Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-10-18
Bidding Western Ranges
OF Predatory Animals,

Tie Forest service has issued the
following bulletin:.
Substantial evidence that the Govern
ment is Determined to put forth every
effort to bring the National Forest lands
to the highest point OF development is
given in the activities Of Uncle Sam i'll
planning the eradication Of predatory
animals winch destroy annually thou
sands OF dollars worth OF stock running
on the ranges In the forests.
Eleven experienced trappers and hunt
er, whose knowledge Of conditions and
training IN the great West qualities them
to unit wolves, cougars, mountain lions,
coyotes and wild cats successfully, have
been assigned to the work Of extermina-
ting these destructive range animals in
eight western States. These men, up
piled with traps, poisons, gun and
ammunition, are gong at their work in
a way which Is beginning to show its
useful effect and the fores; officers be-
lieve that the losses caused 10y the
animals which make stock their prey
have been cut down very materially.
The most effective way TO destroy
wolves and coyotes is to locate their
deua, where. in addition to the old
animals the pups may also be killed. 10
the Wind River Division OF the Yellow
stone National Forest two forest guards
acting as hunters killed twenty-one pups
and two old wolves 10 two months work
this summer. In another case, where
two hunters were working separately,
| one found a den and killed seven pups
and their mother and the other ranger
killed five pups i'll another den.
The importance OF killing these thirty
realized only when the extent Of damage
which Is dOue b. these, animals III a
year Is known. Neruun Bailey, who
made an Investigation ii ,hr rayigc- Of
wolves last year for the Forest Service,
reported that III Il certain part ~ Nrw
Mexico II moderate estimate Of the .:OGk
killed by TOM wolves was il ytarlng cox
OF calf every tire" days, or appruxi-
mattel! leo head Of catCIr Il year. Ia each
wolf. Counting all ~ cHlyc= ~ The los
rate Of $40 a hcnT, ga h wolf would cost
the raDchmnn q ~ d year. This would
make a ssvIne OF 80, 900 a year TO the
rancbmen il the Yellowstone National
Forest, where the several hunters men,
toned accomplished such effective
work.
The work OF killing III wolves and
other predatory animals ON the ether
National Forests Ia going on equally
well and the stockmen grazug under
permit in the strips Of ranges within the
boundaries OF the forests will be saved
many thousands OF dollars apLualk.
An Indirect good coming from the
Governments activities will Lc to spur
ranchers grazing outside OF the National
Forests TO JOIN III the WORK Of Kidding
the western ranges OF destructive
animals. Besides the grcat saving
through preventing the loss OF stock,
further encouragement is given the
work IN many States where huuntirs as
high III some cases M 900 "A head ARE
given for killing wolve-. and $50 to so
a bead for mountain lions.
Tho eleven Forest Service hunters
are distributed ~ follows: Sawtootb
Forest, Idaho, two men; Yellowstone
Forest, Wind River Division, Wyoming,
TWO mcD; Eiighwood Mountains Forest,
Montana, one man; Grand Canon Forest.
Northern Division, Arizona, one man.
fark Range Forest, Colorado, one man;
Dixie Forest. Utah, Que man; Trinity
Forest, California, ono man: ImDaha
Forest, Oregon, one man; MontcZuma
rofcs', 'oiorhdo, one man These
hunters submit reports Of the results
OF their work through the supervisors OF
tie forests upon which they mr.. en-.
pioyed. y large number Of applications
Tor similar cooperation have been mnd.
10y the local stock associatiOns, mdira,.
ing their appreciation OF the value Of this
part of the Forest Service work. These
applications are beng acted upon as
suitable men are found Ia ill the ppei.
tons and the funds act inside for ,bis
''" W" I''N1l tItlT f"WIiDNulpUf
Tho Forest Service hunters haye
many experiences in their work and
sometimes even the oldest and most
lrlcd "estcrncrs have n very close call
Tor their lives. \ short time nro "A
hnge bear WIS giving much trouble tn
tile settlers and stockmcn in the Dixie
National Forest 10 Utah. Two Incn and
threc dogs were sent ont To hunt thc
oeasi, but they failed in locating il. In
the latter part Of September, a ranpor
came across Brnin on hia patrol, sho,
and wounded him, and followed his
trai'. DO the third day he found and
Killed tho big animal, shooting him ,nu,.
teen tiincs. Tho bear f,ll within 81,
'eet OF The ranger. fIc weighed $50
pounds.
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