Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-01
ROCKY MOUNTAIN [I0N IS
SIMILAR TO AFRICAN LION
Not As Bold Or Self-reliant, Nor As Large-It Is
Sometimes Likened to An Overgown
House Cat

the thick fur covering. Of the foot.
When these claws are extended they
are just as effective as so many
butcher knives.
Ordinarily the puma IL yellow with .
dark strip running along his back
bone from his ears to the tip OF his
tail. His fur is rough and coarse at
all seasons. and would best be re-
garded as hair. The eyes are large,
round. and yellow, turning intensely
green when coming in contact with an
enemy. The lion. in killing large game.
Invariably strikes in the same manner;
by leaping crosswise of the animal, the
claws of one forearm will MP open
the throat while the claws ofboth hind
feet will literally tear the entrals to
shrcds. while his giant teeth are sunk
deep into a tender portion OF tho spine.
A lion once squarely placed on an ami
mails back. will rarely fail In killing
il within fifty feet OF wherc the first
strike was made.
In view OF the fact that the puma
dares attack many animals much
larger than lie. 1t is remarkable that he
should be a skulking coward, yet such
is the case. They fear man very much,
and have fear. amounting almost to
panic, OF any small dog that will run
after them and bark. The lion Will
take no chances whatever with dog
and will Immediately go into a rock
den or up n tree when closely pursued
by one.
Because OF his murderous and de-
structive habits. this animal Is much
sought by stockmen. forest rangers,
and biological hunters. The edict has
gone forward that ho must be cxter-
minated and. altho We have many
staunch defenders OF animal life who
arc opposed to having any natural life
taken, it Is generally admitted that the
lion is too vicious In his habits to be
allowed to run at large.
1t is no trick at all for ono. lion to
kill twenty-five mountain sheep or
deer in n single season. In winter 1t
Ia especially for them to commit dep
relations since they can take advant-
ago OF gamo animals that must use
certain run-ways thru deep snow "
lion working behind band OF deer
Will usually kill whenever he Is hun
cry. not often going back to other
Kills for moro than a feed or two. For
est officers OF the San Isabel have esH-
mated that there arc operating within
the forest at present. nineteen OF these
fellows: each one of these has II within
his power to kill not less than twenty
game animals during tho coming win
ter; II they should. and 1t Is not un-
reasonable to think that they will. they
will kill off one-fifth of tho total game
on the forest.
Ultimately. the lion will take all our
game. Settlement along tho foothills
i, forcing the game farther and farther
into the mountains and Into the strong
hold OF tho lion. Tho only way Of
managing tho situation is in dcstruc-
ton OF tho lion thru offering rewards
attractive enough to make It worth
while to hunt him. one hundred dol
lars reward. would result in bringing
in. a lot OF these fellows and tho In
vestment would be cheap at that. II
We figure each animal that he kills in
a year at its real value. We would find
that the lions pelt would be worth
around $4,000. hence reward of 800
is fully justifiable.
In hunting the lion. It has been found
that dogs are. without question. the
most effective means to use against