Wolves Increasing

The gray wolf, the bane of cattlemen. and flock masters, appears to multiply and flourish in defiance of the efforts oL the hunter and the price set npon his head, says the Benton Eiver (Monto) Press. Advices f rom all seetions of the range country report that gray wolves are aa numerous and destructive as ever. Eange riders are witnesses to the fact that the fattest and strongest steers are írequently overeóme by these ferocious beasts, while the weak and infirm surrender to their attacks almost without a struggle. The live stock loss of Montana from this source cannot be calculated, but from the nature of the case it must be tremendous. Professional hunters state that the gray wolf is an exceptionally difficult animal to cireanxvent. His cunning is remarkable and his suspicious nature causes him to avoid any locality which his keen senses notify him has been invaded by his human enemy. He is not a gregarious animal, preferring to roam ia small bunches, which prevenís such a. wholesale killing as could be accomplished if a large band should f all within the power of the hunter. He avoids poisoned baits and deatl carcasses; heis essentially a beast of prey, preferring fresh meat at all times, and when the pangs of hunger are feit he starts oilt to find somethingvith warm blood in it. For these reasons wolf hunting is an exceptionally slow and precarious ccciipation; trapping, chasiug and shootingare practically the only methods that produce results, and attractive inducements are necessary to encourage hunters to engage. in that work as a means of livelihood.