26 BULLETIN 1346, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Although the intensive occupation of California is making nearly all parts 

 of the State impossible for the presence of antelope in a state of freedom, 

 there are a few areas within which herds might be perpetuated, especially 

 in the northeast. Fortunately, the State fish and game commission is taking 

 an active interest in the matter, as is also the committee for the conservation 

 of wild life of the California Academy of Sciences. 



At the Washington Antelope Conference F. M. Newbert, president of the 

 hoard of fish and game commissioners, stated that for a long time the game 

 commission has taken an active part in trying to safeguard the surviving 

 antelope. At one time the Mount Dome herd (No. 1 on the map) had dwindled 

 to 11 animals. Through the interest of the commission in safeguarding these 

 animals by its warden service the number has been increased until now 

 there are about 118. Mr. Newbert expressed a desire to cooperate with the 

 Biological Survey and also with the authorities of the States of Nevada and 

 Oregon in any practical way to perpetuate and if possible increase the 

 antelope herds. It will be difficult to perpetuate the four small herds in the 

 southern part of the State, but in the northeast there is greater promise of 

 success. 



A correspondent who visited northeastern California in the fall of 1922 

 stated that three-fourths of the dry farms have been deserted in that region, 

 which naturally tends to restore favorable conditions for the antelope. The 

 committee for the conservation of wild life of the California Academy of 

 Sciences has raised funds for feeding the Mount Dome antelope in severe 

 winters and has joined with the State game commission in having game 

 wardens protect them from poachers. It is planned to try to have an antelope 

 refuge established for their benefit. M. Hall McAllister, chairman of that 

 committee, wrote on July 16, 1924 : " By reason of the remarkably open winter 

 of 1923-24 the Mount Dome herd remained scattered and did not band up 

 as they usually have done : therefore, no tally was possible on them as has 

 been usual. Also by reason of the small rainfall and few heavy storms in 

 California the Lassen herds [No. 2 on the map] have migrated across the 

 line into Nevada, and in July, 1924, not over a dozen were sighted on their 

 old grounds in Lassen County, although some 500 are reported ranging in the 

 neighboring part of northwestern Nevada." 



No doubt the shifting of the Lassen County herds to the adjacent part of 

 Nevada was caused by shortage of feed in the California area, and these 

 animals may be expected to return to Lassen County as soon ^s adequate 

 rainfall again restores the proper forage conditions. For this reason this herd 

 is being credited to California, which appears to be their natural home. Fortu- 

 nately, the area they have gone to in Nevada lies within the antelope refuge 

 established in 1923 by the governor, thus affording them protection. 



In California, as elsewhere, coyotes and other wild animals prey upon the 

 diminishing herds of antelope, as upon other wild life. Wherever it is prac- 

 ticable the Biological Survey is having its field leaders give special attention 

 to the destruction of predatory animals endangering the surviving herds of 

 antelope and other large game. Hunter Fay Clark, working cooperatively for 

 the Biological Survey and the California Department of Agriculture in the 

 Mount Dome district, has been successful in destroying coyotes which have 

 been preying on the antelope and deer of this district. The inroads of these 

 pests undoubtedly account for the slow increase of this herd. In a single 

 month, in the range of these antelope, Mr. Clark killed 35 coyotes. The result 

 of his work will undoubtedly become apparent in an increase of the game 

 animals of that district, as has been the case following similar work in other 

 parts of the West. 



