New-York tribune., 1901-06-02
THE GRAY WOLF OF THE RANGES.
A DANGEROUS FOE OF CATTLE, SHEEP AND
HOHSES-OFTEN BEATEN BY
EQUINE STRATEGY.
From The Denver News.

From The Denver News
Lib Vincent, one of Wyomng's old time cow-
punchers. and now riding the Powder River
ranges, says that the gray wolves of his section
are legion in number and fearless they are
ferOcous.
These gray and greedy scourses of the Powder
River stock areas do their .raiding in bands
ranging in numbers of from six thirty. each
band being organized and disciplined under the
leadership of old dog wolf especially chosen
FOR his warinesS. speed and endurance. To this
captain these gaunt and grizzly marauders weld
an implicit and unswerving obedience-a state
ment well evidenced from the fact that if one of
these wolf leaders is slain crippled his band
at once amalSanates with some other troop
possessing a leader of like capacity
The age or size of their quarry is of little mo-
ment with these wolves. they pull down and
devour alike cows. calves. steers. mares. colts
and geldings. Their attack is always strategicaI
and systematic, one portion of the band assault
ing 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 VIC
tim. Once hamstrung 1t is all over with the
quarry, and the entire band feasts at leisure
Mr. Vincent has often seen on the Powder River
ranges the mere empty hide and polished bones
OF what was once a luSty steer or vigorous geld
ing as sad souvenirs of the raid of gray wolf
band.
The cattle herds are open and easy prev 20
the bold canine bandits the cattle fleeing from
the pursuers and thus rendering individual at
tack easy and successful The horses how
ever, with their superior intelligence very fire.
quently beat off the wolves by forming on the
open ground an equine square. with the mares
and colts in the centre. the gallant stations on
the corners and the best and bravest gedings
distributed on the outer lines of defence. Not
only do these equine squares frequently beat Off
their assailants Dut 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 IL a stallion experienced in range
life. He can smell wolf further than he can
see him. and at his shr and warming neigh
the herd rushes together and quickly forms the
protecting square. The wolves fully appreciate
this fact, and instances have been known of a
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 a weight of 12J pounds
and boasts alike brain. Drawn, n nOiseleSs and
treless foot, savage ferOcity and 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 animal
He is n prolific breeder, eight ten pups be-
Ing a not uncommon litter while there is
powder River instance Of thirty-five 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 it is faVOrite
cowboy pastime of the Powder River ranges To
locate gray wolf litter on the prairie and shoot
the pups from horseback they sku!HinSly roll
and tumble from their coverts in the grass and
sagebrush. Crack shots with the pistol have
been known to get pup with every bullet from
their SiX-ShOOteTs.