218 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



A few days later Pierce and his companions returned with their artillery 

 and soon enjoyed some fine bear steak. They fonnd the little cnb had a 

 sister and took the two back to Sheridan, where they still are, 



Charles J. Byers, a ranger, once crawled into the den of a mountain lion, 

 became wedged in the passage, killed the lion and had to be hauled out with 

 ropes. Byers tracked the lion to his den, down a steep mountain side. Tying 

 a rope to his waist and lighting a torch he crawled on his hands and knees 

 fifty-five feet into the den. There he stuck. He was in danger from the animal 

 and also from sufifocation, as his body filled the passage. He kept the torch 

 alight, however, until he saw the lion's eyes, aimed a little below them and 

 fired. Fortunately for him he killed the lion instantly. Then he extinguished 

 the torch. His partner, following him down the mountain, found the rope and 

 after much pulling, aided by Byers' twisting and squirming, he finally got 

 the ranger out of the den, much scraped and scratched but otherwise unhurt. 



Many of the animals are now killed by poison, that being found most 

 effective, especially with wolves and coyotes. A number of these animals are 

 also caught in traps, but poison easily stands first as a means of exterminating 

 them. Of this plan, John A. Rhodes, an experienced ranger, says: "Its 

 advantage lies in the ease and rapidity with which it can be handled. Where 

 the labor of a half a dozen men would be required in setting and watching a 

 line of traps, one man could easily cover the same country with poison. The 

 greater the number of baits the greater the chances for killing. 



''For bait fresh rabbit meat is the best, but if this is not to be had boiled 

 ham, fresh liver, mutton or beef tallow, bacon or quail are fair substitutes. 

 The quail, if broiled, and the breast meat used is almost equal to the rabbit. 

 Never poison anything containing a bone. Never touch the bait with the 

 hands or any part of the body. 



''Strychnine is the best poison. Ordinarily, as much as can be held upon 

 the point of a large blade of a pocket knife will prove fatal to any animal. 

 This quantity should be put in the center of a cigarette paper, the sides of 

 which must be gathered together around the poison and the ends securely 

 tied, forming a capsule. Dip the capsule in a can of melted mutton or beef 

 tallow, using wooden tweezers to handle it with, and hold it there until it is 

 well coated and then drop it into a long necked bottle. When the bottle is 

 well filled with capsules you cork it tight so that the contents will not be 

 exposed to bam or house odors. 



"Each of the poisoned capsules is put in a piece of meat, which, in turn, 

 is dropped into a fruit jar and shut up tight. Every precaution must be 

 taken not to touch the meat with anything that will leave an odor. Always 

 drop the bait from a horse, leaving it in some place where coyotes or wolves 

 cross or travel. 



"Never dismount, but take particular note of the position of each bait. 

 Deposit the baits in the afternoon and gather them up in the morning. Do 

 not leave them out all day." 



