The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-10-28
BAG MANY. Wild. :
ANIMALS INVEST
Government Inspectors XIII Coy
.>otes, Wolves, Lynxes and
Mountain Lions.
HUNTERS ELIMINATE PESTS
9tockmen Are Delighted With RedueL
lions Made In Wild Animal Plague
In The: Last Three Years-
Cause Of Heavy Losses.

Cause OF Heavy Losses.
Washington, D. C.-Wild, predatory
animals in the West have had hard
time this summer. Government hunt
ers reporting to the bureau of biolog-
zeal survey tell of great slaughter of
the animals and some incidents where
1t almost was the other way round.
Uncle Sans bag Of coyotes, wolves,
mountain lions and lynxes cannot be
counted yet, but enough data has come
to hand to show that it will be big
one.
One of the most interesting narra-
lives of this exciting business comes
from e. f. Pope, an inspector Of the
service stationed in New Mexico. To
give encouragement and assistance to
the hunters located on ranches where
their work is most needed, MI. Pope
has travelled two thousand miles In
that state.
stoci<men Are Pleased.
almost everywhere" he writes, II
found stockmen delighted with reduc-
lions made in the wild animal plague
in the last three years. They say
that from an economic standpoint it 10
one Of the most far reaching and SEN
sible undertakings the government has
yet attempted. Among the stockmen
are the Fullerton brothers, who have
extensive sheep ranges on the st.
Augustine plains west of Magdalena.
Ever since they started they have suf-
fered heavy animal losses from depre-
dations Of coyotes and wildcats, espe-
cially during the lambing season.
:'Lastwinter one Of our hunters was
assigned. to these ranges. He was
handicapped by heavy SHOWS and bad
weather, but he got so many Of the
brutes that he virtually eliminated
the pests from this section. A new
hunter was assigned to the infested
ranch Of Edward Otero not far away.
While waiting for him set line of
twelve traps and distributed two hun
dred poison bats. My catch was five
old coyotes, one of which was killed
With rife at long range. A few days
after his arrival the new hunter got
two more coyotes and brace Of wild
cats in the vicinity. For some time
before TINT from three to six lambs
had been lost every night. In ten days
the hunter could find. no more Of the
animals and moved to a neighboring
ranch.
Old Ones Are Wary.
There are many instances where
the younger and less shy coyotes and
cats have been taken during the win
ter by fur hunters, leaving the older
and more wary animals alive. These
do the killing and keep the ranches
paying toll to their kind. I have notes
I'm my field diary describing the work
Of the old coyote which l have men,
toned as having been killed with the
rife. This fellow bore evidence Of
having been previously caught In a
trap from which he got away. Think
Ing to escape again he made the effort
resulting In his death. 1t often re-
Quires more time and effort to destroy
this sort Of coyote than 1t takes to get
the younger ones, but the value of the
results obtained is very chgreater."
Mr.. Pope says settlers find it hard
to build up large her,ls or f1ocks un-
der the constant onslaughts Of beasts
Of prey. The elimination Of the pests
is giving them announcement and in
creasing their sheep and cattle. Game
animals with the passing Of their en-
emies also are getting more numer-
GUS I'VE have records" says Mr..
Pope, "of antelope being constantly
seen In timbered sections from which
wolves, lions and cats have been Grad
icated, the deer. no doubt. having be-
come aware that their dread foes no
longer are there to spring upon them
from cover. 1t is my own observation
that wild game in some sections Of
the state is increasing under protec-
tive measures now being taken"