258 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



rodents destroy not less than $150,000,000 worth of food crops each 

 year, and the losses through the depredations of house rats exceed a 

 yearly total of more than $200,000,000. 



The bureau had available during the year for noxious-animal con- 

 trol from its regular appropriations and from emergencj' funds 

 about $445,000. State officials, organizations, and individuals ex- 

 pended in cooperative work, largely under the direct guidance of 

 the Biological Survey, more than $400,000. The State council of 

 defense of New Mexico allotted $25,000 from its war fund to be 

 used to stimulate food production by cooperating with this bureau. 

 An equal sum under similar conditions was appropriated in May 

 by a special session of the Arizona State Legislature. Largely in- 

 creased amounts for cooperative work next year are promised in 

 many places. Appropriations of this character and large sums al- 

 lotted for cooperation with the bureau by live-stock and farmers' 

 organizations and individuals in the territory where work is being 

 done are indications of its practical usefulness. In addition much 

 material was contributed and many thousands of farmers and stock- 

 men joined in the field work. 



PREDATORY ANIMALS AND RABIES. 



During the year the bureau had available about $304,000 to be 

 used in the destruction of wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, and other 

 predatory stock-killing animals and for the suppression of rabies 

 in wild animals. Eabies for some years has been widely prevalent 

 in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. The 

 general plan of organization for the predatory-animal and rabies 

 work remains the same as during the preceding year. The Western 

 States are divided into nine districts, each under an inspector, as 

 follows: (1) Arizona-New Mexico, (2) California-Nevada, (3) 

 Oregon-Washington, (4) Colorado, (5) Idaho, (6) Montana, (7) 

 Utah, (8) Wyoming-South Dakota, (9) Texas. 



Predatory animals are destroyed by a force of from 250 to 350 

 hunters under the direction of district inspectors. About one-fifth 

 of these are paid from cooperative funds provided by the States or 

 contributed by local organizations and individuals. The hunters are 

 paid regular salaries and are permitted to receive no bounties. The 

 skins of animals taken by Federal hunters become the property of the 

 Government. The net proceeds already received for the skins taken 

 during the year amount to $78,579.45, which has been turned into 

 the Treasury. Skins remaining unsold will probably bring the entire 

 receipts for pelts taken during the fiscal year to approximately 

 $100,000. 



Predatory animals are destroyed by trapping, shooting, den hunt- 

 ing during the breeding season, and poisoning. Poisoning campaigns 

 were conducted on a larger scale than ever before and the results 

 have been so satisfactory that they have received the strong support 

 of cattle and sheep owners. Stockmen report that in the regions 

 where poisoning campaigns have been conducted the usual severe 

 losses from predatory animals during the lambing season have been 

 materially reduced and, in many cases, practically eliminated. The 

 largest poisoning operation in the West was carried on in the great 

 sheep-growing region of southwestern Wyoming, where it covered 



