The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-07-17
Government Officials Gather Much
Valuable Information
DEVISE MEANS FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION
TELLS OF METHODS EMPLOYED
IN WEST TO GET RID
OF THEM.

David E. Lantz, assistant in the BIZ
ographical survey in the department
of the survey, returned lately to Wash
}ington, after more than year spent in
southwestern Oklahoma in studying
the habits of coyotes and trying to
devise means for their destruction.
Improbable though it may seem,
coyotes have increased in numbers in
Oklahoma since the country was set
tied, 16 years ago. This condition
prevails in other western states where
wild land has been turned over to ag
riculture Notwithstanding the CIV
ing of bounties by counties for coy
ote scalps, losses in livestock and
poultry have increased so steadily
that the department of agriculture has
undertaken to assist farmers and
iranchmen in the determination Of coy
otes.
The prey Of the coyotes is mostly
sheep, pigs, young calves and colts and
poultry. They have little courage, but
will raid a barnyard in daylight Their
seeming boldness is due more to ia
miliarity with their surroundings than
to native fearlessness.
During the breeding season the fe-
male coyote occasionally will run
with domestic dogs, and it is not I'M
usual to find a litter of coyotes that
bear the markings of domestic faith
ers. One of the most destructive lit
tiers of coyotes in central Oklahoma
was sired by a big Newfoundland dog
in the neighborhood of Edmond, three
or four years ago. They were bigger
and stronger than the average coyote.
and fought many a hard battle with
trail hounds sent in pursuit of them.
| Coyotes range from the central Mis-
sissippi valley to the Pacific coast and
from Costa RIGA to the Athabasca.
About a dozen species have been rec
ognized, of which eight are found in
the United States Four species are
restricted to Mexico and Central
| America.
etable food In Oklahoma they are
great pilferers of watermelons, always
choosing a ripe melon.
Practically the only benefit derived
from coyotes by farmers is their de-
struction of rabbits and smaller ro-
hts. The big jackrabbit, for a short
distance, is swifter than coyote but
When a jackrabbit realizes that it is
overtaken it utters a peculiar cry of
fear.
The prairie dog is a choice morsel
for the coyote. The latter hides be-
enough to be brought by few leaps
near the mouth of the burrow. In
feeding, the prairie dog approaches
closer and closer to it's enemy. and
often is caught before it suspects
danger.
The grass in a prairie dog village |
usually is cropped close, and all tall
structed view of the surroundings, !
and prevent the undetected approach |
don a village rather than remain and |
be devoured. This gives them a |
measure of safety from coyotes.
But lack Of a hiding place from
which to stalk his prey in the village |
does not battle the coyote. An OBJ
server describes this trick of a coy
ote: The coyote started at one end |
of the town and ran at lightning |
speed in a straight line until he had |
cult off dog from it's burrow. When
the prairie dog saw that it could not
get to it's hole it stopped and lay on
its back kicking until seized by the
| coyote.
In hunting, these coyotes always go
in packs Of two or more and take
| turns in the chase. They know that
their prey runs in large circles, and at
| intervals individuals drop out Of the
pursuit and, crossing a chord Of the
| circle, lie in wait until the quarry
passes near them again. In this way
| the wolves keep fresh until the pur-
sued animal is exhausted, but all of |
them are in at the death.
The bowling of coyote is one of
the most remarkable demonstrations