The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-04-25

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 are urgently needed. The pres.
ent 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.
stroying the young, and Of fencing to
protect stock. BY the methods given
herein the numbers of wolves and
coyotes. may be rapidly diminished
and the losses of stock thereby re.
1uced to minimum.
II the time of breeding, character
Of breeding grounds, and habits OF
wolves are known, the dens may DC
easily located and the pups secured
In this way, more effectually and eco
nomically than any 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 tho
females and help feed and care 70,
the pups during the summer.
In the western United States
wolves breed mainly in valley and
foothill country or in low mountains
For breeding dens they choose, If pos
sible, natural cavities or washed-o on,
hollows on south slopes of rocky
or badland ridges. There is usually
high point not tar 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 early part of the breeding season
which renders tho finding of dens par
dcularly 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
also dig burrows or use old badger
holes, slightly enlarged; SO spade
Is often necessary in getting out tho
Young.
Ranchmen cannot afford To let wolf
or coyote pups grow up on or near
their ranges when an hours ride will
often serve 10 locate the dens. The
young pups of both wolves and CO.
votes are nearly black, but as they
grow older the color fades to duh vel.
lowish, and when about three months
old a new :light-gray coat is acquired.
For wolves the best No. double
spring trap with heavy welded or
special wolf chain should be used.
If the trap is to be fastened to sta
tionary object, the chain should have
a swivel at each end. Ito a drag,
one swivel is enough. Always use a
drag If possible, The best is a stone
Of 30 or 40 pounds weight. to which
the chain is securely wired. a long
oval stone Is best. A piece of tele.
graph wire or smooth fence wire five
or six feet long should be passed
around one end of the stone; then
doubled through the trap ring, with
a twist to hold the ring in the middle;
then around the other end of the
stone and back on the opposite side
to connect with the first loop. "
properly fastened. jerk on the trap
tends to draw together and tighten
the loops, and the spring OF the con-
Meeting wire prevents sudden jar
that might break trap or chain. II an
oval stone is not 1T hand, a triangn,
lar or square stone may be used by
passing the wire over the three or
four sides and securely connecting it
above and below.
II no stones are 70 be had and II
is necessary to stake the traps, twist
cd iron stakes that can be driven be.
low the surface of the ground should
be used. They should be of good iron
straps, at least IS inches long, three
quarters of an inch wide, and three
Sxteelths of an inch thick. turned