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 coimtry, 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 



