THIRTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 



61 



ing to note that in the examination of over 500 stomachs of various 

 species only one stomach contained quail feathers. This was the 

 stomach of a coyote killed in San Benito County. 



Predator}^ animals are receiving considerable attention by Federal 

 and county agencies. Eleven counties in the northern part of the 

 State paid a total of approximately $35,000 in bounties on wildcats 

 and coyotes. Ten counties, two in the north and eight in the south, 

 paid $3,960 for killing mountain lions. Twenty-four counties, all in 

 the north with the exception of Kern, contributed to Federal and 

 State control $43,513.65. In all, approximately $90,000 was paid by 

 the counties. To this amount should be added the amount expended 

 by Federal agencies. In all, including the money received by trappers 

 for their furs, there is not far from a 

 half million spent each year on the 

 control of predators. 



QUAIL STUDIES 



Two years ago the 



ago tne commission 

 began an extensive study of quail in 

 San Diego County. It was hoped that 

 from this work we would secure infor- 

 mation that would enable us to 

 increase the quail ])opulation through 

 the improvement of quail conditions. 

 The studies under the direction of 

 Paul Radir, a trained biologist, have 

 necessarily progressed slowly and it 

 will be some time before a complete 

 report can be made. Our progress, 

 however, has been satisfactory as wall 

 be learned by reading the following 

 preliminary report by Mr. Radir : 



The aim of the quail investigation in 

 San Diego County has been first, to deter- 

 mine the influence of those animals alleged 

 to be quail predators over the life history of 

 the quail and second, to study the various 

 other environmental factors with a view 

 toward their ixjssible modification for the 

 benefit of the quail. 



To these ends two areas, as nearly as 

 possible typical of the coastal region of 

 the county, have been chosen. One of 



them located adjacent to the settlement of Bonita, consists of approximately twelve 

 hundred acres mostly comprised of rolling brush land. The other is located seven 

 miles distant in the vicinity of the Otay Dam. It includes 1900 acres running 

 along the hillsides and the narrow valley of a river bottom. The Bonita area was 

 chosen for the particular study of the predatory animals and a resident trapper was 

 employed on December 1, 1931. He has been trapping constantly since that time 

 and the various predators are quite apparently reduced to a minimum over the 

 entire area. The results of his catch are as foHows : 



Fig. 17. California black bear. Photo 

 courtesy of Tod Powell, San Fran- 

 cisco. 



Coyotes 14 



Jjynx eats 13 



Striped skunks 19 



Spotted skunks 4 



Domestic cats 8 



Badgers 3 



Weasels 2 



Red-tailed hawk 1 



Opossum 1 



Total 65 



