292 Yearbook of the />< /xnfmcnt of Af/iicit/tun lO.iO. 



during the year 1014-15 in Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Idaho, 

 Oregon, and other western States. In eastern Oregon and 

 northern Nevada, where rabies prevailed among coyotes at 

 that time, a considerable number of hunters were employed 

 to assist in destroying the coyotes in the hope of eradicating 

 this disease. 



Depredations upon live stock continued to be so serious 

 and the means of protection then employed afforded so little 

 real relief to the stock-raising industry that in 1915 stock- 

 men look up the matter with their representatives in Con- 

 gress with the view of obtaining the aid of the Federal 

 Government. On July 1, 1915, the first appropriation — 

 $125.000 — resulted, specifically providing Federal funds to 

 assist in organizing campaigns against predatory animals on 

 national forests and other public lands and to correlate and 

 direct the many agencies at work on the problem along the 

 most effective and economical lines. This had as its object 

 making distinct and permanent headway in relieving the 

 stockmen from the serious drain caused by predator)' animals 

 upon the productive capacity of the great western ranges. 



The Biological Survey then undertook to build up the 

 necessary field organization. The principal western live- 

 stock producing States where the need appeared most urgent 

 were formed into eight predatory-animal districts, each in 

 charge of a predatory-animal inspector. The hunters em- 

 ployed devoted their entire time to the work, and were not 

 permitted to receive bounties from any source. The skins of 

 all animals having fur value taken by the hunters became 

 the property of the Government and were sent in to the De- 

 partment and sold at public auction, the receipts being 

 turned into the United States Treasury. 



Methods of Combat. 



Three methods of destroying predatory animals were 

 followed at this time — shooting, trapping, and poisoning. 

 During the first year 424 wolves, 9 mountain lions, 11,890 

 coyotes, and 1,5G4 bobcats were accounted for. Extended 

 trapping and poisoning campaigns were carried on, but the 

 above numbers do not take into consideration animals killed 

 by poison unless the bodies were actually recovered and the 

 skins or scalps secured. Demonstrations and experiments 

 were carried on in localities other than on national forests 



