The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-01-01
u. S. GOVERNMENT TAKES
-. UP WOLF WORK
Intensive determination Campaign on
Predatory Animals To Be Start
ed in Bottineau County

Predatory Animals To Be Start
ed in Bottineau County
A number of years ago an organ
lied effort on the part of the Stock
Associations of the west was made to
induce the United States Government
to take up the matter of externina-
ton of wolves, coyotes, and other pre-
datory animals which were causing
very heavy losses to the livestock in
dustry. An extensive investigation
was made and branch of the Biolog-
ical Survey, one of the bureaus of the
Department Of Agriculture, was plac-
ed in charge of the work. Hunters and
trappers were hired by the Govern
ment, field studies were made, prac-
tical methods demonstrated, and very
successful results were obtained, as
a result of which several of the vest
ern states sought to cooperate with
the Government, appropriations were
made by the States, the entire work
being in charge of Biological Survey,
the Government in such cases allowing
the same amount of money as is ap-
propriated by the State. The traps
used. are furnished by the Govern
ment, and the salaries and field and
travelling expenses of the Inspectors
in charge of the work are paid by the
Government without charge to the
State.
The Extension Division of the North
Dakota Agricultural College has been
endeavoring to encourage and pro-
mote the sheep industry in this State,
and as wolves were a serious menace
to sheep, and made it difficult for
farmers to increase their bands, and
discouraged others from purchasing
sheep, the matter was taken up with
the Government in an endeavor to- Sc
cure the services of the Biological
Survey to meet the situation. AS a
result a small appropriation was made
by the North Dakota Legislature to
inaugurate cooperative campaign,
and as the initial appropriation is not
large enough to take up the work in
every County and as there are so many
calls for the work from a number Of
the counties in the state, campaigns
are being inaugurated in those coun-
ties offering the best cooperation.
~ A number of sheep owners in this
county became interested in securing
this work here, and at their request
a representative of the Biological Sur
vey visited this county last month, and
investigation was made as to the need
of the work, letters sent out to a
number of farmers, and the replies
received showed a loss of over $3,100
during the past year to sheep alone
by twenty-eight farmers, besides hum
dreds of dollars in poultry, pigs, etc.
This would indicate very serious loss
es annually for the entire county. The
information was submitted to the Co.
Commissioners at their recent session,
| together with a number of petitions
asking that they take up co-opera-
tive project with the Government and
state, as a result of which two men
are being employed in this county.
These men are employed at regular
salary, and will work not only during
the winter season but during the en-
tire year, sufficient funds having been
assured to carry on the work for pos
sibly the next eighteen months. The
Department inspectors in charge OF
the work go into the field and work
| with the men from time to time, de-
monstrating to them the most effect
i've methods developed from investi-
cations of the work of the several
hundred hunters and trappers in the
employ of the Department, weekly re-
ports are made to the Department and
very close check is kept on their re-
suits. No bounties are collected on
the animals taken, resulting in a very
material saving to the taxpayers of
the state, and all furs taken by the
county hunters during the fur bearing
! season are sold for the benefit Of the
county. .t-
In order to keep a close check on
/ the situation, and carry on the work
where most needed, the Department
desires to keep informed Of any loss
es incurred so as to take prompt pre-
/ ventative measures. County Agent G.
B. Aamodt has been very instrument
tai in securing this service for the
benefit of the stock and poultry own
ers of Bottineau county and if anyone
who loses sheep, poultry, ETC., from
wolves will advise him he will trans
nit the information to the hunters
| and Government inspectors in charge
of the work.
THOSE /. v. A. HOGS