,transcriber's ,note ,italic text is denoted by underscores4 ,,hints ,,on ,,coyote ,,and ,,wolf ,,trapping ,illustration ,illustration3 ,,leaflet ,,no4 #ei ,,hints ,,on ,,wolf ,,and ,,coyote ,,trapping ,by ,,stanley ,p4 ,,young1 ,principal ,biologist1 in ,charge ,division of ,predatory-,animal and ,rodent ,control1 ,bureau of ,biological ,survey ,issued ,july1 #aicj ,,the ,,range of coyotes and wolves in the ,united ,states to-day is confined mainly to the immense area west of the ,mississippi ,river4 ,wolves1 however1 have been so materially reduced in numbers west of the one-hundredth meridian that except for those drifting into the ,united ,states from the northern ,states of ,mexico1 they are the cause of little concern4 ,the areas now most heavily infested with wolves are in ,alaska1 eastern ,texas1 ,oklahoma1 ,arkansas1 ,missouri1 ,wisconsin1 ,minnesota1 and ,michigan4 ,a few r of these animals are found also in northern ,louisiana and eastward along the ,gulf coastal area into ,mississippi4 ,coyotes1 on the other hand1 exist in all the ,western ,states1 as well as in the ,mid-,western ,states above listed as inhabited by wolves4 ,they have also been reported in ,orleans ,county1 ,n4 ,y41 and in southeastern ,alabama where introduced4 ,sidenote3 ,why ,control ,is ,necessary ,,coyotes ,,and ,,wolves make serious inroads on the stocks of sheep and lambs1 cattle1 pigs1 and poultry1 as well as on the wild game mammals and the ground-nesting and insectivorous birds of the country4 ,wherever these predatory animals occur in large numbers1 they are a source of worry and loss to stockmen1 farmers1 and sportsmen because of their destructiveness to wild and domestic animals4 ,the coyote is by far the most persistent of the predators of the western range country2 and moreover1 it is a further menace because it is a carrier of rabies1 or hydrophobia4 ,this disease was prevalent in ,nevada1 ,california1 ,utah1 ,idaho1 and eastern ,oregon in #aiaf and #aiag1 and later in ,washington and in southern ,colorado4 ,since this widespread outbreak1 sporadic cases of rabid coyotes have occurred each year in the ,western ,states4 ,the coyote has also been found to be a carrier of tularemia1 a disease of wild rabbits and other rodents that is transmissible and sometimes fatal to human beings4 ,much of the country inhabited by coyotes and wolves is purely agricultural and contains vast grazing areas1 and a large percentage of the food of the animals of those areas consists of the mutton1 beef1 pork1 and poultry produced by the stockman and farmer1 and the wild game that needs to be conserved4 ,it is a matter of great importance1 therefore1 to the ,nation's livestock-producing sections1 as well as to the conservationist's plan of game protection or game propagation1 that coyotes and wolves be controlled in areas where they are destructive4 ,trapping has been found to be one of the most effective methods of capturing these animals4 ,sidenote3 ,strategy ,required ,,every ,,wild ,,animal possesses some form of defense against danger or harm to itself4 ,with wolves and coyotes this is shown in their acute sense of smell1 alert hearing1 and keen eyesight4 ,to trap these animals successfully1 one must work to defeat these highly developed senses when placing traps1 and success in doing so will come only with a full knowledge of the habits of the two predators and after repeated experiments with trap sets4 ,of the two animals1 possibly the wolf is the more difficult to trap4 ,it is cunning1 and as it matures from the yearling stage to the adult its cleverness at times becomes uncanny4 ,individual coyotes also possess this trait1 particularly old animals that have been persistently hunted and trapped with crude methods4 ,the steel trap1 in sizes #c and #d for coyotes and sizes #d,k and #ad for wolves 7#aad in ,alaska71 is recommended for capturing these large predators4 ,steel traps have been used in this country by many generations of trappers1 and although deemed by many persons to be inhumane1 no better or more practical device has yet been invented to take their place4 ,sidenote3 ,scent ,posts ,,on ,,the ,,open ,,range coyotes and wolves have what are commonly referred to as scent posts1 or places where they come to urinate4 ,the animals usually establish these posts along their runways on stubble of range grasses1 on bushes1 or possibly on some old bleached-out carcasses4 ,where ground conditions are right for good tracking1 these scent posts may be detected from the toenail scratches on the ground made by the animals after they have urinated4 ,this habit of having scent posts and of scratching is similar to that noted in dogs4 ,as wolves and coyotes pass over their travel ways1 they generally stop at these posts1 invariably voiding fresh urine and occasionally excreta also4 ,sidenote3 ,where to ,set ,traps ,,finding these scent posts is of prime importance1 for it is at such points that traps should be set4 ,if such posts 'can not be found1 then one can be readily established1 if the travel way of the coyote or wolf has been definitely ascertained1 by dropping scent of the kind to be described later on a few clusters of weeds1 spears of grass1 or stubble of low brush4 ,the trap should then be set at this point4 ,any number of such scent stations can thus be placed along a determined wolf or coyote travel way4 ,time consumed in finding a wolf or coyote scent post is well spent1 for the success of a trap set depends upon its location4 ,coyotes and wolves can not be caught unless traps are set and concealed where the animals will step into them4 ,if traps are placed where the animals are not accustomed to stop on their travel ways1 the chances are that they will pass them by on the run4 ,even if a wolf or a coyote should detect the scent1 the fact that it is in an unnatural place may arouse the suspicion of the animal and cause it to become shy and make a detour4 ,often the fresh tracks of shod horses along wolf and coyote runways are sufficient to cause the predators to leave the trail for some distance4 ,a lone wolf is much more cautious than a pack of wolves running together4 ,travel ways of coyotes and wolves are confined to open and more or less broken country4 ,in foraging for food over these runways the animals may use trails of cattle or sheep1 canyons1 old wood roads1 dry washes1 low saddles on watershed divides1 or even highways in thinly settled areas4 ,any one of these places1 or any combination of them1 may be a wolf or coyote runway4 ,wolves have been known to cover a circuitous route of more than a hundred miles in an established runway4 ,it is in such country that their scent posts should be looked for4 ,illustration3 ,b#aigda2 ,b#bddad2 ,b#aigci ,,figure #a4--;,first step in setting traps for wolves and coyotes4 ,the stubble and woods near the traps are the scent post3 ,a1 ,trap and stake in position1 and setting cloth2 ,b1 doable trap set2 ,c1 trap set showing distance from scent post1 and stake driven into ground ,places where carcasses of animals killed by wolves and coyotes or of animals that have died from natural causes have lain a long time offer excellent spots for setting traps1 for wolves and coyotes often revisit these carcasses4 ,it is always best to set the traps a few yards away from the carcasses at weeds1 bunches of grass1 or low stubble of bushes4 ,other good situations are at the intersection of two or more trails1 around old bedding grounds of sheep1 and at water holes on the open range4 ,ideal places for wolf or coyote traps are points #f to #h inches from the bases of low clusters of weeds or grasses along a trail used as a runway4 ,illustration3 ,b#aigdc2 ,b#bddae ,,figure #b4--;,burying the traps3 ,a1 ,a shoulder of dirt should be built up around and under the pan as a foundation for the trap pad1 which is shown in place2 ,b1 trap completely bedded1 springs and jaws covered1 and pan unobstructed1 ready for trap pad to be put in place ,sidenote3 ,setting the ,traps ,,traps used should be clean1 with no foreign odor4 ,in making a set1 a hole the length and width of the trap with jaws open is dug with a trowel1 a sharpened piece of angle iron1 or a prospector's pick4 ,while digging1 the trapper stands or kneels on a setting cloth1 about #c feet square1 made of canvas or of a piece of sheep or calf hide4 ,if canvas is used1 the human scent may be removed by previously burying it in an old manure pile4 ,the livestock scent acquired in this process is usually strong enough to counteract any scent later adhering to the setting cloth and likely to arouse suspicion4 ,the dirt removed from the hole dug to bed the trap is placed on the setting cloth4 ,the trap is then dropped into the hole and firmly bedded so as to rest perfectly level4 ,instead of using digging tools1 some hunters bed the trap where the ground is loose1 as in sandy loam1 by holding it at its base and with a circular motion working it slowly into the ground even with the surface and then removing the dirt from under the pan before placing the trap pad to be described later4 ,an important advantage of this method is that there is less disturbance of the ground around the scent post than when tools are used1 for the secret of setting a trap successfully is to leave the ground as natural as it was before the trap was concealed4 ,a double trap set1 as shown in ,figure #a1 ,b1 may be used and is often preferred to a single set for coyotes4 ,the trap may be left unanchored or anchored4 ,either draghooks may be attached to a chain 7preferably #f feet long7 fastened by a swivel to the trap base or to a spring1 and all buried underneath1 or a steel stake pin 7fig4 #a1 ,a and ,c7 may be used1 attached by a swivel to a #f-;foot chain fastened to the base or a spring of the trap4 ,if a stake pin is used1 it should be driven full length into the ground near the right-hand spring of the trap1 with the trigger and pan directly toward the operator4 ,anchoring the trap is the preferred method1 because animals caught are obtained without loss of time and because other animals are not driven out of their course by one of their kind dragging about a dangling1 clanking trap1 often the case where drag hooks are used4 ,the next stage 7fig4 #b1 ,a and ,b7 is the careful burying of the trap and building up of a so-called shoulder around and under the pan4 ,this should be so built that1 when it is completed1 the shape of the ground within the jaws of the trap represents an inverted cone1 in order to give a foundation for the pan cover1 commonly called the trap pad4 ,the trap pad may be made of canvas1 of old slicker cloth1 or even of a piece of ordinary wire fly screen cut into the shape shown in ,figure #b1 ,a4 ,the trap pad to be effective must contain no foreign odor that might arouse the suspicion of wolf or coyote4 ,in placing the trap pad over the pan and onto the shoulders of the dirt built up for carrying it1 the utmost care must be taken to see that no rock1 pebble1 or dirt slips under the pan1 which would prevent the trap from springing4 ,with the trap pad in place 7fig4 #b1 ,a71 the entire trap is carefully covered with the remaining portion of earth on the setting cloth 7fig4 #c1 ,b74 ,cover traps at least half an inch deep with dry dust if possible4 ,it is well to have the covered surface over the trap a little lower than the surrounding ground1 for a wolf or a coyote is then less apt to scratch and expose the trap without springing it4 ,furthermore1 the animal will throw more weight on a foot placed in a depression1 and thus is more likely to be caught deeper on the foot and with a firmer grip4 ,all surplus earth on the setting cloth not needed for covering the trap should be taken a good distance away and scattered evenly on the ground4 ,illustration3 ,b#aigdd2 ,b#bddaf2 ,b#aigde ,,figure #c4--;,completed trap sets1 with ground made to blend again with surroundings4 ,the small stone in the foreground of ,a and the triangular stick in ,b serve to break the natural gait of the animal and cause it to step directly over it onto the pan of the trap2 ,c1 place the scent on side of brush or weed that is nearest the trap ,a few drops of scent are now applied 7fig4 #c1 ,c7 to the weed1 cluster of grass1 or stubble used as the scent post4 ,a scent tested and successfully used by ,government hunters is made as follows3 ,sidenote3 ,scenting ,,put ,,into a bottle the urine and the gall of a wolf or a coyote1 depending on which is to be trapped1 and also the anal glands1 which are situated under the skin on either side of the vent and resemble small pieces of bluish fat4 ,if these glands can not be readily found1 the whole anal parts may be used4 ,to every #c ounces of the mixture add #a ounce of glycerin1 to give it body and to prevent too rapid evaporation1 and #a grain of corrosive sublimate to keep it from spoiling4 ,let the mixture stand several days1 then shake well and scatter a few drops on weeds or ground #f or #h inches from the place where the trap is set4 ,the farther from the travelway the trap is set1 the more scent will be needed4 ,a little of the scent should be rubbed on the trapper's gloves and shoe soles to conceal the human odor4 ,if the animals become wise to this kind of scent1 an effective fish scent may be prepared in the following way3 ,grind the flesh of sturgeon1 eels1 trout1 suckers1 carp1 or other oily variety of fish in a sausage mill1 place in strong tin or iron cans1 and leave in a warm place of even temperature to decompose thoroughly4 ,provide each can with a small vent to allow the escape of gas 7otherwise there is danger of explosion71 but screen the aperture with a fold of cloth to prevent flies depositing eggs1 as the scent seems to lose much of its quality if many maggots develop4 ,this scent may be used within #c days after it is prepared1 but it is more lasting and penetrating after a lapse of #cj days4 ,it is also very attractive to livestock1 and its use on heavily stocked ranges is not recommended1 as cattle are attracted to such scent stations and will spring the traps4 ,an excellent system for a hunter to follow is to commence with a quantity of ground fish placed in large iron containers1 similar to a milk can4 ,as the original lot is used on the trap line1 it should be replenished by adding more ground fresh fish4 ,the addition from time to time of new material seems to improve the quality of the scent mixture4 ,where no moisture has fallen1 rescenting of scent posts need be done only every four or five days4 ,in wet weather every third day is good practice4 ,for dropping the scent it is best to use a #b to #d ounce shaker-corked bottle4 ,the actual trapping of a wolf or a coyote by the method here described occurs when the animal comes over its runway and is attracted to the post by the scent that has been dropped4 ,in approaching the spot for a smell the animal invariably puts a foot on the concealed pan2 the jaws are thus released and the foot is securely held4 ,the place where a wolf or a coyote has thus been caught affords an excellent location for a reset after the animal has been removed from the trap4 ,this is due to the natural scent dropped by the animal while in the trap4 ,it is advisable always to wear gloves while setting traps and to use them for no other purpose than for trap setting4 ,u4 ,s4 ,,government ,,printing ,,office3 #aicj ,for sale by the ,superintendent of ,documents1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,price #e cents