The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-02
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MARQUETTE ich., Jan. 2.-That
many o. the ''w0lyss~ on which boua-
~ Is paid in the upper peninsula OF
Michigan ara nothing mole nor less
than coyotes fsfhe opinion of OIL
cials of the biological survey OF the
United States department OF agricul-
tire. This opinion is based on an ex.
animation OF hides and skulls sent TO
Washington.
Some time ago County CLERK Frank
G. jerks, OF this city. sent u mounted
wolf TO one Of the government biolog-
lists. at the latter's request, and he
shortly received letter from the de
partment. stating that the skin was
undoubtedly that OF a coyote. The
writer stated that he was suspicious
that the state was being defrauded by
persons importing coyote skins into
the upper peninsula to collect boun-
ties on them, as, so far as the gov
eminent biologists knew, there were
no coyotes at large in the forests OF
upper Michigan.
Mr.. jerks made a careful inyesti-
found that beyond a doubt the animal
had been legitimately trapped BY a
homesteader in this county, showing |
that IL the animal was a coyote there |
are wild coyotes in the upper PENN
sula. Since this experience, the gov
eminent officials have received coyote |
skins from Menominee county, and
the biological survey is now almost
al. IL arg.l
found in this section, as well as >im-
Der wolves. In fact, the specimens
sent recently TO the department would
indicate that Of the two coyotes are
the more numerous, especially in the
southern part OF the peninsula.
At the present time, Marquette
county pays 81 and the state $25 for
every wolf killed. AS no particular
kind of wolf is specified in the Michi-
gan laws. and as a coyote Is mem
Der OF the wolf family. the head OF
the government biological department
Is OF the opinion that the county
clerks are warranted III paying the
wolf bounty for coyotes. However,
there are those who believe that the
legislature should place special
bounty on coyotes. II is said that
the coyote does less harm tnan the
timber wolf, and that ii is no more
than right that the bounty on coyotes
should be placed at an amount less
than $50.
A letter recently received from the,
biological department at Washington,
which gives q clear idea Of what many
OF the so-called wolves" OF the upper
peninsula really are. reads as follows:
Il have submitted the skin sent me
to Prof. Bailey, who Immediately pro-
nounced 1t the ordinary coyote. We
are much interested in knowing the
township where these coyotes were
killed and the person who killed them.
However, l have no doubt about your
being entirely justified In paying
bounties on these coyotes. The Mich
iean law makes no distinction be-
tween the plain wolf and the timber
wolf. as is the case in number OF
states, and, In the absence OF such
distinction, In my Judgment, you
would be no more justified In refusing I
to pay a bounty on a coyote wolf than
the gray timber wolf. You are mis-
taken about the damage done deer by
the coyote. Except in cases oil wound
ed or injured deer, or possibly lawn
that had strayed from Its mother, the
coyote does no damage. On the other
hand. the timber wolf lives almost ex-
clusively on deer. and in some IN
stances domestic stock.
In connection with the subject OF
wolf bounties, 1t is suggested that the
Michigan and Wisconsin laws shoulu
be the same as to the amount PAID Tor
each wolf. At present, Michigan pays
$25. while the bounty In wisconsin Is
hut Is. This difference makes 1t
great temptation for persons killing
wolves In northern Wisconsin to bring
them across the line and get the go
bounty paid in this state. 1t Is claimed
that thousands of dollars have been
illegally taken out of the state treas
ury I'm this manner.
A new method for producing pure