BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL. SURVEY. 423 



Poisoning operations are conducted chiefly from October to April, 

 but effective work was done even in summer, especially about 

 watering places in the drier areas used for winter grazing. When 

 practicable the major poisoning operations are carried on at times 

 when livestock is not present, poisoning on high summer ranges be- 

 ing done just after the stock goes to lower levels in fall. Poison sta- 

 tions are placed systematically over the range, especially in occupied 

 territorv. The advantage of systematic placing is that, in addition 

 to the effectiveness of killing, warning notices can be posted so that 

 valuable dogs or other animals may be protected. In addition, poi- 

 soned baits not taken by predatory animals can be picked up and 

 destroyed or used elsewhere. 



Such systematic work on summer and winter ranges and on lamb- 

 ing grounds has practically ended livestock losses over large areas. 

 The destruction of predatory animals has been sufficient to enable 

 many stockmen to reduce the number of men required to care for 

 their flocks and herds. Some stockmen now report carrying their 

 flocks through the lambing period with no loss whatever from 

 coyotes, where previously losses were heavy. An important feature 

 of this service is that it not only permits the stockmen to handle 

 their herds at less expense but it also enables them to utilize the 

 pasturage much more fully; to manage their stock to better 

 advantage by eliminating long drives to bedding grounds; and to 

 adopt the advantageous open-herding system. The destruction of 

 predatory animals has also in some places permitted sheep raising 

 to be introduced where formerly it was excluded on account of the 

 losses inflicted by predatory animals. 



Clearing the ranges of coyotes is proving a boon to the cattle- 

 men as well as to the sheepmen, for with the practical elimination 

 of the gray or timber wolf over much of the range country of the 

 Western States, cattlemen have discovered that heavy losses of 

 calves heretofore attributed to wolves have evidently been due to 

 coyotes. 



In the campaign which has been waged for the destruction of 

 timber wolves, most gratifying results have been obtained. An 

 effective patrol maintained along the border of Mexico has resulted 

 in the killing of many animals which were crossing from Mexican 

 territory into the ranges of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Per- 

 sistent work with poison and traps has so reduced the number of 

 adult timber wolves that it probably does not exceed 10 to 50 adult 

 animals in anv of the various Western States. The ranges of 

 practically all the wolves which have proved destructive to live- 

 stock are "well known, and good headway has been made in clearing 

 out these remnants. In many sections these animals have become 

 so scarce that they are luring domestic dogs away as mates, and in 

 a few instances are known to have produced litters of hybrid young. 



A number of notoriously destructive individuals and even small 

 packs of wolves have been destroyed during the past year. Among 

 them the following may be cited : , 



In response to a telegram from stockmen rangmg cattle near 

 Thatcher, Colo., a hunter was detailed to take a wolf believed to 

 be the leader of a pack depredating in the locality. Work against 

 the wolves there had been in progress at intervals during the past 

 five years, and inquiry established the fact that during the course 

 78007— AGK 1923 28 



