The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-31

One Of the inevitable instances OF cause
and effect ID now operating in portions
Of Oregon. and is causing no little dis
quietude among the farmers and others.
The Legislature four years ago enacted a
law giving bounties for coyote scalps.
Sheep raisers were behind the law. as this
species of wolf was very plentiful and
very destructive to the sheep industry.
Since the law went into effect Il IL esti-
mated that 10000 coyotes have been
killed. and the sheep-faisers thought a
good work was going on.
That was the cause. but the effect has
not been exactly what was anticipated.
Following the destruction OF the coyotes
comes a vast increase IN rabbits and
gophers, and In one district these ami
mails are becoming an intolerabie pest.
The wolves killed an occasional sheep, II
Is true. butetheir diet was largely taken
from the small animals. and the natural
result Of killing the enemies Of the rab-
bits and gophers Is the multiplication OF
these animals tili they are becoming a
greater pest than their destroyers were
Now there is a probability that the Leg.
isiature viii be asked to repeal the boun.
ty law. as the farmers are coming to the
conclusion that II ID better to lose an oc.
casional sheep than to be overrun witt
rabbits and the like.
| The history of the nnongoose in some
OF the West India islands 10 well known.
The little animals were imported from
Africa or India for their success as de-
stroyers OF all kinds Of snakes. They
succeeded in their new home in very
largely thinning out the snake family
as they were expected to do. Then, be-
ing carniverous animals. and having nc
snakes to feed on. they turned their at
tention to poultry of all kinds, and the
natural result Ii that the mongoose IL
becoming greater pest than the snakes
were.
1t is well known, also, that the indis
criminate slaughter of all kinds of birds
in some portions of the country has
caused such an increase in the various
families of bugs, worms and all other in.
farmers. gardeners and fruit-growers
| miserable. The effect was bound to fol.
low the cause. and now in almost al
portions of the Union laws are being en-
acted and enforced for the protection Of
| the birds, and perhaps after many years
there will be a recovery from the evi
practices of the bird-killer.
There is one more instance that come!
| to mind. which illustrates the certaint;
with which cause will produce effect
Hawks and owls have always been looket
| on as the legitimate prey of the gunner
Men and boys, and often women, hav'
| felt Il solemn duty to put to death al
and singular the hawks and the owls and
| their relatives, because they kill chick
ems. Well there are sections wher,
these fowls have been entirely destroyed
or driven out, and what is the result
/ Rats and mice have multiplied 80 as Il
| become worse in some sections than th'
plaques of Egypt. Owls and hawks ca
chickens, of course, but they live largel,
ON the various members of the rat fam
| lily and these. now that their natural enc
miles are out OF the way, have increased
so enormously that they bid fair to ruiz
the crops. The rural people in some sec
tons have become convinced that a few
hawks and owls are better than an un
limited number Of rats and mice, and ar,
taking steps to protect the farmer ant
again get the benefit Of their good Offices
It is another case OF cause and effect
| and there are others.