The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-08
JACK RABBIT DRIVE
IN DESERT TOWN
Antelope Valley Has Big Field
Day
LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA
People Invite Nelghbors to Participate
in determination of Thousands
of Jacks Which Menaced
the Country.
c. F. Holden in New York Post.

G. F. Holden in New York Post
Lancaster, Cal.-The California ranchers
are confronted with the jack rabbit, which
swarms over certain regions, and is so
dangerous an enemy to civilization that
at times the people of a district are
Obliged to call upon the outside world to
assist in the act of determination.
Such an episode occurred recently in
and about the desert town of Lancaster,
In the Antelope valley, between MoJave
and Los Angeles. Farmers have found
1t difficult, or almost impossible, TO set
tie up the country, because what they
grew was eaten by the hares that roamed
about in thousands. This year they be-
came such menace that the farmers
Joined interests and asked for assistance.
Advertisements were inserted In the
papers of Los Angeles and other cities
requesting people to come to Lancaster
on October IT, when horses and teams
would be supplied and a roundup car
ried out
More than three hundred men accepted
the invitation from Los Angeles, and the
day was a great one for Lancaster. At a
certain location a corral was built with
wide wines that spread out to right and
left for a long distance. The object was
to form long lines. covering miles of
them. On the arrival of the train the
hunters assembled, received instructions
from those in charge, formed in great di-
verging lines, and gradually moved along,
according to q regular system, driving
the jacks before them.
Some men were armed with shotguns,
which they fired to frighten the game,
and it was not long before hundreds of
jacks were darting about. But they were
always met by shouts and yells and
forced to run in a general direction, the
hunters, mounted, on foot and in wagons,
being near enough to prevent any num-
Der breaking away: hence the trend of
the constantly increasing throng was In
the general direction of the corral, with
it's yawning jaws or arms. Occasionally
a jack would dash through the human
barrier, or break away. to be shot by
the men.
A Remarkable Sight.
The sight became more remarkable ev-
cry moment, as jacks seemed to start up
from every bush and every cactus group:
every patch of tar weed concealed one or
more. They often lay low until the men
were directly upon them, when they shot
away like an arrow out of a bow. AS
time passed it was estimated that 5000
hares were in sight. Some stood still,
their blacl-tipped ears erect. listening
watching, wondering what it all meant
not realizing that they were trapped;
others dashed madly across the valley
But it was not until the end Of the run
was reached that the full extent of the
haul was manifest. The gray soil seemed
to have changed to brown, white, and
black spots, and to be moving.
AS the animals reached the fence, some
dim idea, apparently, entered their dimin-
utive minds. They turned back and raced
against the human barrier-a pitiful spec
tacle of terror and fear that found no
sympathy In the mob of human beings
Not that there was anything unseemly in
the attack; It was a question of the life
of the Jacks or the farmers. and the an
imals were to be exterminated, IL posi-
BILE.
At last the crowd closed In with a rush,
and the herd of jacks, 5000 or 5000 In num-
Der, were run into the small corral, where
they were killed by several hundred men
with clubs. 1t did not take long. Hun
dreds were packed and sent to the city
markets, and every one who wished 1t,
within a radius Of so or 100 miles. had hare
for all meals. Another drive will take
place in the winter, aroused Christmas,
and it is hoped eventually to rid the val
ley of this menace In such valleys as
San Gabriel these animals are easily kept
down by grayhounds. All the large vine
yards keep these hounds to run the jacks
out of the country
What menace the jack is to the west
Is not appreciated by eastern people. The
animal practically speaking, is confined
to the area between latitude 80 degrees
and 40 degrees. and east to Missouri.
Drives are necessary not only In Antelope
valley, but in Bakersfield, Fresno, Lake
View Lake City, Cal, Lewisville, Ore,
Corrimbo and Panguitch, Utah, and
Lamar, Col.
Jacks have few enemies. Coyotes can
run them down, but coyotes are made
ouate, and no community could afford to
shoot lacks in vast numbers. When farm
ers settle up q new country the jacks are
attracted, and It is fight to the finish
At Tulare, Cal, the jacks devoured crops
to the amount of more than half mil
lion dollars, despite the drives, and one
county In Idaho has spent $4,000 In fight
Ing them.
Numbers Beyond Computation.
Their numbers in many cases are be-
yond computation? Twenty-Five thousand
were killed in Modoc county within ten
square miles, and this was but fraction
~ those loft IL is estimated that 20