The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-03-25
characteristics of The
Most Despicable of Animals; Some
Exciting Experiences 1Uith WOLVES

ing the character of wolves, ana they hold
no brief for their defense. HOrnaday says
of them: "0f all the wild creatures of
North America, none are more despicable
than the wolves. There is no depth of
treachery or cruelty to which
they will not descend. They are the only
animals on earth which make a regular
practice of killing and devOuring their
wounded companions, and eating their
own dead. / once knew a male wolf to
kill and half devOur his female cage-mate,
with whom he had lived a year.
I'm captivity, no matter how well guard
ed, well fed or comfortable, a wolf will
watch for hours to induce his neighbOT in
the next cage to thrust through tail or
paw, so that he may instantly seize it and
chew it OFF without mercy"
This does not by any means conclude
the catalogue Of this beasts unpleasant
characteristics. He is also an arrant cow
ard who will not defend his own cubs, IN
less cOrnered in his den. Even then it is a
matter of doubt whether he fights to save
himself or his cubs.
Wolves are found in widely separated 10
~calities, and vary greatly in color, but not
in disposition. Their standard color is
gray, yet it ranges all the way from the
black wolves of Florida, the reddish brown
ones of Texas, to the black, white, gray
or yellOwish ones Of the far North. Those
of Alaska are larger than their southern
relatives. The Dry Wolf outlaw has been
seen; is of the yellowish type, and un-
usually large for this region. They are
said to average about fifty inches in length
and stand twenty-six inches at the Shout
der.
In the days when the buffalo were plenti-
full, wolves frequently wandered in and on
Of the herd, without attracting attention
Hunters made capital Of this fact by wear
ing caps with standing ears, to resemble s
VOLTS head. If the buffalo failed to oh.
serve the wolves, the latter kept a SHARP
eye out for opportunity, which they never
let pass them by. Often they were able Il
kill calves which had -strayed from the
herd, and if calves could not be run down
they slaughtered the older buffalo. Som
writer's claim this was accomplished b!
biting the tongues of their prey, and caus
ing them to grow weak or die from starva
ton. What seems more probable is tina
they hamstrung the animals, when a pacl
could easily pull them down.
A VOLTS jaws are extremely strong
When they fight with dogs, every well
aimed snap either leaves a serious wound
} or brings away a mOnthful of flesh. Thei
} cunning and persistence make them hard {
escape. They can keep up a steady an
swift pace without showing fatigue. Dee
1 when chased by them, take to the water
!, possible, sometimes keeping only thei
1 heads above; or they swim across river G
Y lake, and then return to the same sid
; from which they started.
I When Mr.. G. J.. Jones was in the musk
! OK country in 1899, he was attacked b
Z packs Of white wolves as he was trying I
; carry away five musk-Ox calves. He fOugl
T. them for fOrty-eight hours, with every sht
I bringing down a wolf. This proves
what great numbers they sometimes ru.
! than formerly. HOrnaday tells of a mont
;, spent in the saddle here in 1901, when /
Q saw no gray wolves, and only four co!
Otes, yet they are far from being extinC
he says, despite the relentless war wage
against them by the stOckmen. They wi
continue to exist while there are many RAJ
y bits to devOur.
n If rabbits are lacking, not being funicl
d about their food wolves will eat bird
frogs, tree buds, and even lichens. The
n cunning is their preservation. They 500
le learn to avoid traps, poisoned meat,
anything which carries the faint Of man.
THE cry of the wolf is a prOlOng
deep-chested howl, corresponding in pit
IN to b fiat blow middle C, not broken into
a bark like that of the coyote" So sa
4 Hornaby, while others assert that If wOlv
a associate with dogs, they will bark.
le When crossing the plains in 1868, / hea
e. this l~Ong-drawn howl, when it filled /
it with terror. 1t is never a pleasant SOU
I'd at any time. On the day to which l ref
rs the rest of our party had gone fishing
Of the north branch of the North Platte, lea
~ ing me to the hated task of wiping dish,
This finished, I could join them. It is fl
tn to say the tin plates, cups and spoons WE
| into the mess box in an unusually dar
so state. Then l set out to find the othe
IN who had gone around a hill, and out
sight. I took what I believed to be {
n right direction, and went on, and on, thin