Fergus County argus., 1888-03-22

X. r. Dodd, an extensive sheep raise,
in Colorado, says:
Zone of the greatest pests tbat ths
sheep men of the west have to endure
arise from the ravages of wolves and
coyotes. The grey wolves of the
plains are particularly fond of mutton,
and are very dainty in their tn stes
when they have u chance to CRAFTY
them. II q wolf gets into flock when
the shepherd is out of sight he will kill
a. least a dozen in half an hour, as he
does not pretend to devour them, but
sucks the blood from their throat ts
ana then turns to another.
some four or five years ago several
sheep men, myself among the number,
bought a dozen greyhounds, intending
70 run down these animals and rid
the country OF an intOlerable pest.
but the experiment was by no means
a success, as. although the egreyhounds
could easily run down the COYOTES.
when they came in close quarters the
latter were far more than a match for
the dogs. Turning over on their backs
they would snap to the right and to
the left with their sharp teeth. inflic-
ting severe wounds, and by the time
the following hOrsemen came up the
hounds were badly injured. In O short
time the hounds could not be induced
to go anywhere near the coyotes, and
we got rid OF the useless animals. We
had gwen up in despair any hope of |
r'dding ourselves of the pests, as |
poisoned meat had a more disastrous
effect upon our dogs than upon the
wolves and coyotes, and by shooting
we could not dispatch any number
worth counting. But last summer a
MIR: Lane, OF Cheyenne, RECOMMENDED
US to buy pack of Scotch deer hounds
that had proved Of great use on the
Laramie plains. We bought half
pack, sixteen dogs, and since then we
have enjoyed some of the grandest
sport J ever saw in my life. These
animals are shaped somewhat like a
greyhound, but are heavier, but not
quite so fleet, and are very fierce.
ihey possess ample speed to run
down a coyote, and when once they
nad overtaken one, were sure to killit. :,
At hrst they did not escape without
WOUNDS, as the coyotes, generally so >
cowardly, Will, when cOrnered, fight \
But it was beautiful toI
watch the dogs deal with one. WhenI
overtaken, the coyote would lie on his
Il. S'S'esst ~ hcctl IOW OI VeethI
Tor the inspection OF the hounds. In y,
stead OF springing on him all at once
fhe pack would wait until some old -
veteran, OF which we had four, came D.
10 the front. The dog would stand l.
over the coyote and make a move
nent ut if to seize him by the throat.
'ut would Immediately draw back his
lead. snap would 60 the sharp teeth,
ma before the coyote could again pre-.
'are himself the dog would have him D
" the throat and in a few seconds he
'ould be throttled. During last ,JuIv
nd August the dogs must have killed
pward OF two hundred, and the losses
'mong sheep have almost entirely
eased.
But when the hounds got after an
III gray wolf, there would be a battle
oyal. The great gray wolves are
'rger and far stronger than the dogs.
nd fight furiously. They do not lie
own to receive the attack, but turn
the hounds, and in moment there
writing, struggling mass ofyellow
AIR, IN the center OF which can be seen
le long gray fur of the wolf The eft
'ht lasts from five to ten minutes.
'd although the wolf always sue. =
mbs to numbers. there are usually
rec or four crippled dogs to be taken -
re OF, and during the summer nine III
re killed outright"