Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-11-28
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FRIENDS OF THE FARMERS
Birds and Animals that Help More
Then They Hurt.

II
Then They Hurt.
| The annual damage to crops by in
sect and animal pest In the United
States now amounts to many mil
lions of dollars, says Washington
dispatch, and is steadily increasing,
partly as the result Of the encroach-
ments of new insect enemies and ro-
dent pests, but mainly, perhaps, be-
cause of mans unthinking destruction
of his natural allies which kill the
crop destroying pests. Man, instead
of permitting these natural allies to
keep pace with the multiplication Of
the pests upon which they feed, has
destroyed them until their numbers
are entirely inadequate to preserve
the balance. 1t Is, therefore, i'm
portant that the farmer and stock
man should everywhere seek to pro-
tect and encourage the natural foes
of Injurious mammals and not want
only or because Of unfounded pre-
judice or misinformation. kill many
animals that he regards as enemies
but which are real friends.
Predaceous animals and birds
have an important function to per-
form in their capacity as natural
enemies to crop-destroying insects
and pests, according to DR.. A. K
Fisher, economic investigator Of the
biological survey, United States de-
partment of agriculture. Before man
interfered with the intricate rela-
tions of wild creatures and disturbed
the balance Of nature, the carnivor-
GUS animals served admirably to pre-
vent undue increase Of the hordes OF
mailer animals that feed on herbage,
seeds, fruits, and other vegetables.
So perfectly was the balance regu-
lated that a temporary increase or
decrease In one direction was follow
ed sooner or later by corresponding
change in another.
But valuable as many predaceous
animals are in aiding to maintain
the balance Of nature, man is liable
to look askance at every mammal or
bird that ever molests his poultry or
under exceptional conditions seems
to attack the game of the state, states
DIR. Fisher. Without regard to con-
sequences, he sets out to kill every
thing that resembles the particular
offender. He declines to grant a
mere pittance in return for value re-
ceived and visits indiscriminate per-
secution on many humble and faith
full workers that have helped i'm
portantly to save his harvest or or
chard.
Most fiesh-eating animals change
their ordinary diet only under pres
sure Of hunger. In the main, they
prey upon some abundant species.
which, when available, furnishes their
entire subsistence. For example, II
meadow mice were always present
the red-tailed hawk would rarely
touch other food. It is when their
normal food is scarce and therefore
frequently after they have done a
good job Of eradicating pest, that
predatory birds and mammals are,
from necessity. forced to take what
they can find and thus become tres
passers on mans property. The man
eating tiger and the poultry -eating
skunk, wealsei, and hawk are rare,
though their deeds have been herald
ed far and wide and their names
have become notorious.
The Coyote, Great Horned Owl and
Bobcat.
The coyote and great-horned owl
in rabbit infested regions and in vine
yards, orchards, meadows, or gardens
overrun by field mice, are among
the best friends Of man, but the
thickly settled regions comparatively
free from rabbits and mice, both Of
them have to be summarily dealt
with, as also does the coyote In sec
tions where sheep-raising is an inn
portant industry.
It would be easy to advise the
economic value Of all predaceous anil
mails were 1t not for the complica-
tions resulting from civilization,
which introduces problems that ma
terially affect the status of animated
things. In portions Of the west where
fruit growing and farming are. domi-
nant Industries, 1t may be wise to en-
courage the coyote and bobcat with
in certain limits. provided poultry
and sheep are properly protected at
night. Numerous ranchmen and
fruit growers have learned by ex-
perience that these animals II un-
molested will free their premises
from rabbits a. other crop and tree
destroyers. Where they have been
allowed to do their work thoroughly,
they are fully appreciated and many
ranchers would almost as soon shoot
their own dogs and cats as their wild
benefactors. At times the coyote
feeds entirely on large insects, such
as May beetles, crickets and grass
hoppers.
Misdeeds of the House Cat.
Many an innocent hawk, skunk,
owl, and weasel has been shot for the
deeds Of the house cat 1t is safe to
say that the cat, which enjoys the
comforts and protection Of the home,
destroys in the aggregate more wild
birds and young poultry than all the
native natural enemies combined. A
cat has been known to kill a whole
brood of chickens in a day. Cats,
In the course of season, have been
known to practically destroy whole
coveys Of quails or grouse or nests
full of young songsters. A well known
naturalist estimates that in the New
England states alone 100000 birds
are destroyed annually by cats. There
are over 3,500,OOO birds destroyed in
New York state annually If we as
sumo that each cat in the state kills
at least one bird a week.
Tho Fox.
For it's occasional misdeeds, the
fox is looked upon by the majority Of