238 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



number of skins secured were retained for museum specimens, the 

 remainder being sold and the proceeds turned into the Treasury. 



Three methods of destroying predatory animals have been 

 adopted — shooting, trapping, and poisoning. By the last method the 

 bodies of the animals usually are not recovered, but the results ac- 

 complished have been very satisfactory. 



During the year 424 wolves, 9 mountain lions, 11,890 coyotes, 

 1,564 bobcats, and 2,086 miscellaneous wild animals were destroyed. 

 This includes those destroyed under the project for the suppression 

 of rabies among wild animals, an appropriation for which became 

 available March 4, 1916. It does not, however, take into considera- 

 tion animals poisoned unless the bodies were recovered. 



Demonstrations and experiments also were carried on in localities 

 other than on national forests and public lands where predatory 

 animals are causing great losses of live stock. The capture of wild 

 animals in such localities is attended with much difficulty, as they 

 become wary when constantly hunted. 



RABIES AMONG WILD ANIMALS. 



The project for the suppression of rabies among wild animals, pro- 

 vided for by an emergency appropriation on March 4, 1916, is carried 

 on under the same supervision, organization, and methods that ob- 

 tain in the predatory-animal control. This work was made neces- 

 sary by reason of the alarming increase of rabies among wild animals, 

 particularly coyotes, with resulting danger to human beings and 

 loss of live stock. The infested area embraces southeastern Oregon, 

 northeastern California, northern Nevada, and southwestern Idaho. 

 Work was carried on also along the western border of Utah in order 

 to prevent the spread of the disease to that State. 



The seriousness of the outbreak will be realized when it is stated 

 that more than 60 persons were treated by State authorities of Nevada 

 during the year on account of exposure to rabies, such persons hav- 

 ing been bitten by either wild or domestic animals. The loss of live 

 stock has been very heavy. In a feed lot at Winnemucca a single 

 rabid coyote caused the loss of 27 steers. 



It is believed that the vigorous campaign now being carried on 

 will prevent the further spread of the disease, and that within a 

 reasonable time it can be suppressed over the greater part, if not 

 all, of the areas where it now exists. 



GROUND SQUIRRELS. 



The extermination of ground squirrels from approximately 208,950 

 acres of Government land was accomplished during the past fiscal 

 year. Of this area about 36,400 acres are on the Fort Totten Indian 

 Reservation of North Dakota, and the remainder on the Modoc, Cali- 

 fornia, and Sequoia National Forests and a few other smaller areas 

 of Government land in California. 



The ground squirrel extermination campaign in North Dakota, in 

 cooperation with the State experiment station, is proving very suc- 

 cessful, and has involved the use of the enormous quantity of five- 

 eighths of a ton of strychnine in the northern part of the State and 

 the systematic covering with poison of seven counties. 



