The Greeley tribune., 1910-07-28
COYOTE PROOF FENCE
FOR SHEEP PASTURE

The enclosure OF sheep range
within a coyote-proof fence has been
tried in Colorado by F.. H. Taylor of
Mancos with highly satisfactory re-
suits. An experiment begun by the
United States department of agricul-
ture on the Wallowa national forest
in Oregon to discover whether sheep
could be advantageously pastured
within such an enclosure, led Mr..
Taylor to give the new method a
trial. The outcome is set forth in Il
letter to the department as follows:
After reading the description of
your coyote-proof fence in Oregon
/ constructed a fence to enclose
about 500 acres in the same manner.
The fence was constructed during
the fall of 1908, and in the spring
of 1909 and 1910 one thousand head
of ewes were lambed in this enclos-
ure." In the vernacular of the
herder, "one hundred per cent of the
lambs were saved" that is, lamb
to each eve ''and one man did all
the work. l think the per cent of
the lamts would have been higher,
but one animal, presumably coy
ote, was inside when the fence was
constructed. 1t was impossible to
hounds. Some of the herders
thought the animal was not coy
ote, but since coyote tracks were
found in several places | am of the
opinion that it was. Whatever the I,
animal was it raised its young inside
the enclosure.
Connecting his loss with the ra- !
pacity of this animal Mr.. Taylor !
says:
"a great many of the lambs were |
killed and a small hole eaten behind
the foreleg and the remainder of
the carcass was untouched On the
land outside of the enclosure it re-
quired the services of three man and
a pack of hounds to care for one
thousand ewes. and only 90 per cent
of the lambs were saved. This per
cent could not have been saved with
out the assistance of the hounds.
II consider this fence a splendid
investment since it easily pays for
itself in three years. On the other
hand. it is often difficult and some
times impossible TO get men during
the lambing season. For this reason
the money value of the fence can
hardly be estimated"
The department of agriculture
entered upon the experiment of en-
closing shep range within a fence
which would turn stock-destroying
animals in the belief that this me-
thod would save forage as we'll as
stock and wages. This belief has
been fully justified by the results.
The Oregon enclosure carried more
sheep than an equal area of range
VI the same quality outside, produc-
ID heavier lamb crop. heavier
sheep, and more wool, and at the
same time resulted in a better con-
iition of the range itself These ad-
'antages are due to the different be-
,avior of sheep pastured within such
IN enclosure from that of sheep
,erded in the ordinary way.
When a band of sheep moves
bout in charge of herder, it must
,e kept from scattering much. AS
result much of the forage is vast
ID through trampling. Within an
nclosure. however, the sheep soon
earn to spread out and shift for
themselves. Under these conditions
{ is not to be wondered at that a
.iven area supports more sheep. puts
hem in better condition. and suffers
ess wear and tear. The success of
he new method, however, depends
IN the determination OF all danger
,us animals within the enclosure.
nd on the maintenance Of fence