242 The Mammals of Colorado 
of Michigan. They also range over much of Canada to the Arctic 
Ocean, and are also inhabitants of the tableland of Mexico. 
Wolves seem to be found all over Colorado, though, from what 
Bailey says about their habits in Wyoming, they may move down 
from the higher elevations at the approach of winter. But wherever 
I have been in the State I have heard of the presence of wolves, in 
greater or less abundance, and I doubt if there is a county in the 
State, with the possible exception of Denver, which has not at least 
a few wolves within its limits, and Denver has some in confinement 
in the City Park. 
Habits. — From time immemorial wolves have been noted 
for their ferocious and predaceous habits, preying alike on 
wild animals and on the domesticated stock of mankind, 
so that the name wolf has become associated with savageness 
and ferocity. In this country they have these traits, and 
ever since America has been settled, wolves, wherever found, 
have been enemies to the farmer until exterminated, or their 
number so reduced that they were practically harmless, for 
they have been exterminated in some of the oldest settled 
regions of the country. 
In the western country, before its setdement, and before 
the extermination of the buffalo, the wolves on the plains 
were largely dependent on the herds of the latter animals 
for their support, hanging around them, picking up calves, 
and wounded and decrepit animals. Since the disappearance 
of the buffalo the wolf has turned its attention to the white 
man's cattle, and has proved very destructive, and not 
only that, but has in many localities increased in numbers. 
Wary and hard to trap or shoot, and bringing forth from 
five to thirteen young every year, they are well able in thinly 
settled districts to hold their own against man. Their 
rutting season is in January and February, and the young 
are born in April and ]May, the period of gestation being nine 
weeks, as in the case of the dog. As stated above, the litters 
are large, five to thirteen, eight to eleven being the usual 
numbers. The young are born in dens, which are caves or 
