The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-10-21

rushed below to their meal. Coyotes
are destructive to animal life in winter
time, especially to elk and deer. They
follow the herds and kill the unwary,
weak or sick.
A critical period for the herds is
during the time that the snow is on
the ground and the elk or deer move
from one point to another. In this
case the deer or elk must keep vigilant
watch for coyotes who will kill. The
one great advantage the coyote has in
when the snow will not bear the
weight of the Elk or deer but will
carry the coyote who will run on the
snow crust. In this case the larger
animal is at disadvantage and can
not travel as fast as usual. The break
ing through the snow crust cuts and
and weakens the elk and the coyote
will ham string the elk or deer with
his sharp fangs or cut the jugglar
vein. Where the snow is not to deep
the deer has this advantage that it
resort to. The enormous power it has
to leap from all four feet thus cover
ing ground by enormous leaps. The
elk cannot resort to such a form of
locomotion. With all the sagacitv and
power of leaping the coyote will get
the deer by teamwork. Where the in
dividual deer can be started over the
trail or separated out from the herd
the coyote will work team work on it
They will divide up the pack into three
parts as the driving, receiving and
killing members of the coyote pack.
The two last named will go to some
point ahead on the trail the one part
of the pax lay on the trail to receive
the deer which is being driven forward
by part of the pack. When the third
part OF the pack moves a short dis
lance beyond the second on the trail,
here is where team work counts and
the deer loses. If the drivers can keen
it headed right on the trail the wind
being with the deer. When the deer
approaches the second part of the pack
at high speed that part of the coyote
band will rush the deer who now
makes his leap to clear them, but alas
that leap has been measured. He goes
up over the rushes but lands in tn
midst of the last coyotes who g.
the deer before it can make anotl
leap to clear them. The struggle the
ensues the whole pack closing in on
the beautiful creature who but a few
minutes before was living mass of
sinews, graceful build and beauty now
being torn to shreds so that the coyote
may gorge themselves on its carcass.
Cunning and treachery pitted
against speed and muscle The coyote
becomes more bold as hunger drives
him to bravery and at such times he
will attack domestic animals, calves
sheep or colts. The young have been
raises as domestic pup would be, but
when they grow older and the call of
the wild comes they are gone. They
are more than a match for the domes-
tic dog and will harass thin on the
trail. They are the enemy of the Jack
Rabbit and grouse in winter.
Mountain Sheep
The mountain sheep are the most
sure footed ANIMAL that roams the
mighty ranges and it is a great priv
ilege to see them in their native
haunts away from the trail of man.
They keep back in the range on
plateau or benches that provide graz
ing for them. 1t is characteristic of
the mountain sheep to travel the i'm
passable places, to cross chasm and
precipeses where no other animal can
go. They will always be above those
who may be seeking them. If pursued
a sentinel will always be posted and on
the lookout. The buck sheep with his
large cruved horns and slick body,
grey in color with white bullock,
perched up on some high point is
thrilling sight to those who love the
animal life. The wonder is how he
could have gotten to such on inacces-
sable point. Yet he is there. Nature
provides ways and means. This
animal has great energy and power
TO travel and leap. Taking advan-
tage of these faculties they roam
the high points Of the range sending
defiance to those who would pursue.
It is with unerring aim, they leap
from rock to rock across wide gaps or
on points it would seem impossible to
stand yet they do. The peculiar for
nation of their feet make this pos
sible. The pads are cupped and when
they land on a point Of rocks their