The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-27
The War On Wild Beasts.

l. when applied to the human but there
times when it fails to work. Especially is this
true when applied to some classes of animals.
Nearly every person has some pet aversion in the
animal kingdom but these usually. are based on
some hereditary fear upon some unpleasant ex-
perence in the past. Not the stockmen and
farmer however. The aversion Of the men to GER
tain animals is based entirely the economic
aspect.
When it is considered that predatory beasts
cost the stock raisers thousands OF dollars an
nually it is surprising that this aversion shapes
itself into relentless warfare. And in this cam
paign OF determination the United States govern
ment is lending material aid. No better description
of this little known is to be had than from the
editorial page of the New York Herald Says the
Herald:
In the struggle between hunters in the
service of the United States and the wild beasts
of the Far West mans intelligence and the
weapons science gives him are ptted against
the cunning of the brute, and the contest is less
unequal than might be supposed. The stakes
important. In the twelve months ended
June 80 of this year, according to the report of
the biological survey of the Department OF Ag-
riculture, 100000 in live stock and other
property saved to farmers and stockmen
west of the Mississippi by Uncle Sans hunters.
1t is estimated further that $4,000 preda-
tory animals were DESTROYED through the me-
dunn of rife trap and poison at cost OF
SI4s22o. A review of the operations for the
last six years indicates saving in crops and
live stock OF S74, 900 at cost OF 100000
to the government, the cooperating States and
the land owners.
Professional hunters OF great skill and long
experience were chiefly instrumental in the de-
struction of 27,6II beasts OF stock destroying
species, including 6o4 tim Der or gray wolves,
24,234 coyotes, 24oo bobcats and Canadian
lynxes, I2o mountain lions and SO bears. The
exact total OF animals killed in poisoning
paigns will never be known. In these cam
paigns I8,33I,86I acres OF Federal, State and
private lands received first poison treatment,
with follow-up work 4,4o2652 acres. From
the number OF bodies of poisoned animals which
were found it is thought that between $4,000
and 10000 coyotes died from poison.
Wolves were the chief offenders in doing
injury to herds and hocks, though the coyote
was good second. The damage inflicted by
single specimens of the wolf tribe is surprising.
The famous Custer wolf that operated in the
vicinity of Custer, s. Oak, for SIX or seven
years killed $4,000 worth OF cattle and escaped
death until last spring, though there was
bounty OF $500 his head. A pack OF eight
and sheep in and around the Arkansas National
Forest. Between October 81 and November
TO- 1920, they were all killed by of the
bureaus expert hunters.
The stockmen of the West and Southwest,
who carrying heavy burden at present, be-
leve that they entitled to protection for
herds pastured on lands for which they pay
grazing fees. These are in the national for
ests and the allotments for 1921 provided pas
turage for 2322,I8o head of cattle and horses,
364So swine and 8,32s ,2o5 sheep and goats. APP
preparations by States for protecting live stock
from wild beasts for 1922 amount to $2II,7oo.
War was also carried on by the Depart
ment of Agriculture against prairie dogs, ground
squirrels and other rodents During the year
1895 tons of poisoned grain distributed
under the supervision of the survey. In
single campaign in Texas 10000 rats by actual
count were killed Wholesale destruction of
jack rabbits in Idaho, Oregon Washington,
Nevada Utah and Arizona accounted for a large
number OF these pests, which had caused dam
age mounting into millions of dollars to Alfalfa,
hay cotton and other crops. As many so,-
600 individuals taken in single drives,
while one Idaho county killed I6s,I66 jack
rabbits
The details given here of the work of the
biological survey will be surprising to many per-
sons who had no understanding of the destruc-
tive qualities of the predatory animals and rod
ents of the United States.