Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-08-29

The losses from the destruction of
stock by wolves and coyotes in the
western United States amount to mil
lions OF dollars ANNUALLY and seem to
be increasing rather than decreasing.
Practical means OF preventing these
losses a.'e urgently needed. The pres
cMt circular. based on field work of
the Biological Survey. aims to present
briefly the best methods of hunting,
trapping. and poisoning wolves and
coyotes. Of finding the dens and de-
stToyins the young. and OF fencing to
protect stock. l'y the methods given
herein the numbers OF wolves and
coyotes. NAV be rapidly diminished
and the losses OF stock thereby re-
t.acel to {; minimum.
II the time OF breeding, character
Of breeding grounds, and habits of
wolves are known. the dens may be
easily located and the pups secured
In this way. more eaectually and eco
nomical!y than an. other, increase of
wolves and coyotes may be prevented.
The large size of the filters makes
the method especially important, as
wolves usually have six TO ten pups
and coyotes five TO nine. 1t is now
Positively known that both wolves
and coyotes pair for the breeding sea-
son, and that the males stay with the
females and help feed and care for
the pups during the summer.
IN the western United States
wolves breed mainly in valley and
t0otllill country or in low mountains,
For breeding dens they choose, if pos
sibie, natural cavities Or washed-out
bellows on south slopes of rocky
or badland ridges. There is usually
a high point not far from the den,
where the old male stands guard DUR
ing the day.
in the north good tracking snow
/ usually lies on the ground during
The carly part of the breeding season,
which renders the finding of dens par.
1iculaily easy. but even on bare ground
there is little difficulty IN locating
every wolf den. This may be done by
simply riding along the crests of the
ridges until the Wolf tracks are found
The tracks once found. the direction
Of the den can be told from the lay
of the land. Near the den the tracks
| usually gather into well-worn trails
that may be followed on bare ground
/ as readily as on snow.
/ Coyotes make their dens in the
same kinds of places as wolves, and
I also dig burrows or use old badger
holes, slightly enlarged; so spade
/ is often necessary in getting out the
young.
Ranchmen cannot afford to let wolf
OF coyote pups grow up on or near
their ranges when an hours ride will
often serve TO locate the dens. The
young pups OF both wolves and CO.
votes are nearly black, but as they
CROW older the color fades to dull vel
! .owish, ard when about three months
old new liglitgray coat is acquired.
For wolves The best No. 4 double
spring trap with heavy welded or
/ special wolf chain should be used.
/ II the trap is to be fastened to sta
! tonury object. the chain should have
! a swivel at each end. If to a drag,
one swivel IS enough. Always use a
+! drag if possible. The best is stone
OF 50 or 10 polndss weight, to which
the chain is securely wired A long
oval stone is best 4 piece of tele.
graph vine or smooth fence wire five
or six feet long should be passed
around one end OF the stone; then
I! doubled thrclgil the trap ring. viii,
Twist 10 hold the ring iii the n,iddla.
then around the ether end of the
stone and back on the opposite side
TO connect with the first loop. l.
properly fastened, jerk on the tral
tends 10 draw together and tighter
the loops. and the spring OF the con
necting wire prevents sudden ia
that might break trap or chain. If al
oval stone is not at hand, a triangu
lar O, square stone may be used b,
passing thc wire over the three O
four sides and securely connecting i
above and below.
II no stones are to be had and /
I is necessary 10 stake the traps. twist
| ed iron stakes that can DC driven be
/ low the surface Of the ground shoul,
| be used. They should he o. GOOD iro!
! straps. at least is inches long. three
, quarters of an inch wide, and three
| sixteeutts of an irch thick, turna.
| over at the top into a Psl4aped loo
| to connect with the ring OF the ira
| chain.
! When possible place the t.a9 b
/ tween two tufts Of grass or weeds. $
! it can be readily approached. feo'
enc side only, Fury the Stone. chm
}, and trap out Of sight with the ira
i nearest 10 The runway where -
/ wolves follow q trail or road, cl2s
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