The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-04-15
STOCK

Wolves and mountain llonS are CIV
ing the stockmen good deal OF
trouble on the ranges in several OF the
national forest reserves. vigorous
complaints have been made to the
forest service of the loss OF cattle ana
sheep. particularly cattle, from tnls
cause. Protection is sought by the
stockmen. and the forest service,
which collects a fee for the grazing
nermits. has assumed the task of find
ing and putting into effect practlcal
measures to aid the cattle owners IN
DISCRIMINATING the destructive animals.
The chief difficulty has been on the
Wind River division of the yellow
stone reserve, in Wyoming. Some OF
the livestock companies in the region
assert that the wolves are increasing
so rapidly that the future welfare OF
the cattle industry is in serious dan
ger. Among the proposals WHICH
these conditions have called forth are
that a bounty be offered for the an
imals' destruction.
Last spring the government ap-
pointed John Golf, the sKllful hunter
who acted as guide to the president
during his hunting trip year ago, as
forest ranger. and set him to hunting
"lions" in the Shoshoe division OF the
Yellowstone reserve, in Montana. NOW
that the appeal from the stockmen on
other reserves is so vigorous, es-
pecially for the determination OF the
wolves, the service has just sent an
expert into the field to study the wol1
nroblem. The man selected for this
work is a recognized authority on the
game and other wild animals OF the
country, Vernon Bailey, chief field
naturalist of the biological survey,
from which he has been temporarily
transferred in order to secure MS
services for this important project.
The animals which are causing SO
much trouble to stockmen are COM
mon 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 and
quick. Not only does it kill calves and
yearlings with ease, but it attacks and
oyercomes full-grown cattle. When
after this larger prey it does not go
for the throat, as so many beasts do,
but fastens it's teeth in the muscles
of the leg. hamstringing it's 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. Never
theless it is a large and powerful
beast. capable of playing havoc among
the cattle.
The wolves and lions are not classed
in the west as game animals, put are
regarded as pests and are commonly
,trt
are plentiful bounty is offered to en-
courage their determination. Despite
this. they are still sufficiently numerous
to work much harm, and 1t is SAID
that in some localities they are on
the increase.
In any event, the lion and the wolf
must be driven from the ranges. In
terests larger and more substantial
than those of the huntsman and trap
per demand it. The great livestock
industry has had to pay heavy costs In
the loss of cattle, young and full-
grown. That those holding permits
may be assured the full enjoyment OF
their privilege unmolested, every ef-
fort will be made by the government
to cooperate with the stockmen in
protecting herds grazing on the re-
serves from attack.
p. A. Frakes, Holstein-Friesian cat
tie breeder of Scappoose, Ore, has
sold to T. H. Phipps, of Vancouver,
Wash, one bull of the breed men
toned. He is registered under the
name of Sir Lunde hike Wayne.
Growing Hogs Without Corn.
1t seems most unfortunate that so
many farmers are still under the i'm
nression that hogs cannot be fattened