Hunting Down Stock Killers. 



295 



single wolf took a toll of nearly $3,000 worth of cattle in 

 one year. In Texas two wolves killed 72 sheep, valued at 

 $9 each, during a period of two weeks. One wolf in New 

 Mexico killed 25 head of cattle in two months; while an- 

 other was reported by stockmen of the same State to have 

 killed 150 cattle, valued at not less than $5,000, during six 

 months preceding his capture by a Survey hunter. In 

 Wyoming two male wolves were killed, which during one 

 month had destroyed 150 sheep and 7 colts; another pair 

 were reported to have killed about $4,000 worth of stock 

 during the year preceding their capture; while another, 

 captured in June, had killed 30 head of cattle during the 

 preceding spring. The county agricultural agent at Coal- 

 ville, Utah, reported that wolves had taken 20 per cent of 

 the 3'ear's calf crop in that section. A wolf taken in Xew 

 Mexico was known to have killed during the preceding five 

 months 20 j earling steers, 9 calves, 1 cow, 15 sheep, and a 

 valuable sheep dog. In two weeks at Ozona, Tex., two 

 wolves killed 76 sheep. 



In Oregon four coyotes in two nights killed 15 purebred 

 rams valued at $20 each. One flock in Morgan County, 

 Utah, was attacked by three coyotes and $500 worth of sheep 

 were killed in an hour. Near Antonito, Colo., G7 ewes, val- 

 ued at about $1,000, became separated from the rest of the 

 herd and two days later all were found killed by coyotes. 



One bobcat in Texas killed over $300 worth of Angora 

 goats; and another taken at Ozona, Tex., in a month had 

 killed on a single ranch 53 rams, 1 ewe, and 1 goat. In Xew 

 Mexico a Biological Survey hunter killed a grizzly bear 

 which had killed 32 head of cattle during the spring and was 

 known to have killed 50 cattle the previous year. In 

 Arizona, while following the trail of a mountain lion which 

 was later killed, one of the Department's hunters found the 

 bodies of nine head of cattle whicn had been killed by this 

 animal. 



After a personal investigation in 1917, the president of the 

 State Agricultural College of Xew Mexico reported that 

 34,350 cattle, 165,000 sheep, and 850 horses are killed annu- 

 ally by predatory animals in that State, these losses amount- 

 ing to $2,715,250. This involves the loss of 16.000,000 

 rounds of meat and about 1,320.000 pounds of wool. 



