Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-07-06

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under the leadership of an old dog
wolf especially chosen for his wariness,
speed and endurance. To this captain
these gaunt and grizzly marauders
yield an implicit and answering obe-
dience-a statement we'll evidenced
from the fact that IL one of these
wolf leaders is slain or crippled his
band at once amalgamates with some
other troop possessing leader of like
capacity, The age or 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 systematic, one portion
of the band assaulting from the front
and fastening on to shoulder. ear, or
muzzle, and thus giving the big Wild
gray dogs who are ever closing in
from the rear the objective opportunity
of hamstringing the victim. Once ham
strung ii is all over with tbs quarry,
and the entire band feasts at leisure.
Powder river ranges the mere empty
hide and polished bones of what. was
once a lusty steer or vigorous gelding
as sad souvenirs Of the raid Of gray
wolf band. The cattle herds are open
and easy prey TO the bold canine band
its. the cattle fleeing from the pursuers
and thus rendering individual. attack
easy and successful. The horses. how
ever, with their superior intelligence,
very frequently beat OF the wolves by
forming on the open ground an equine
square with the mares and colts In the
center, the gallant stations on the cor
ners and the best and brayest geldings
distributed on the other lines of de-
Tense. Not only do these equine
squares frequently beat off their assail-
ants, but they sometimes rout the wild
dogs entirely, staying numbers OF them
by striking, kicking, and trampling.
This Is an especial result when the
horse herd has with ii stallion ex
perienced in range life. He can smell
wolf farther than he can see him.
and at his shrill and warning neigh
the herd rushes together and quickly
forms the protecting square The
wolves fully appreciate the fact, and
instances have been known Of gray
band numbering scores of raiders
| trotting leisurely around one Of these
embattled equine squares and then
seeking other and easier prey. The
| gray wolf reaches weight OF l25
pounds. and boasts alike brain, Drawn.
\ noiseless and tirelss foot. a savage
ferocity, and an Unsuitable appetite. II
! Is said Of him that he can run longer
/ and easier, eat oftener and more, and
display more cunning and ferocity In
given length OF time than any other
known animal. He Is a prolific breed
er. eight or ten pups being not an UNI
| common litter, while there Is Powder
river instance OF IS pups being slain
as the progeny Of three gray wolf
dams. Up to six months old the gray
wolf pup Is awkward and unwieldy
and 1t Is favorite cowboy pastime OF
the Powder river ranges to locate a
gray wolf litter on the prairie and shoot
the pups from horseback as they
skulkingiy roll and tumble from theil
coverts In the grass and sagebrush
Crack shots with the pistol have beer
known to get pup with every bulle
from their six-shooters. Antelope arr
still very plentiful In the Powder rive
region, bands Of 400 and 500 being fire
quently seen.