The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-09-12
Big Coyote Hunt.

Eastern Colorado raucbmen value
an ordinary coyote at $3.50. This
seemingly extrevsgant price will re-
suit in another great hunt this fall,
in which it 10 expected that thousands
OF the little animals will fall victims
to the ~ Of the cowboys or the
hounds Of the sports Of the East.
The plains country in Eastern Colo
rado, which was once the breeding
ground and home Of thousands Of
buffaloes, is now populated by thou
sands Of coyotes, and 30 destructive
have they become to stock that the
State and the cattle barons, working
together, are offering $3.50 for every
coyote scalp presented. This offer
will result in attracting hundreds Of
hunters from Nebraska, Kansas, Wyo-
ming, and Western Colorado. and even
now, in the big region infested, many
hunters are making big money.
For the past five years the ranchmen
have admitted their inability to cope
with the increasing numbers Of wolves,
but they have waited patiently in the
hope that the animals might be killed
by poison. The wolves, however,
have been SO we'll fed on veal and
lambs from the herds that piece of
beef lying on the prairie has no at
traction for their cultivated tastes,
and they pass it by.
About month ago, Gardner Bros,
ranchmen, Of Yuma County, lost SO
head Of cattle, and for many days they
could not account for the mortality.
Large and small stock were suddenly
attacked by mad frenzy, and woald
continue in that condition until death.
The cattle would paw the earth and
attempt to bite and hook everything
in sight, whether animate or inani-
mate. Froth from the mouths Of the
beasts was scattered over the range.
Ranchman were alarmed, and did not
dare to attempt to quiet or corral the
cattle either on foot or on horseback.
After three days three dozen cattle
were found dead.
Former State Veterinarian Greswell
was called down to investigate the
causes of the mortality, and he for
warded a complete diagnosis to Wash
ington, with the result that DR.. Sal
mon, of the department Of agriculture,
pronounced it rabies. Then the Gard
ner boys remembered that they had
killed coyote which acted very
strangely, about two weeks previous
to the death of the stock. 1t had
secluded itself in a vacant ranch
cabin, and was nearly dead from ex-
'haustion when one of the cowboys
dispatched it with club.
It was thought the cattle had been
bitten by the mad coyote.
The great stock region vas alive 10
the danger by this time, and, besides
the regular $3.50 offered for every
wolf scalp by the State of Colorado,
two ranchmen offered go each for
every wolf captured, and the Eastern
Colorado Live Stock Association, as o
body, offered s15 for every animal
killed. In Denver hundreds Of sports
men, with dogs and guns, are arrang-
ing to make an expedition to the
range Of sandhills in which the coyotes
are breeding, and letters from Ne
braska and Kansas indicate that hun.
dreds will be on the ground from
neighboring States. Many Wyoming
people are already there. The sand
hills break q monotonously level
prairie, or plain, near the State line
between Colorado and Nebraska, and
it is here that the little animals breed
by thousands every year.
Twelve years ago when one Of these
big wolf hunts was held, it was be-
lieved that the coyote was thing Of
the past because so many Of the ami
mails had been slaughtered. Eighteen
hundred were killed at this time, but
the mortality appears to have had
little effect upon the coyotes. While
the cowboys do not fear them, instan-
ces have been known where the chill
dren of ranohmen have been attacked
by them and narrowly escaped death.
Denrer Correspondent Ne,o Yorl; Sun.
If you eatwithout appetite you need
Priokly Ash Bitters. It promptly re-
moves Impurities that clog and impede