BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL. SURVEY. 337 



snow is deep or crusted, and appear to have much sport in doing it. 

 Bobcats in the Upper Peninsuhi grow to a very large size, and the 

 evidence is unmistakable in many cases that they kill young and even 

 full-grown deer when the snow is deep. One hunter found three 

 deer killed in deep snow during the early part of March by a single 

 bobcat, which weighed 35 poun^ds and was trapped about the middle 

 of the month at the carcasses. 



Over sQjne areas of the West where predatory animals have been 

 largely eliminated there has been a notable increase in quail and 

 grouse. 



During the year organized predatory-animal field operations have 

 Ijeen in progress in the following Sta'tes: Arizona, Arkansas, Cali- 

 fornia, Colorado. Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico. 

 Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and 

 Wyoming. Demonstrations also have been made for stockmen in 

 Missouri, Iowa, and Indiana, and information regarding the most 

 effective methods of destroying predatory animals has been given, to 

 stockmen in Louisiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Xorth Dakota, and 

 other States where serious depredations were reported and applica- 

 tion made for assistance for which no hunters were available. 



The practice of examining and recording the stomach contents of 

 predator}^ animals killed in field operations has given by far the 

 most complete record in existence of their food habits and shows 

 conclusively the destructiveness of these animals both to game and 

 live stock. 



KABIES. 



The past year witnessed the most serious outbreak of rabies that 

 has occurred since that of 1915 and 1916, when the disease was spread 

 by coyotes and dogs through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, northern 

 California, Nevada, and western Utah, causing great destruction of 

 live stock and danger and loss of human life. The disease appeared 

 in virulent form in Washington in the counties of Adams, Grant, 

 Douglas, Franklin, Benton, Kittitas, and Lincoln, and was brought 

 under control only after the adoption of most vigorous measures by 

 the bureau's predatory-animal inspector in charge, cooperating with 

 the State department of agriculture, the State and county health 

 officers, and the State agricultural college. Quarantine measures 

 were rigidly enforced, and the entire force of hunters which it was 

 possil)le to maintain with regidar and emergency appropriations 

 made available for this purpose was concentrated in this region for 

 the purpose of destroying the infected animals and possible carriers. 

 About 1,800 coyotes were taken in five counties. As a result the epi- 

 demic was effectively controlled, but only after a considerable loss 

 of live stock and much danger to the people of the locality. 



Sporadic outbreaks of rabies also occurred among coyotes in Ore- 

 gon, northern California, Nevada, and L''tah. The disease made its 

 appearance among doers in Arizona and New INIexico, but its spread 

 to coyotes of the locality was prevented by prompt inauguration of 

 poisoning campaigns to destroy these animals in a wide zone sur- 

 rounding the infected area. The regular recurrence of outbreaks of 

 rabies and the serious consequences that vrould result should it again 

 become widespread demonstrate the need of having experienced men 

 readv to stamp out the disease whenever it makes its appearance. 



