196 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



animals in the live-stock interests, it would appear that the 

 problem is most serious in British Columbia, which contains 

 very extensive areas admirably suited to sheep-raising, 

 particularly in the central Dry Belt region. For much of 

 the information I am about to give concerning conditions 

 in British Columbia, I am indebted to Mr. C. E. Lawrence, 

 Secretary-Treasurer of the Interior of British Columbia 

 Wool Growers Association, who writes: 



The matter is an increasingly serious one, and all our efforts to increase 

 production of wool and mutton seem to be frustrated by this abominable 

 pest. For ranchers to lose one-third of their iambs is not uncommon — 

 quite a number in this district (Kamloops) have sold their breeding ewes 

 to the butcher to save them from the coyotes. 



Mr. Thomas P. Mackenzie, provincial grazing commis- 

 sioner for British Columbia, states that records show the 

 presence in British Columbia of not more than 50,000 sheep, 

 and that with properly organized range and a scientific ro- 

 tation system of grazing he sees no reason why British Co- 

 lumbia should not graze at least 2,000,000 sheep. 



The following reports indicate the serious nature of the 

 losses due to coyotes in the Dry Belt region of British Co- 

 lumbia: 



F. F. Wilkinson, Monte Creek: "My losses were so severe that I have 

 sold my sheep to save what were left from going the way of the others." 



Lavorence Bros., Heffley Creek: "After doing our best to combat the 

 total loss of our choice breeding flock of Oxford Downs, we have come to 

 the conclusion that we can only save what we have left by sending them 

 to the butcher. After exercising every precaution this is the third year 

 that we have lost 33% of the lambs, and the audacity of the coyotes 

 this year promises to rob us of all the ewes as well as the lambs. We 

 have put into practice all the information and instructions we could ob- 

 tain as to poisoning the brutes — but no fear, they will not pick up bait 

 nor return to a half consumed carcass while they can get a nice fresh, 

 live lamb. The anxiety, loss of time and vexation is too much and we 

 have, most reluctantly, decided to go out of sheep." 



