Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-01-23
iNOCullIL TIE PtsTS.
Proposition TO Spread Disease Among Coy
otes and Wolves Meets Favor.

Helena independent
The bill which has been introduced
in the house asking for an appropri-
alton OF $500 for the state veterin-
airy surgeon for the purpose OF inocu-
lating wolves and coyotes il arous-
ing considerable interest among the
cattlemen, md those who have in-
vestigated the question are in favor
of Il. 1t is a well known fact that
the wolves and coyotes OF the state
have been a pest ever since men first
went into the cattle counties, and
thousands Of dollars are expended
annually for their determination
without making much decrease In
their number or depredations.
Besides the money that Is paid by
the state for their scalps, the stock
destroyed by them during the course
oi a year Is something enormous and
is one oithe greatest losses the cattle
and sheep men have TO stand. In
fact, the depredations have beensuch
that small ranch men have been
forced out of business on account OF
the number OF colts and calves that
are killed each yearbythe marauders
OF the prairie.
During the past year the estate paid
out $45, 33l for wolf and coyote boun-
ties. The wolf scalps bring So head
and the coyotes 81. This has been a
regular thing for years past and over
half II million dollars has been ex-
pended in efforts to rid the state uf
these nests, and there arestill almost
as many in the state as when the
bounty law was first passed.
Those acquainted with the situa-
ton who are sanguine estimate that
it will be years to come before the
wolves and coyotes have beer thinned
out SO they cannot domuch damage,
and this will! cost the state an i'm
mense amount of money II the pres
ent methods are continued.
They are therefore willing to ex-
pend money in experiments thatlook
feasible, and the bill which has been
introduced in the legislature appears
to them to be worthy OF trial. State
Veterinarian NJ. T.. Knowles is the
author OF the bill and he has every
confidence that If put into operation
the state will be well repaid.
The state veterinarian proposes to
inoculate the coyotes and wolves
with virus of malignant mango and
also distemper. Both OF these dis
eases are contagious, and in dogs,
with all the science the veterinarians
have. prove to be most intracticable.
1t is reasoned that il the disease Is so
fatal to dogs and the dog, wolf and
coyote are of the same family, that
the disease should have the same
effect on the latter two us it does on
the canine.
Young wolves and coyotes will be
dug out OF their dens and brought 10
some central location in the counties
provided for. They will be kept un-
I'll they have reached an age when
they can take care of themselves,
and will he inoculated with the virus.
They will then be ,aken to different
portions of the county and turned
loose.
AS the wolves hunt in packs, and
as it il only necessary for n brief con-
tact to transmit the disease, Ii would
be a question of but IA short time
when there would be a large number
OF sick wolves and coyotes in the
county.
Dog fanciers are well aware OF how
deadly these diseases are, ever when
properly treated, and the wolves and
coyotes, without any treatment
whatever, would soon succumb to it.
While they are deadly diseases, the
infected animal does not die at once
but Is able to run about for n couple
OF weeks after he hasit and distribute
1t among Others.
Even II the disease was not fatal
one OF it's symptoms IL u noticeable
falling off In appetite, and provided
it did nothing but diminish the liking
of wolves and coyotes for calves and
colts the saving would be something
well worth striving for. 1t should
be horne In mine that there are thret
types of mango, two of which arenOI
az deadly as the other. The plar
proposed is to use the most malig
nant type, and by giving the wolf oI
coyote distemper at the same time II
Is almost certain that every one that
meets him will regret the meeting
The young wolves and coyotes will
get distemper IND the older oaes viii
get the mango, SO that between then
both the prairie scourges OF Montana
should soon be an unhealthy lot.
The Independent has secured figures
that show approximately the cost o
the depredations OF wolves in C1steI
county. The following figures arr
correct so far as they go, but owing