to supply losses, and
have had most excellent sport all win.
ter. besides having saved hundreds Of
dollars in sheep that would other.
wise have been killed. "-Sk. Louis
Post-Dsspatch.
The Sleep Of Death.