THE GRAY WOLF. 145 



thieving propensity, for the rifle and strychnine are sure to 

 be ready for it the next time it visits the farm-yard ; and 

 if the fanner does not open on it, a bait sprinkled with the 

 poison is almost sure to make it turn up its toes inside of 

 three or four hours. This is the most effective means of 

 destruction sheep-raisers can employ against it; and so ef- 

 fective has it been found that the animal has been deci- 

 mated in large tracts of country where it was very numer- 

 ous a few years ago. 



A certain class of persons known as " wolfers" earn their 

 livelihood by destroying it with poison. These men are a 

 set of reckless nomads who live on the borders of civiliza- 

 tion, and whose whole life seems to consist in braving cold, 

 hunger, and sometimes death, for several months in the 

 year, and spending the remainder in riotous debauchery. 

 Those who make a business of " wolfing " do nothing else ; 

 and it is doubtful if the majority are useful for anything 

 else. They commence operations as soon as the winter sets 

 in, and continue it until late in the spring. Their equip- 

 ment consists of strychnine, flour, bacon, tea, coffee, and 

 sugar, and a few primitive cooking utensils; the edibles 

 being intended for themselves, and the poison for the 

 wolves. Travelling far away from the settlements, they 

 pitch their camp in a region where the animals are numer- 

 ous, and wood and water are convenient. Having estab- 

 lished themselves, their first duty is to procure a bait ; and 

 whether it be a buffalo or a deer, they cut it up into large 

 pieces, sprinkle it freely with strychnine, and scatter it 

 about some distance from camp. The result is that from 

 ten to eighty wolves may be found dead the next morning 

 within an area of five hundred yards, and sometimes the 

 number exceeds even this. 



The carcasses are taken to camp, where they are skinned, 

 and, being sprinkled with some more poison, are placed as 

 lures where they will do most good ; and so the slaughter 

 is continued for several months, until scarcely one is left in 

 a large tract of country. When the wolves eat the bait 

 they become sick, and mad sometimes, especially if water 



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