The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-02-21

The serious depredatio1s of wolves
and coyotes upon live stock and game
in the Vest and the best method of
dealing with these pests are fully set
forth in a pamphlet by Vernon Bailey
just issued by the agricultural depart
ment.
The object of the repont is to put
in the hands of hunters and ranch
men directions for trapping poisoning
and hunting wolves and finding the
dens of the young.
In many sections of the plains
country of Western and Northern
Texas the large gray wolf is still alb
undant and very destructive to stock,
as shown by the reports from Com:
stock and forty miles north, Langtry,
Colorado, Henrietta, Mobeetle, Tas-
cosa, Lipcomb, Amarillo, Panhandle,
Van Horn, Toyah, the southern end
of Guadalupe mountains and Fort
Stockton.
Over Southern and Middle Texas
the smaller red wolf is abundant
throughout much of the half open
mesquite country, where it destroys
much stock-cattle, colts, sheep and
goats. In the tfmbered region of
Eastern Texas, especially in the
swamps and bottoms, the black wolf
is still abundant and very destructive
to cattle and hogs, while it is said tic
render sheep raising practically i'm
possible.
The stock killed by wolves is main
ly cattle. Cattle and yearfings are
generally selected, but if these are
not available, COWS and ven full
grown steers are killed. They are us
ually attacked from behind and liter
ally eaten alive.
Occasionally an animal will escape
the wolf with a great piece torn Out
of its ham, while the wolf goes on tt
catch and kill another. The ranch
men in a wolf country maintain thai
a critter even slightly bitten by g
wolf will die of blood poisoning. More
cattle are therefore killed than eaten
Evidently the wolves prefer freshly
killed beef. In the summer they rare
~ if ever return for even a second
meal from the same animal. In tbs
winter they will return to the carcass
until the bones are picked.
Mr.. Bailey said the actual number
of cattle killed by wolves is hard tC
determine. Comparatively few ami
mails are found by cattleme1 and hun
tiers, when freshly killed, with vol
tracks around them and wolf marks
upon them. Nevertheless. he furn
ishes sufficient data from various
Western States and Territories to
show that the losses on the cattle
ranges are enormous
To quote a single instance on the
G.. o. S. ranch, On the ella forest re
serve in New Mexico, May II to 30
1906, the cowboys On the roundup
found calves or yearlings killed by
wolves almost daily, and Victor Cul
berson, president of the company, es
Inmates the loss on the ranch by the
wolves at ten per cent of h cattle.
The statistics show a number oi
colts and a few grown horses killed
by wolves. 49,
Herded sheep are rarely troubled
by wolves, being kept OFF by the herd
ers and dogs. Occasionally an I'M
guarded herd is raided, but SO rarely
that in open country sheepmen have
little fear of wolves in comparison
with coyotes and wild cats. In tim
bered regions wolves kill more sheen
and small herds are not safe even in
pastures unless enclosed with wolf
proof fences. In extensive sections
of Eastern Texas, Louisiana and Ar
kansas, Few sheep are raised, says
Mr.. Bailey, on account of the wolves
Goats, of course, suffer similarly; al
SO hogs to some extent.
The pamphlet discusses protective
measures in detail, including boun
ties which he advocates. successful
methods OF hunting. poisoning. trapp
ing, etc.
The annual loss by coyotes. much
greater than that by wolves, is main
ly borne by the sheep owners. The
coyotes also destroy many young
game animals, especially deer. elk
and antelope. The destruction of co,
otes is therefore imperative for the
protection Of both stock and game
The methods recommended for de
stroying wolves are fully applicable
to coyotes with the following sligh'
notifications:
TrappIag coyotes-Nos 3 traps. an
chored. net and baited for wolves