252 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Each district is in charge of an inspector aided in some cases by an 

 assistant inspector. 



The force of hunters and trappers employed has varied according 

 to the season, from 175 to 300 men, who receive salaries for their 

 services and are not permitted to accept bounties from any source. 

 All the skins of animals taken became the property of the Govern- 

 ment and were sent to Washington for disposal. Many of these Avere 

 added to the zoological collection of the United States National 

 Museum and the remainder were sold as other Government property, 

 the net proceeds, amounting to approximately $36,000, being turned 

 into the Treasury. 



Trapping, poisoning, and shooting, supplemented by den-hunting 

 during the breeding season, have proved to be the most effective 

 means of reducing the numbers of these animals. Marked improve- 

 ments in the preparation and distribution of poisoned baits, as well 

 as in scent-baiting traps, have been made during the year. All 

 improvements in methods are at once made known to the entire 

 force of official trappers and widely demonstrated among interested 

 stockmen. 



During the year 30,512 predatory animals were taken, including 

 556 wolves, 22,342 coyotes, 107 mountain lions, 3,053 bobcats, and 

 60 bears. Bears are generally considered game animals and are not 

 molested by the predatory-animal hunters except in cases of indi- 

 viduals known to have the habit of killing stock. In addition to the 

 capture of animals by means of traps and shooting, extensive poison- 

 ing campaigns were conducted, and it is conservatively estimated 

 that at least 75,000 predatory animals were destroyed in this manner. 



As a result of this destruction of stock-killing animals a large 

 saving of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, swine, and poultry has been 

 effected, in addition to reducing greatly the danger to human life 

 from rabies. Stockmen have shown much interest in the work and 

 in numerous instances have contributed funds for cooperation. The 

 States of Nevada, Utah, and Washington are also cooperating, hav- 

 ing appropriated substantial sums for the purpose. 



Few people except those directly affected realize the extent of the 

 losses of stock by predatory wild animals and the necessity for their 

 control. In Colorado a single wolf took a toll of nearly $3,000 worth 

 of cattle in one j^ear; in Texas 2 wolves killed 72 sheep valued at 

 $9 each during a period of two weeks ; 1 wolf in New Mexico killed 

 25 head of cattle in two months ; in Oregon 4 coyotes in two nights 

 killed 15 pure-bred rams valued at $20 each; one bobcat in Texas 

 killed over $300 worth of Angora goats, and another, taken at Ozona, 

 N. Mex., in a month had killed 53 lambs, 1 ewe, and 1 goat belonging 

 to a single ranchman. 



The damage done by predatory animals has been vastly increased 

 by the prevalence among them of rabies. This disease spread from 

 the point of origin in Oregon into the States of Nevada, California, 

 Idaho, and Utah. Cattle and sheep were destroyed in large numbers 

 and hundreds of persons were bitten. As a result of the campaign 

 conducted by this bureau in cooperation with local authorities and 

 stockmen, the spread of the disease has been checked and conditions 

 have been greatly improved. It is believed that with a continuance 

 of the work complete eradication of this alarming disease among the 

 wild animals of the affected States can be accomplished. 



