, 1906-04-26
BEASTS Of PREY ON
RESERVE RANGES
EXPERTS REVISING MEANS TO
PROTECT CATTLE AND
SHEEP FROM ATTACKS.
Wolves said to Be increasing SO Rapid
ly on Portions of Reserves as to
Become Menace to Cattle Business
Mountain Lion and Woif Must be
Driven to Death.

Special to The Republican.
Washington, April zo.-woives and
lions are giving the stockmen
a good zeal OF trouble on the ranges
in several of the National forest re-
serves. Vigorous complaints have been
made TO the forest service OF the loss
oil cattle and sneep, particularly catue,
from this cause protection is sought
by the stockmen, and the forest service,
wulcn collects "a lee Tor the grazing
permits, a promptly assumed the
task OF finding and putting into effect
practical measures TO aid the cattle
owners in exterminating the destruc-
tive animals.
Cattle Industry Threatened
The chief difficulty has been on the
Wind river division OF the Yellowstone
reserve, in Wyoming. Some of the live
stock companies in the region assert
that the wolves are increasing SO rapid
ly that the future welfare Of the cat
tie industry is in serious danger.
Among the proposals which these con-
ditions have called forth are that a
bounty be offered for the animals de-
structlon. The stockmen along the
N New Mexico, N in the Wichita, in
Oklahoma, have suffered almost as Sc
yerely.
Studying the Wolf Problem.
Last spring the government appoint
ed John Goff, the skillful hunter who
acted as guide to the president during
his hunting trip a year ago, as forest
ranger, and set him to hunting lions"
in the Shoshone division of the Yellow
stone reserve, in Montana. Now that
the appeal from the stockmen on other
reserves is so vigorous, especially for
the determination OF the wolves, the
service has just sent an expert into
the field to study the wolf problem. The
man selected for this work is a recog.
nized authority or the game and other
wild animals of the country, Mr.. Yer
non Bailey, chief field naturalist of the
biological survey, from which he has
been temporarily transferred in order
to secure his services for this import
ant project.
VOLTS Manner of Warfare.
The animals which are causing so
much trouble to stockmen are common
in their native habitat, but are little
known to fasteners who have not
hunted them. The wolf is known in
the west as the timber wolf. Though
not large, it is powerful n quick. Not
only does it kill calves and yearlings
with ease, but it attacks and oyercomes
larger prey 1t does not go for the
throat, as SO many beasts do, but fast
ems its teeth in the muscles of the leg,
hamstringing its victim, which falls
defenseless. But little of the carcass
is usually devoured by the wolves. The
lion is, of course, the cougar, and no
true lion at all. Nevertheless, it is a
large and powerful beast, capable of
playing havoc among the cattle.
Said to Be On the Increase.
The wolves and lions are not classed
in the west as game animals, but are
termed "varmints." Wherever they are
plentiful a bounty is offered to encour-
age their determination. Despite this,
they are still sufficiently numerou to
work much harm, and it is said that
in some localities they are in the in
crease.
1t is particularly notable that there
has been so much complaint from the
Wichita reserve, which the president
has set aside as a game refuge. The
wolves and cougars are the enemies of
other wild animals, and the sportsman,
who desires to encourage American
sport and to preserve American game.
can be counted on to aid in the work
of hunting them down.
Must Be Driven from Range.
In any case, however, the lion and
the wolf must be driven from the
ranges. Interests larger and more SUBJ
stantial than those of the hunstman
and trapper demand it. The great
livestock industry, which the forest
service has pledged itself to encourage
in all legitimate directions, has had to
pay heavy costs in the loss of cattle,
young and full grown. That those hold
ing permits may be assured the full en-
,joyment of their privilege unmolested,
every effort will be made by the gov
eminent to cooperate with the stock
men in protecting herds grazing on the
reserves from attack