Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-06-08
/ A PEST OF PRAIRIE DOGS,
TEXAS DECLARES RELENTLESS WAR
ON THE LITTLE ANIMALS.

age to Farms-The Dogs Good Eating.
The Texas Legislature has passed q
law which provides for the extermina-
ton of prairie dogs in the State. The
law was demanded by stockmen and
farmers. Its author is Representative
T. H. @. Perry, farmer and stock
raiser OF Baylor County, which is stu
ated far up in the Panhandle, in the
very centre of the prairie dogs do
main. He was elected to the Legis-
lature on prairie dog determination
platform and came here determined to
secure the passage OF law TO rid the
State of the pest. The very mention
of prairie dogs caused merriment
among the East Texas members who
had never seen the pest, but the West
Texas members unanimously favored
the passage OF an determination law,
and the bill was passed.
Many interesting facts concerning
the prairie dog were brought out in
the discussion Of the bill, says the
New York Sun. 1t was stated that
the animals have multiplied enormous
ly in the last few years. Representa-
tive T. 8. Grogan, OF Sweetwater,
made strong speech in advocacy Of
the bill He said that he represented
district comprising $4,000 square
miles and that it was honeycombed
with prairie dog holes. He estimated
the number OF these animals in his
district at not less than 5000, 900, and
said that they were increasing rapid
ly. Before the settlement Of the
western part OF the State by stockmen
and farmers the country was overrun
by wolves and other wild animals
which preyed upon the prairie dogs
and kept their numbers down. When
the country became settled the wolves
were killed off or driven out and the
prairie dogs were left undisturbed in
the full enjoyment of the good things
which the land afforded. The towns
of the little animals began to multiply
with startling rapidity, and the stock
men and farmers soon discovered that
the pest would eventually drive them
out of business If permitted to remain
in the country. In some parts Of the
Panhandle of Texas it is estimated
that the average number of prairie
dogs inhabiting each section of land is
not less than 10000. The animals
live in towns. the population of each
being from 500 to 1000. In some Sec
tons seventy-fve per cent. of the
grass is destroyed by the prairie dogs,
while the average destruction of grass
throughout the region inhabited by
the animals will reach fifty per cent.
1t is no wonder that the stockmen
are up in arms against the pest. 1t is
only within the last few years that tho
man with the hoe has invaded the
prairie dog country. The animals
seemed to welcome the advent of the
farmer. They established towns in
the centre Of big fields of growing
wheat and then cut down wide swaths
of the grain.
The prairie dogs are intelligent and
in point of activity few other animals
equal them. Their towns are laid out
with care and ability. Each colony
seems to have a President or Mayor
that directs the government of the
town. 1t might be supposed that in
asmuch as they iuhabit an arid region
of the State they would find difficulty
in obtaining water; but each town
contains one hole or habitation which
goes down to water. This hole is not
infrequently $50 feet in depth, and it
is always occupied by the chief OF the
colony. The other holes Of the colon
lists are from twelve to twenty feet
deep. The animals are very domestic
in their nature. They do not run
about much and it is seldom that one
of them is seen further than 400 yards
away from its place Of habitation.
The dogs are 30 active that it is
difficult to shoot them. The cowboys
derive much amusement from practic-
ing on the animals with a pistol or
rifle. A dog may be sitting on it's
hind legs at the door of its home
when shot at from nearby. At the
crack of the rifle the animal instantly
drops into its hole and it is seldom
that the bullet reaches It's mark.
sit is my opinion that if it wasn't
for the name of the pest they would
be much sought after as an article of
food" said Mr.. Peery. "They are
not a species of dog, and I sup
pose they received the name
by which they are now known
from some tenderfoot who heard
the peculiar bark of the little animal
and thought the sound resembled the
bark of dog"
1t is said by many other people that
the flesh of the prairie dog has de-
licious flavor, and that but for the
name the animal would be in demand
by game dealers. 1t is said that the
Comanche Indians had a great liking
for prairie dogs and that they were
wont to make delicious stew Of them.
A few years ago New Highlander,
named John Ferwin, turned up at
Quanah, in the Texas Panhandle,
without cent. He had been work
ing in a railroad Office in Fort Worth
and had lost hisjob. While tramping
to Denver by way of the Fort Worth
and Denver City Railroad, he OBJ
served that the country was fairly