Range Sheep 149 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 
TIME OPERATIONS 
Fall. . . .| Return of flocks from summer range, division of 
flocks, selling of lambs, dipping if infested 
with ticks, and breeding. 
Winter. . .| Winter feeding if range is not sufficient. 
Spring . . Lambing, marking, shearing, dipping, branding, 
entrance on the summer range. 
Summer . .| Herding on the summer range. 
LOSS FROM WILD ANIMALS 
The loss from wild animals is always a serious problem 
in the raising of sheep on the range. The cougar, bob- 
cat, mountain lion, bear, and coyotes all come in for 
their share of the sheep-man’s profit. Some prominent 
sheep-men estimate the losses from wild animals at about 
10 per cent per annum for the entire West. This figure 
may be too high, but the loss is enormous at the most 
conservative estimate. No successful method has yet 
been found to check this loss. It is kept down to the low- 
est point by constantly guarding the sheep, especially at 
lambing time, when the herders make a practice of hang- 
ing out lanterns, and firing off guns and fire crackers. 
Some attempt is also made to shoot the coyotes. The 
only place where this problem has been fully solved is in 
Australia, where in certain parts of the country entire 
range districts are surrounded by high wire fences. Fenc- 
ing has been tried by the Forest Service of this country 
with good success. Not only is the loss from wild animals 
