The times., 1901-06-09
DANGEROUS GREY WOLVES.
Constant Foes TO Cattle on the
Ranges in wyoming.
CFrom the Denver News.)


Lib Vincent one of Wyomings old
time COW punchers, and now riding on the
Powder River ranges, says that the grey
wolves of his section are legion in num-
Der and as fearless as they are ferocious.
These grey and greedy scourges of the
Powder River stock areas do their raid
ing in bands ranging in numbers from six
to thirty. each band being organized and
disciplined under the leadership of an old
dog wolf especially chosen for his wari-
ness, speed and endurance. To this cap
tain these guant ard grizzly rnarauders
yield an implicit and unsWerying Obedi-
ence--a statment well eyinced from the
fact that if one of these wolf leaders is
slain or crippled his bard at once ANAL
gamates with some other troop possessing 6
a leader of like capacity.
The age and size of their quarry is of
little moment with these wolves, as they
pull down and devour alike cows calves,
steers. mares colts, and geldings. Their
attack is always strategiCal and syste-
matte, one portion of the band assauItiHg
from the front and fastening on the
shoulder. ear, or mnZzie. and thus giving
the big wild grey dogs who are ever clos
ing IN from the rear the objective OppOr-
tunity Of hamstrnging the victim. once
hamstrung il is all over with the quarry,
and the entire band feasts at leisure. Mr..
Vincent has often seen on the Powder
River ranges tae mere empty hide and
polished pOneS Of what was once a lusty
steer or vigorous geldng as sad souye-
Mrs Of the raid of a gray wolf band.
The cattle herds are open and easy prey
to the bold canine bandits, the cattle flee
ing from the pursuers and thus render
ing individual attack easy and successful.
The horses, however, with their superior
intelligence. very frequently beat of the
wolves by forming on the open ground au
equine square, with the mares and colts
in the centre, the gallant stations on the
corners and the best and bravcst geldings
distributed on the outer lines OF defence.
Not only do these equine squares fire.
quently beat off their aSsailants, but they
some times Tuut the wild dogs entirely,
Staying numbers of them by striking,
kicking. and trampling.
This is an especial result when the horse
herd has with IL q stallion experienced in
range life. lie can smell a wolf farther
than he can see him. and at his shrill
and warninr neigh the herd rushes to-
gether and uickly forms the protecting
square. The Dives fully appreciate this
fact. and insl. aces have been known Of
grey band numbering scores of raiders
trOtting leisurely around one Of these en-
battled equine squares and then seeking
other and easier prey.
The grey wolf reaches a weight Of 125
pounds and boasts alike brain. Drawn, a
noiseless and tirelesS foot. a savage fe
rocity, and an Unsuitable appetite 1t is
said of him that he can run longer and
easier, eat oftener and more and display
more cunning and ferOcity in a given
length of time than any other known ami
NAL.
He is a prolific breeder, eight or ten
pups being a not uncommon litter. while
there is a Powder River instance of thiT-
ty-five pups being slain as the progeny of
three grey wolf dams.
Up to six months old the grey wolf pup
is awkward and unwieIdy. and it is a IA
vorite cowboy pastime Of the Powder Riv
er ranges to locate a grey wolf litter on
the prairie and shoot the pups from
horseback as they skulkingly roll and
tumble from their cOverts in the grass
and sagebrush. Crack shots with the pis-
tol have been known to get a pup with
every bullet from their six-shooters.