Coyotes 
249 
especially are pests in many sections. Two or three coyotes 
sometimes unite to catch a jack rabbit, which they are unable 
to run down. They do this by taking turns in driving the 
rabbit and taking advantage of the latter's tendency to run 
in a circle, and heading it off on the turns. Coyotes also 
catch many kangaroo rats, wood-rats, various species of 
ground-squirrels, woodchucks, voles, pocket-gophers, and 
various other small rodents, many of which are at times, at 
least, injurious to man. It also acts as a scavenger by 
eating carrion, even coming into the small towns at night 
to eat garbage; in fact I have seen them at the garbage 
heaps just outside a small town in the middle of the day. 
Coyotes kill many ground-haunting birds, the various 
grouse and quail are captured by them, and in the breeding 
season many eggs are eaten; wild ducks are also captured by 
them when on the land, either nesting or ashore and wounded, 
unable to fly. They have been known to kill deer and 
antelope, several hunting together in much the same manner 
as they do rabbits, and relieving one another, and also taking 
advantage of the tendency of the game to run in circles. 
Poultry of all kinds is taken by coyotes when opportunity 
offers; the young of all the domestic animals fall victims to 
the coyote, calves, pigs, lambs, goats, and sometimes colts; 
sometimes older animals are killed, such as yearling cattle. 
They are especially enemies to the sheep industry, as they 
are able to kill both sheep and lambs, and do much damage 
in the flocks. Losses to the sheep industry are estimated in 
various places from five to twenty per cent. 
We have already given, when speaking of the wolves, some 
figures regarding the numbers of coyotes killed in certain 
States. In Kansas, from July i, 1903, to June 30, 1904, 
bounties were paid on 19,514 coyotes. These figures give 
some idea of the numbers of the animals. 
Coyotes, when caught young, may be readily tamed, and 
