The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-04-09
UNITED STATES DEPART.
MENT OF AGRICULTURE,

Bureau OF Biological Survey. Circular
No. 55-Direction for the Destruc
lion Of Wolves and coyotes-Ry
Vernon Bailey, In Charge Of Geo
graphic Distribution.
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 b. increasing rather than decreas-
ing. Practical mean of preventing
these losses are urgently needed. The
present circular, based on field work
of the Biological Survey, aims to pre-
sent briefly the best methods of hunt
ing, trapping, and poisoning wolves
and coyotes, of finding the dens and de
stroying the young, n of fencing to
protect stock. By the methods given
herein the numbers of wolves and
coyotes may be rapidly diminished
and the losses of took thereby reduc-
ed to a minimum.
(Tne subject is treated in greater
detail in Bulletin No. II of the Forest
Service, evolves in Relation to Stock
Game and the National Forest Re
serves" and in Farmers Bulletin No.
226, Coyotes in Relation to Stock
Raising ia the West" both prepared
by the Biological Survey.
The Capture of Pups.
If 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 effectually and eco
nomically than any other, Increase of
wolves and coyotes may he prevented.
The large size of filters makes the
method especially important. as the
wolves usually have six to ten pups
and coyotes five to nine. 1t is now
positively known that both wolves and
coyotes pair for breeding season, and
that the males stay with the females
n help feed and care for the pups
during the summer.
The Time of Breeding.
Wolf pups are usually born from
March 9 to April Is and coyote pups
a little later, usually in April and May
The pups remain in or near the dens
until 2 or 8 months old. The period
of CESSATION with the wolf, as with
the dog, is nine weeks. The rutting
season for the wolf, therefore, would
come in January and February; for
the coyote in February and March.
Location of the Dens.
In the Western United States the
wolves breed mainly in valley and
foothill country or in low mountains.
For breeding e they choose, if pos
sible, natural cavities or washed-out
on south slopes of rocky or
'badla1d ridges. There is usually a
high point not far from the den, where
the old male and guard during the
day.
n the North good tracking snow u.s.
ually lies on the ground during the
early part of the breeding season.
which renders the finding of dens
particularly easy, but even on bare
ground there is little difficulty in To-
eating every wolf del. This may be
done by simply riding along the
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 are usually
gathering into we'll worn trails That
may be followed on the bare ground
as readily as on snow.
Coyotes make their dens in the
kinds of places as wolves, and
also dig burrows or use old badger
holes slightly enlarged; so a spade is
often necessary in getting out the
ones.
Ranchmen can not afford to let wolf
or coyote pups grow up on or near
ranges when an hours ride will
often serve to locate the dens. The
young pups of both wolves n coy-
otes are nearly black, blu as they grow
the color fades to dull yellowish
and when about 8 months old a new
light gray coat is acquired.
Trapping.
For wolves the best No. I double
spring trap with heavy welded or
wolf chain should be used.
the trap is to be fastened to a sta
object, the chain should have
a swivel at each end. If to a drag,
one swivel next to the trap is enough.
Always use a drag if possible. The
best is a tone of 80 or 40 pounds
TO which the cnain is securely
wired. A long oval stone is best. A
piece of telegraph wire or smooth
fence wire 5 or 6 feet long should be
passed around 4 end of the stone;
doubled through the trap ring.
a twist to hold the ring in the
me stone and back on the opposite
side to connect with the first loop. If
properly fastened, a jerk or the trap
tends to draw together INT tighten
loops, and the spring of the con-
Meeting wire prevents a sudden jar
that might break trap or chain. If an
stone is not at hand, a triangular
Or square stone may be used by pas
sing the wire over the three or four
and securely connecting it above
below.
If no stones are to be had nj it
IS necessary to stake the traps, twist
I'd iron stakes that a be driven be-
the surface of the ground should
De used. They should be of good iron
straps, at least IS inches long, three
quarters of ar inch wide, n three
of an inch thick, turned
at the top into a "P" shaped loop