194 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 
British Columbia and northward to the Yukon and the 
Arctic coast, are the most serious natural enemies of all 
members of the deer tribe, not to mention their destruction 
of domestic stock. In the more northerly forested regions 
of Quebec and Ontario they have been reported as being 
very destructive to deer, and their attacks on moose and 
caribou have had a marked effect on the abundance of these 
animals in certain regions. In northern British Columbia 
and the Yukon they have also been reported to be so abun- 
dant as to destroy mountain sheep in considerable numbers. 
Coyote.-—The coyote or prairie wolf is to be found through- 
out the western provinces, from Manitoba to British Co- 
lumbia, and northward to the Northwest Territories and 
the Yukon. Unlike the gray or timber wolf, which has re- 
treated to a great extent from the open prairies, although it 
ranges the Barren Grounds of the north and now is to be 
found chiefly in the wooded sections of the country, the 
coyote prefers the open plains, but it may be found also in 
wooded regions throughout its range. Coyotes are more 
gregarious in habit than wolves, and co-operate in hunting. 
There is no doubt that they destroy not only young deer, 
mountain sheep, and antelope, but also large numbers of 
game-birds, such as geese, ducks, etc. The agricultural de- 
velopment of the country does not tend to a diminution in 
their numbers, as in the case of wolves, but appears rather 
to encourage an increase, with the result that they become a 
serious menace to farmers through their attacks on sheep 
and poultry; the aspect of their economic importance will 
be considered presently. In spite of their destruction of 
game animals and birds, and of live stock, they also prey 
on rodents that are injurious to agricultural interests, such 
as rabbits, gophers, and mice. Where coyotes decrease in 
number by natural causes or hunting, the numbers of go- 
phers usually increase. This fact is important, and means 
that an active campaign against gophers must accompany 
