The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-12
PEST OF PRAIRIE DOGS
Texas Has Declared War on the
Animals.
ARE MULTIPLYING RAPIDLY
Millions OF Them in the Panhandle.
They Do Immense Damage to
Farms-Some Interesting
Facts.

Austlil, leh., Mdfcn I--lne texas
Legislature has passed a law which pro-
vides for the determination of prairie
dogs in the state. The law was de-
manded by stockmen and farmers. Its
author is Representative T. H. c.
Peery, a farmer and stock raiser of
Baylor county, which is situated far up
in the Panhandle, in the very center IF
the prairie dogs domain. He was elect
ed to the legislature on a 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 men,
bers who had never seen the pest, but
the west Texas members unanimously
favored the passage of an extermina-
ton law, and the bill was passed.
Many interesting facts concerning the
prairie dog were brought out in the dis
cussOn of the bill. 1t was stated that
the animals have multiplied enormous
ly in the last few years. Representative
T. S. Grogan of Sweetwater made a
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 100000 and said that they were
increasing rapidly. Before the settle
ment of the western part of the state
by stockmen and farmers the country
was oVerrun with wolves and other
wild animals which preyed upon the
prairie dogs and kept their numbers
down. When the country became set
tied the wolves We're killed off or driven
out and the prairie dogs were left I'M
disturbed in the full enjoyment of the
good things which the land afforded
The towns of the little animals began
to multiply with startling rapidty, and
the Stockmen and farmers soon dis
covered 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 esti-
mated that the average number of
prairie dogs inhabiting each section of
land is not less than 10000. The ami
mails rive in towns, the population Of
each being from 500 to 1000. In some
sections Is per cent of the grass is de-
stroyed by the prairie dogs, while thu
average destruction of grass through
out the region inhabited by the animals
will reach 80 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 the man with the
hoe has invaded the prairie dog coun-
try. The animals seemed to welcome
the advent of the farmer. They estah-
lished towns in the center 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 mas
much as they inhabit the arid region of
the state they would find difficulty in
obtaining water; but each town con-
tains one hole or habitation which goes
down to water This hole is not infre-
quently $50 feet in depth, and it is al
ways occupied by the chief of the col
ony. The other holes of the Colonists
are from II to 20 feet deep. The ami
mails are very domestic in their nature.
They do not run about much. and it is
seldom that one of them is seen further
than 200 yards away from its place Of
hah!tation
The dogs are active that it is difficult
to shoot them. The cowboys derive
much amusement from practicing on
the animals with a pistol or rifle. A
dog may be sitting on its hind legs al
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.
1T 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
species of dog, and l suppose they re-
ceved 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 IA dog
| 1t is said by many other people that
the flesh of the prairie dog has delic-
| ious flavor and that but for the name
| the animal would be In demand by
| game dealers II is said that the Co
manche Indians had a great liking for
prairie dogs and that they We're wont 20
make a delicious stew of them. A few
| years ago a New Highlander, named
John Ferwin, turned up at Quanah, in
| the Texas Panhandle, without cent.
He had been working in a railroad Of
| flee in Fort Worth and had lost his job.
While tramping to Denver by way of
the Fort Worth & Denver City railroad,
he observed that the country was fairly
alive with prairie dogs. and it occurred
to him that he might be able to make a
stake out of the little animals. Upon
arriving at Quanah he sent a letter to
large commission firm in Chicago Of
fering a consignment of three or more
cars of Texas squirrels" He received
a Geographic reply ordering the cou-
signment. Immediately upon receipt of
this order Ferwin started at work to
fill it. He constructed large cage traps,
set by trigger, in a number of prairie
dog towns, and in few days had cap
tured and dressed several thousand
dogs, sufficient to fill three refrigerator
cars. He forwarded the shipment to
Chicago and in due course of time re-
ceved a draft for a considerab BILE sum
of money from the commission house.
The animals were sold in Chicago and
eaten as a deiicacy, the commission
house and it's customers being ignorant
of the imposition practiced upon them.
Ferwin and the railroad freight men
and few others who knew the secret
kept it very quiet for long time Fer
win did not care to continue in the pro-
fit a Bile business, He caShed his Nra IF