, 1923-01-17
Aunger-Mad Wolves
Threaten Invasion
Working Down From Canada
And preying On Stock Of
Rancners In Norther
States, Report

Reports from the Northern Sec
tions Of the United States are alarm
ing big stockmen of the country be-
cause of the great increase during
the last few years Of grey timber
wolves. 1t is prophesied by those
vasion is threatened by packs of
hunger-mad wolves from Canada, and
untold damage Is liable to result due
to probable attacks upon sheep and
cattle.
From time to time It has been
noted in various newspapers etc..
that scores Of packs Of grey timber
wolves have been working havoc
among farm animals in Canada and
are wiping out furred game in the
Northern part of our states, while
only recently two mail carriers in
Canada were attacked and killed by
a band of wandering blood thirsty
wolves. In the Billings Gazette of n
dav last week. we also lead of a trap
per and two indians having been de-
voured. their remains being found by
hunters on the track Of a pack Of
wolves.
A reason for the rapid increase in
number Of grey wolves in the country
is given by Director Hornaday of the
Bronx Zoo. as being due to the pre-
sent low rate prices of furs. Two
years ago he said. wolf skins brought
from $40 to $50 in New York. while
now prices range from IS to SIS.
"Cuts in fur prices have checked the
~activities Of trappers and Indian
hunters in wiping out the packs. he
said. mo bounties are offered in
Canada for wolf scalps."
I'm the United States it is different
however. Virtually every state has
q bounty on wolf scalps ranging from
$500 to $500. while in the West,
cattle and sheep organizations offer
additional rewards. This has been
an incentive in wiping out to a great
degree, the wolves in Western United
States.
The federal government has been
assisting in recent years through act
ivities of the department of agricul-
ture in furnishing professional wolf
killers to communities menaced by
the beasts, But. faced by the hordes
now ravaging certain districts in Can
ada. the menace of an invasion is
timminent."
Game animals are being rapidly
exterminated by wolves. reports show
In Alaska, entire herds Of caribou
AVE been annihiliated and Wright
wenrich. game warden. has appealed
to the department of agriculture to
send trained killers to check the act
ivities Of the animals.
In an article in the Billings Gazette
recently, Director Hornaday declared
there had been many instances where
hunters and trappers were attacked
and killed by rowing wolf pachs.
Several years ago.. Buffalo Jones'.
the famous hunter and sportsman,
went to Canada with a partner to
capture musk Ok calves for museums,
he said. "They captured five and
while bringing the animals back to
their base, were surrounded by ah
enormus wolf pack. For five days
and nights they fought continually,
killing dozens of the animals and
finally fought their way through. al
though the calves were abandoned"
MANY a missing hunter or travell-
err has been an unrecorded victim OF
wolves"
Director Hornaday said tina Of all
species Of timber wolves, the largest
and most furious were 10 be found
in Alaska and in certAAn sections of
Canada, but soarcits m game, dae 20
their ravages. wouhi drive them south
and eventually across the border of
the United States.
Unless government agencies COM
bine efforts with cattle and sheep
associations and game wardens In
various states to check the incoming
hordes of wolves, serious
will occur" he concluded. Lives
are endangered As well. as having
been undissurbed for several years.
the peck. have become more Aumer-
ous and mpre feroc1o1s- It Ii une
FIR action. .