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 pei^petuated, esiKjcially 
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 Acadenjy 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 as 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, 
