The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-03-10
Protection of Dry Farmers From Losses l. One of
the Many Propositions to Be Taken Up
by Progressive Leaders of State;
Use Natural Resources.
NEW NATIONAL PARK TO BE DEVELOP
Automatic Feeders for Rabbits and Coyotes and
Other Unusual Methods Will Be Introduced
According to Latest Plans.

A few weeks ago we published
some articles about raising wild
game on the farms in Idaho and the
| matter aroused considerable inter
| est. The skunk indusery is much
laughed about, but investigation
among the skunk breeders indicates
that it is a very profitable business
and the old joke about the skunk
disappears when it is known what
simple matter it is to deodorize
them in their youth.
Relief for Dry Farmers.
But raising skunks is not the on
ly thing that is profitable among
wild animals, and this paper is un-
dertaking to find out what there is
that the Idaho farmers and especial
ly the Idaho dry farmers can raise
that will be profitable while irriga-
ton systems are being developed or
while agricultural implements are
being invented and developed that
will make it possible to succeed in
dry farming as we have it in our
foothills and on the Snake river
plains.
Cattleman's Opinion.
After the publication of some of
our articles in which we suggested
the feasibility of raising coyotes and
having them subsist largely on ma
tive jackrabbits, Joseph Coumerilh,
one of our successful cattlemen, paid
us the honor of visit and gave it as
his opinion that raising coyotes in
the manner we had outlined was not
safe nor practical.
Our suggestion was that farms
that had been fenced with woven
wire to keep the jackrabbits out
should be used to keep the coyotes in
and that instead Of killing off the
jackrabbits by the thousands in rab-
bit drives as we have been doing, the
settlers should preserve them by
some means for the coyotes to sub
sist on. Mr.. Coumerilh called at
tention to the fact that coyotes are
subject to diseases and often become
mangey. He said that coyotes in
captivity usually become discouraged
and forlorn looking-that they are
very unhappy and do not do well and
that little coyotes are seldom born
to parents in captivity. The coyote
is a mean, cowardly, dangerous crea-
ture, always ready to gallop away at
the sight of human being. If he is
tied up or kept in an Enclosure that
will not permit him to do this, he is
an unhappy coyote and not only will
unhappy coyotes not raise a family
but they will not produce a fur that
is of good quality and having "a fine
gloss.
The Feed for Coyotes.
In regard to feeding the coyotes on
the native jackrabbits, he said that
would only be practical during the
period in which the ]ackrabbits were
They are easily obtain
ed when the snow is deep and soft
and the rest of the year it would be
quite expensive to catch or kill
enough rabbits to feed the coyotes.
Jackrabbits often become diseased,
too, and they might not be good for
coyotes during such periods. Jack
rabbits multiply rapidly for a few
years and then almost entirely dis
appear due to disease and the Sc
verify of the climate during a hard
winter.
Diseases of Coyotes.
1t would be very risky to breed up
l band of coyotes knowing that the
persons must take the risk of all the
diseases to which the coyotes are
subjected and all the diseases and
disasters to which the rabbits are
A dry farmer might spend most
If his time turnout the year develop
ng a band of coyotes only to find
hat the increase amounted to little
n nothing and that the old stock did
lot have valuable pelts. He had bet
err go out and work for wages at al
most any price than to risk sea-
on or two in this kind of venture.
Editor Up a Stump.
After hearing Mr.. Coumerilh
ak, the editor of this little paper
ad to admit that the outlook for
1aking individual fortunes raising
oyotes on the Snake river plains
as not very bright. A few days la
er we had visit from Jack Flaher-
Y who lives at Cerro Grande, near
ne Big Butte. and he said that he