330 WESTERN GRAZING GROUNDS AND FOREST RANGES 



The coyotte breeds rapidly, the average litter being 

 between six and nine each year. 



Wild Cats and Lynxes. Next to the coyote the wild 

 cat and lynx, commonly known as "bob cats," cause 

 sheepmen much loss. Unlike the coyote these animals 

 seem to kill for the pure lust of blood-shedding. In an 

 Arizona sheep camp some years ago a single wild cat 

 killed ninety sheep in one night. None of them was 

 eaten or injured beyond having the throat torn open by 

 the sharp teeth of a cat, which was treed by the dogs 

 early the next morning, and killed. 



Wild cats and lynxes are easily exterminated both by 

 traps and by hunting them with dogs. They are not 

 dangerous animals, and I have seen quite as many killed 

 by being chased into trees and there knocked out by 

 rocks and clubs and beaten to death as in any other way. 



Wolves and Mountain Lions. These animals do more 

 damage to cattle and horses than to any other class of 

 domestic animals. Neither of them seems to prefer the 

 taste of mutton but both are fond of horse flesh and beef. 

 There are places in the Rocky Mountain region where, 

 due to the inroads of lions, it is almost impossible to 

 raise horses on the open ranges, as the lions kill the 

 young colts as fast as they are born. 



The lion is very shy in its way, keen of scent, hard to 

 trap, but rather easy to capture with hounds. Its prin- 

 cipal diet when available consists of colts and deer. 

 They, too, like the rest of the cat family, are cowardly 

 and will not fight, unless cornered. 



The wolf, however, is the most dangerous enemy of 

 the cattleman. Like wild cats, wolves seem to kill for 

 the pure lust of blood, as well as for food. I have known 

 a single male wolf to kill sixteen yearlings in one night 



