Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-06-28
COYOTE PEST
SERIOUS ONE
SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM THE
GOVERNMENT AN IMPORT.
ANT SUBJECT.

problem is such a serious one in the
western states that the government
has come to the front with suggestions
regarding the best means of getting
rid of the pest. Some interesting
facts connected with the habits of
these animals are given along with
the plans for wiping them out. DAY.
id E. Lantz of the biological sur
vey of the department of agriculture,
is the author of the work.
Mr.. Lantz finds that the coyote is
still abundant in many sections of the
west Advancing civilization has had
little effect on the animal, save in
thickly settled regions. In other
places it is increasing in numbers, its
sly and cunning habits enabling it
to battle most of the pitfalls prepared
by cattlemen and farmers. A good
idea of the abundance of the coyote
may be gathered from the fact that
10000 of them were killed last year
in Kansas, without apparently thin
ming out the pack.
The coyotes are noted for their Pc
culiar. prolonged bowling. A single
animal is capable of a performance
which impresses the uniformed hear
err as the concert of a dozen, and
when several join in the medley the
resulting noise is indescribable. They
are silent during the day. Investiga-
lions made by the biological survey
indicate that the food of the coyote
covers a wide range.
They eat fruit. vegetables, melons
and berries. They feed most greedlly
on animal food, and this fact makes
them highly Objectionable to cattle
raisers. However, they effect some
good by destroying injurious pests.
They nflustriously hunt jack rabbits
by lying in wait behind bushes and
punches Of grass near their paths, and
bouncing upon them as they pass.
While a single coyote would not be
able to run down a jack rabbit, by
hunting together, taking turns in the
drive. and by taking advantage of the
tendency of the hare to run in Gil
Gle. they are able to capture it.
Eye witnesses to such perform
ance say that they do not fight over
the division of the rabbits carcass,
but that all obtain share. Prairie
dogs are also a staple food for coy
otes. These are captured much after
the fashion of hunting rabbits.
Coyotes destroy considerable game.
Birds that roost and nest on the
ground are frequent victims. Quail,
grouse. and wild ducks are caught on
the nest, and both birds and eggs are
eaten. Like the larger wolves, the
prairie wolf-as the coyote is some
times called-kills deer and antelope.
In hunting these larger animals they
always 90 in packs of two or more,
and take turns in the chase
They know that their prey runs IN
large circles. and at intervals indlyld'
uals drop out of pursuit, and crossing
a chord of the circle, lie in wait I'M
til the quarry passes near them again
In this way the wolves keep fresh
until the pursued animal is exhaust,
ed, all of them are lin at the death.
The coyote makes regular RAIDS On
farm animals, and kills colts, calves,
pigs, lambs and goats.
Calves are taken only when the
mother COW is feeding at a distance
or has gone for water. The coyotes'
at times like this, lie watching IN the
grass until the proper opportunity
comes. Sometimes they will separate
a grown COW from the herd, surround
the animal and keep up constant
nipping at its legs until 1t tails from
weakness and loss of blood. SheeE
growers in the southwestern states
estimate their losses from Wild AM
mails, chiefly coyotes, as equal 10 y
per cent of their flocks.
Mr.. Lantz says that none OF the
methods devised for killing Off coyotes
has proved entirely successful. Al
of them combined have resulted IL
partial check of the increase OF 1hs
herds in most parts of the west. Poi
son has probably killed the creates
number of adult wolves, strychnln
inserted into the carcasses of dea'
animals being the favorite method 0
noisoning. But the modern coyote i
too shrewd to bite at this bait unies
it is most carefully prepared.
An Oklahoma farmer butchere
some hogs a year or two ago and pc
soned a hogskin and left it with othe
offal for a coyote that nightly proWle
about his premises. In the mornin
everything but the poisoned skin ha
been cleared away. He lett II wv
more nights, but it remained untoucf
ed. Thinking that the animal Woul
not eat poisoned bait the farmer bu
led it. That night the coyote dug II
the pigskin and ate it. falling a VIZ
tim to its deadly contents. Since the
the farmer has never failed TO polso
covotes when he buries the bait.
The government expert has com
to the conclusion that the best mean
of guarding against depredations
COYOTES is to build fences against then
This means of protection has bee
long in vogue in the Australian colol
les and in South Africa. While IN
cost of fencing is high. the advantae
from IT'S uses have been regarded :
more than compensation for the on
lay.
Experiments have proved that pra
RE COYOTES will not willingly Jump o
er a fence above 80 inches in heigh
They will readily climb over fence
built of horizontal rails or crossbar
especially in order TO escape fro
captivity. Barbed wires do not dett
them from crawling through a fent
to escape; whether they Wi
go through a closely built barbe
wire fence TO attack sheep or poulti
is still an open question.