The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-09-14
'FERocloUs GRAY WOLVES.
formidable Creature of the Plains-Dan
ger0us Foe to Domestic Animals.

SoAAhAu8DAo Nrcatur6 Oh Cno PIR1ns-D&n
| gerous Foe to Domestic Animals.
Lib Vincent, one of Wyoming's old
time COW punchers and now riding OF
the Powder River ranges, says tina
the gray wolves Of his section are lie
gion in number and as fearless as they
are ferocious. ....
These gray and greedy scourges OF
the Powder River stock areas do their
raiding in bands ranging in numbers
OF from six to thirty, each band being
organized and disciplined under the
leadership Of an old dog wolf espe.
clally chosen for his wariness, speed
and endurance. To this captain these
gaunt and grizzled marauders yield an
implicit and answering obedience-a
statement evidenced from the fact that
II one of these wolf leaders is slain OF
crippled his band at once amalgamates
with some other troop possessing a
leader of like capacity.
The age or size of their quarry is of
little moment with these wolves, as
they pull down and dcvour alike COWS,
calves, steers, mares, colts and geld.
lngs. Their attack is always strategy.
cal and systematic, one portion of the
bard assaulting from the front and
fastening on to shoulder, car or muz.
2le, and thus giving the big, wild gray
dogs who are ever closing in from the
rear the objective opportunity Of ham.
stflnGlng the victim. Once hamstrung
1t IS all over with the quarry, and the
entire band fcasts ct leisure Mr..
vincent has often seen Oh the Powder
River ranges the mere empty hide and
polished bones of what was once q
lusty steer or polished gelding as sad
souvenirs Of the raid of gray wolf
band. =. ..
The cattle herds are open ard easy
prey to the bold canine bandits, the
cattle fleeing from the pursuers and
thus rendering individual attack EASY
ana successful. The horses, however
with their superior intelligence, very
frequently beat off the wolves by
forming on the open ground an eouinc
square, with the mares and colts in
the centre, the gallant stations on the
corners. and the best and bravest geld.
lngs distributed in the outer lines of
defense. Not only do these eouine
squares frequently beat off their as
sallants, 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 1t a stallion cxpe- |
rlenced in range life. He can smell q
wolf farther than he can see him. and
1t his shrill and warning neigh the
nerd rushes together and quickly
forms the protecting square. The
wolves fully appreciate this fact, and
Instances have been known of a gray
'and numbering scores of raiders trot.
ing leisurely around one of these EN-.
'attled squares and then seeking other
md easier prey.
The gray wolf reaches a weight Of
20 pounds, and boasts alike brain.
'raWn, noiseless, tireless foot. a saw
!ge ferocity in a given length of time
nan any other known animal.
He is a prolific breeder, eight or ten
ups being a not uncommon litter
While there is Powder River instance
1 th1rty-fve pups being slain as the
rogeny of three wolf dams.
up to six months old the gray wolf
up IS awkward and unwieldly, and it
a favorite cowboy pastime of the
'owder River ranges to locate a gray
7olf litter on the prairie and shoot
ne pups from horseback as they
roll and tumble from their
oVerts in the grass and sagebrusb.
rack shots with the pistol have been
noWn to get O. pup with every bullet
'om Observation-Disclosures Mount. /
in News. ~"