The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-31
IF REEING RANGE
OF PRED Y.
ANIMALS AT ONCE.

| Uncle sam maintains an army OF
! approximately 800 professional hunters
who by policing the western range
country protect many millions dollars
worth OF live stock from damage and
| death 10y predatory animals The
Bureau of Biological Survey. United
States Department of Agriculture, es-
| Inmates that annual lossess of from
| $40. 900, 900 to $50, 900 900 year here
tofore sustained through the slaughte.
of domestic stock by mountain lions,
bears. wolves coyotes and other wild
beasts which prey on horses cattle,
sheep and swine. The average de-
struction predatory animals is cs-
| timated to be $1,000 worth of live
stock annually for each wolf and
mountain lion. $500 worth for each
stock-killing bear, and $50 worth OF
| damage by each coyote and bobcat.
The government hunters utilize every
/ possible means--guns, traps poisons,
/ anG the like--to decrease the numbers
of range rascals which ravage do
mestic herds and flocks. They police
/ the Rocky Mountain States from
| Washington TO Texas, and are con
| stantly in receipt of calls from re-
gions where predatory deprodationd
/ occur.
Three Principal Methods Of Destruction
With the adoption of the hunter
service, three methods OF destroying
predatory animals We're inausurated-
shooting. trapping and poisoning. lur'
| ing the first year 424 wolves. 9 noun
tain lions, 1880 coyotes. and 1864
bobcnts were oXtornlratcd. Extensive
activities We're also devoted 10 the
matter Of suppressng rabies In the
range country. IN outbreak of rabies
| in Nevada was ultimately largely sup
/ pressed.
Illustrative OF the damage done b.
wild beasts in Colorado Il single wOf
killed nearly $4,000 worth of cattle in
one year In Texas two wolves killed
/ - sheep. vaued at 80 each, during
u period of two weeks. one wolf in
New Mexico killed % head of cattle
In two months, while another killed
$50 cattle valued AT about $4,000 dur
ing sis months period.
In Wyoming two males wolves were
killed which during one month had
] destroyed $50 sheep and colts. AM
other pair we're reported tn have kill
ed about $4,000 worth of stock dur
ing The year preceding their capture.
The county agricultural agent at
Coalville. Utah. reported that wolves
had killed 20 per cent of the years
/ calf crop in his section. wolf cap
tured In New Mexico was known 10
have killed during The preceding five
months 20 yearling steers, calves
one COW. 10 sheep. and valuable
sheep dog.
After personal investigation during
recent year, the President of the
State Agricultural College of New
Mexico reported that S4S5O cattle,
100 900 sheep, and $40 horses are
killed annually by predatory animals
| in that state these losses amounting
% s2.7l5.25O and involving the sac
riflce OF 100000 pounds OF meat
and approximately, 100000 pounds
of wool.
| At the present time the government
hunters police - districts each with
trained Inspector IN charge, whicn
cover Arizona. California, Colorado
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico
South Dakota. oregon, Texas. Utah
Washington and Wyoming, The hunt.
ers OF the various districts are paid
In part from the Federal Treasury
and in part from cooperative funds
and moneys supplied by STATE appro'
priations and from contributions from
livestock organizations and individ-
uals.
Methods Have Been Greatly Improved
study tnd experimentation have ro'
suited In great Improvement In The
methods and practice employed In
cradlcating predatory animals. The
poisoning campaigns have Increased
ia number. and have been more cf'
fccuvely organized each succeeding
year. Their success has been such tha
in many areas stock growers are urs.
ing their application during the ap'
pruprlate season. These campaigns
have been followed by marked de
crease In the loss of sheep. cattle,
pigs. colts and poultry. Reports from
stocNnon indicate that on many rang
cs and lamhlng grounds the former
heavy annual lossess have become
negligible or have been entirely elm
mated.
Daring recent five.ycar period a
total Of l9S.5ll dangerous rogues oi
the range have been killed and skins
secusod. This enormous bag consists
OF iO9.a sac coyotes. 1894 bobcats and
lynxcs. 2.936 wolves biO mountain
lions and az bears. In addition. coy
otcs numhc Ing more than the above
total were killed by the organized
poisoninr cam d,nr, fstimat,s basct
on information supplied during 1920
) by farmris and stockmen Indicate tint
the destruction OF approximately SO.'
600 predatory animals under the di
rcction of the Biological Survey ~
suited In the saving Of live stock
w. tho Ncar valued at about $4,000
600. calculated on prices pIcNailinl
during ,h.t period. During a perio,
Of years the sales OF skins iakef
10y Federal hunters ioIulcd ,siI.asl.t3
. ana that amount was turned IN 10 th'
: United States Tt,asutA.