Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-27
LOSSES OF STOCKMEN
Deaths of Cattle From the
Loco Weed and Wolves.
BIG BoUNTIEs FOR SKINS
Over 100000 Paid by Minnesota
in Nine Years.
LONG SERVICE OF A CITRATE
of6ciated So Years-Interesting As
sociations of Chelsea, London.
Sir Thomas More's Home.
BIG BoUNTIEs FOR SKINS
LONG SERVICE OF A CURATE
RY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.

r seems almost incredible. but not
outstanding the rapid settlement of the
western plains. the stockmen or TINS
country suffer losses estimated at MIL
lions of dollars from wolves and from
loco" weeds. In Colorado alone II is
estimated that million dollars worth
of cattle are ruined every year by going
crazy as a result of eating those weeds,
and in an address before the NATIONAL
Live Stock Association at Denver
nrorninent ranchman declared that from
Is 10 ~ per cent of the annual increase
of the herds and f1ocks in that state
were killed by wolves. well known
ranchman in Montana estimated that the
loss 10 that state was Is per cent annual
ly from the same cause. Other author
tiles estimate that every family OF wolves
will destroy $4,000 worth of stock per
annum. The amount or game k.ieu -
much less easily determined than that OF
cattle but in the mountain countries,
particularly in winter. the wolves are
compelled to live on deer, antelope. elk.
jack rabbits. grouse and other animals
and birds The same Is true CT the tim
bered regions in northern Michigan. Wis
consin and Minnesota. On Grand Island,
the game preserve OF the CleNeland-
Cliffs Iron Company, In Lake superior.
near Marquette. one gray wolf killed
thirty days.
The Coco weed is even more deadly.
1t is a Spanish word and means crazy.
because after eating II cattle. sheep and
horses seem TO lose their senses; they be-
have in a most unnatural manner and
finally become sick and die. A 'locoed'
horse is quite common among the COW
boys. even more common than locoed
man although the latter is familiar
object The term is common in the west
eTn country; you often hear about some
one who is plumb locoed," That ex-
PLANTATION is offered as an excuse for &C.
centric behavior.
Investigations of "Loco" Weed.
There are two kinds of loco weeds.
known to botany as Aragallus lamberti
and Astragalus millissimus. both OF
which produce the effect of drunkenness
or insanity in cattle. sheep and horses
DR.. True, Psychologist Of the bureau of
plant industry OF the Department Of As-
riculture. assisted by DR.. c. Blythe Marsh
and DR.. Albert c. Crawford. has been
making a thorough investigation OF the
subject in connection with other poison
Gus plants. and has determined beyond
question that the weed is not only guilty
of all the charges that are brought
against it by ranchmen and cowboys, but
its effects are almost invariably IA
tai. They have discovered how
II
cases be cured by course OF
treatment with strychnine. while locoed
horses can generally be cured with Fow
ler's solution. DR.. Marsh says that the
animals under treatment must not be
allowed to eat the weed. and should be
given not only nutritious food. but food
with laxative properties. To this end
magnesium sulphate will correct the con-
stipation which Is almost universal among
locoed animals. and will serve to some
a1y<a artg <AN he
There seems to be no way Of Kidding
open cattle ranges OF the loco weeds
although 1t is possible to exterminate
them in fenced pastures. The Depart
ment of Agriculture recommends ranch
men to root up the weed wherever they
find 1t. and wherever possible to organize
parties for that purpose In that way
considerable portion of the annual loss
may be prevented.
Facts About Wolves.
Dr.. Vernon Bailey of the biological sur
vey of the Department of Agriculture has
been making an investigation of the wolf
question and has gathered some interest
Ing and important information. He says
that wolves still occupy most of their
original ranges, and declares that their
numbers have not been reduced to any
considerable extent outside of the thickly
settled regions. There are several groups
the coyote or prairie wolf. the large gray
and black timber wolf commonly called
''iobos.'' the red wolf of southern Texas.
the brindle wolf of Mexico, the light gray
wolf OF the central plains the white wolf
of northern Canada and Alaska and the
large black or dusky wolf of the north
west coast region. Their habits differ ac-
cording TO their conditions and their en-
vironment. whether it Is timber. plains
mountains or desert and the difficulty of
obtaining food. The large gray wolf is
TIE most abundant and most destructive
10 stock. and continues to hold his ground
In the thinly settled ranching districts of
Nebraska, Wyoming. the Dakotas. Mon
tana. Colorado. New Mexico and western
Texas. AS the buffalo ard other game
have disappeared. they have been com
peIled 10 live upon the cattle and sheen
that have taken their place on the ranges
Dr Bailey gives most interesting sug-
gestions as to the best methods of tran
ping poisoning and hunting wolves and
lieves that II his directions are foIlouad
and II liberal bounties are offered for
SKINS their numbers can be kept down
sufnclently to prevent serious denreda-
tons Prime wolf skins are worth from
- 10 50 each, which is enough TO induce
trappers and enterprsinS ranch hovs ~
make an effort to secure them particu-
larry II The bounties are continued.
Bounties Paid for Wolf Skins
The record of bounties Maid d,r,,
.he past twelve years in Wyoming. the
heart or the wolf country, indicates In
a general way the abundance az tho
animals. Nearly 81 900 wolf skins have
been brought in during that time an
average of about $500 a year. and ss7
800 nave been paid by the state AT tho
rate OF IS. 81 and s. Il skin In addition
70 TINS. many ranchmen have paid nri
Ha'e oounties as an inducement to hunt
ers and trapperA
Arthur ]. TiSdall Of San Miguel co,,n
u New Mexico. declares that wolves
IN that section destroy not less than hale
4 mllion dollars worth OF animals every
year. Notwithstanding a bounty of 500
that Is paid on their skins And In the
neiSnboring counties the pest is iust as
bad The stock killed by wolves is
mainly cattle. The number canno, he
determined because no records are kent
Calves and yearlings are generally Sc
lected b. the wolves for slaughter he
cause they are less capable OF defend
inS themselves and are usually at
tackled from behind and literally eaten
alive. Occasionally an animal will es
cape, with It's launches terribly mutt
lated. but does not live long for the
ranchmen maintain that if "a critter
feels the fangS of wolf il will die Of
blood poisoning" More cattle are killed
than are eaten; wolves will rarely re-
turn for a second meal on the same
animal
Up in the timber regions of Mime
sofa. northern Michigan and Wisconsin
bcuntles lav- been paid for many wears
and Or. Bailey asserts that from 1865
to 1895 they reached a total of s26l9S7
The following table shows the number
% skins brought in and the amount Of