The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-10-17
EXTERMINATE
WILD ANIMALS
HIRES HUNTERS TO KILL BEASTS
Coyotes, Cougars, Wildcats, Mountain
Lions and Other Predatory AMI
mails to be Destroyed.

Washington, y. c.. Oct. 15.-Sub'
staptial evidence that the government
is determined to put forth every
effort to bling the national forest
lands to the highest point Of develop
ment is given in the activities OF Un-
Gle Sam in planning The eradication
OF predatory animals which destroy
annually thousands ut dollars' worth
of stock running on he ranges OF the
forests.
Eleven experienced trappers and
hunters whose knowledge OF oondi-
tions and training in the great west
qualities them to hunt wolves, cou-
sars, mountain lions, coyotes ana
wild cats successfully, have been as
signed to the work of eXteIminating
these destructive range animals In ma
tional forests of eight western states.
These men, supplied with traps,
poison, guns and ammunition, are go
ing at their work in way which 10
beginning to show its useful effect
and the forest officers believe that the
losses caused by 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
dens, where, in addition to the old
; animals, the pups may also be killed.
In the Wind River division OF the
4 Yellowstone forest two guards acting
i. as hunters killed 2l pups and two old
. wolves in two months work this sum
. mer. In another case where two hunt
!. ers we're working separately, one
n found den and killed seven pups
/. land their mother, and the other rang
n er killed five pups in another den. ~
q The Importance of killing these 80
a wolves in one national forest Is real
lied only when the extent OF damage
,e which Is done by these animals In
10 year is known. Vernon Bailey, who
n made an investigation of the ravages
rs of wolves last year for the forest ser.
n vice, reported that in certain part
,e of New Mexico moderate estimate ol
MS the stock killed by four wolves was
or yearling COW or calf every three days,
I'd or approximately 100 head OF cattle 9
ue wear to each wolf. Counting all al
,s calves at the low rate of $40 a head
no each wolf would cost the ranchmar
X. $1,000 a year. This would make sav
n. ing of S36, 900 a year to the ranchmel
n in the Yellowstone national forest
"a where the several hunters mentioned
no accomplished such effective work. Y
air the eleven hunters at work Oregol
he gets one and the Others are distribut
,st ed through the western states.
nv The work of killing off wolves an
nd other predatory animals on the othe
or. natl onal forests is going on equal
an. we'll, and the stookmen grazing undt
permit in the ranges within u
nto boundaries Of the forests viii be SAVE
md Imany thousands of dollars annual
the An indirect good coming from u
or governments activities will be to sp'
we'd ranchers grazing outside the nation
forests to join in the work OF riddil
In the western ranges of destructive an
mails. Besides the great savil
cen through preventing the loss OF stoc
bey further encouragement is given wo
In In many states where bounties as hi
,ble | in some states cases 800 head Q
given for killing wolves and $50 al
ort. $50 head for mountain lions.