Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-02
''C0YOTE-PROOF" fence
T0PROTECT SHEEP
Results of Experiment Made in
Oregon Encouraging-Ex-
penses Are Reduced.

Saving the western grazing range from
destruction by sheep. saving the sheep
from destruction by predatory animals
and saving the sheep men from destruc-
ton by the cattlemen. has been a problem
on which the Department OF Agriculture
has been working for two years. with the
aid OF a "coyote-proof' fence.
The fence IL called coyote-proof be-
cause these small thieves OF the range are
the enemies especially guarded against.
Other wild animals that cause some loss
to the sheep men are kept out by the
fence and others go through or over IL.
but the damage thus caused Is repaired
at a small expense and the department is
we'll satisfied with the results that have
been reported to it by Deputy Forester
Jardine. who has been keeping tab on the
experiment
The experiment was made in Oregon.
where an area Of 2, 800 acres was fenced.
The details Of the fence construction are
interesting only from q technical stand
point. Suffice 1t to say that the fence did
keep out the coyotes and the damage
caused by bears. falling trees. badgers
digging under the fence and the like was
repaired the first year at an expense OF
$50 and the second year at an expense
Of SIS.
Supports More Sheep.
The net results OF the experiment were
decidedly encouraging. 1t was found that
under the pasturage system the range
would support a much larger number of
sheep than the unfenced range. that the
sheep were In better condition. both as to
flesh and wool. and that the losses were
infinitesimal compared to those on the
nV,oY1 - g. a
only quarter of what 1t would have been
In the open.
The working Of the two systems was
explained by Mr.. Jardine as follows:
When the sheep are herded on the
open range they are allowed to eat over
an area of range and then they are driven
In close bunch to the next place where
the feeding Is good. They eat that of
and are driven TO a different locality the
next day, and then when all the available
grazing spots have been eaten over. the
main camp is moved and the process be-
gun again. Each time the sheep are
sent out to feed they ruin all the range
that they are driven over by travelling In
compact mass and treading It out with
their hoofs
I'm the meantime the coyotes and other
wild animals have a chance to work on
them. Sheep and lambs are killed and
sometimes the coyotes manage TO cut out
considerable bunch and drive them OIL
sheep are injured and kept uneasy by
close herding and the hospital bunch is
always large.
Unmolested by Animals.
I'm the pasture the sheep are unmo-
Tested by wild animals and they are al
lowed to scatter so that they do not kill
out and eat out the pasture by grazing
and trampling. In fact. observation dur
ing the experiment showed that the pas
ture improved under their use rather than
deteriorated.
THE losses from injuries were almost
negligible. The hospital bunch In the
pastured herd consisted of one lamb with
a broken leg. On the outside herds II
ran from q few to 200. The loss In money
between herds of the same number In the
pasture and outside were $40 on the In
closed sheep and 500 on the herd out
side the fence.
1t was found that one man under the
pasturage system could properly care for
500 to 10000 sheep and that the labor
outside would take not less than four
men. The carrying capacity of the range
also was increased from Is to 50 per cent.
During an observation Of 100 days the
losses on the fenced area were two-tenths
of I per cent and on outside herds pas
tured on adjoining land they ran from I
to per cent"