hunting the grisly and other sketches-第24章

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of　the　land。

Indeed　the　differences　of　this　sort　between　nearly　related　animals　are
literally　inexplicable。　Much　of　the　difference　in　temperament　between
such　closely　allied　species　as　the　American　and　European　bears　and
wolves　is　doubtless　due　to　their　surroundings　and　to　the　instincts
they　have　inherited　through　many　generations；　but　for　much　of　the
variation　it　is　not　possible　to　offer　any　explanation。　In　the　same　way
there　are　certain　physical　differences　for　which　it　is　very　hard　to
account；　as　the　same　conditions　seem　to　operate　in　directly　reverse
ways　with　different　animals。　No　one　can　explain　the　process　of　natural
selection　which　has　resulted　in　the　otter　of　America　being　larger　than
the　otter　of　Europe；　while　the　badger　is　smaller；　in　the　mink　being
with　us　a　much　stouter　animal　than　its　Scandinavian　and　Russian
kinsman；　while　the　reverse　is　true　of　our　sable　or　pine　marten。　No　one
can　say　why　the　European　red　deer　should　be　a　pigmy　compared　to　its
giant　brother；　the　American　wapiti；　why　the　Old　World　elk　should
average　smaller　in　size　than　the　almost　indistinguishable　New　World
moose；　and　yet　the　bison　of　Lithuania　and　the　Caucasus　be　on　the　whole
larger　and　more　formidable　than　its　American　cousin。　In　the　same　way
no　one　can　tell　why　under　like　conditions　some　game；　such　as　the　white
goat　and　the　spruce　grouse；　should　be　tamer　than　other　closely　allied
species；　like　the　mountain　sheep　and　ruffled　grouse。　No　one　can　say
why　on　the　whole　the　wolf　of　Scandinavia　and　northern　Russia　should　be
larger　and　more　dangerous　than　the　average　wolf　of　the　Rocky
Mountains；　while　between　the　bears　of　the　same　regions　the　comparison
must　be　exactly　reversed。

The　difference　even　among　the　wolves　of　different　sections　of　our　own
country　is　very　notable。　It　may　be　true　that　the　species　as　a　whole　is
rather　weaker　and　less　ferocious　than　the　European　wolf；　but　it　is
certainly　not　true　of　the　wolves　of　certain　localities。　The　great
timber　wolf　of　the　central　and　northern　chains　of　the　Rockies　and
coast　ranges　is　in　every　way　a　more　formidable　creature　than　the
buffalo　wolf　of　the　plains；　although　they　intergrade。　The　skins　and
skulls　of　the　wolves　of　north…western　Montana　and　Washington　which　I
have　seen　were　quite　as　large　and　showed　quite　as　stout　claws　and
teeth　as　the　skins　and　skulls　of　Russian　and　Scandinavian　wolves；　and
I　believe　that　these　great　timber　wolves　are　in　every　way　as
formidable　as　their　Old　World　kinsfolk。　However；　they　live　where　they
come　in　contact　with　a　population　of　rifle…bearing　frontier　hunters；
who　are　very　different　from　European　peasants　or　Asiatic　tribesmen；
and　they　have；　even　when　most　hungry；　a　wholesome　dread　of　human
beings。　Yet　I　doubt　if　an　unarmed　man　would　be　entirely　safe　should
he；　while　alone　in　the　forest　in　mid…winter　encounter　a　fair…sized
pack　of　ravenously　hungry　timber　wolves。

A　full…grown　dog…wolf　of　the　northern　Rockies；　in　exceptional
instances；　reaches　a　height　of　thirty…two　inches　and　a　weight　of　130
pounds；　a　big　buffalo　wolf　of　the　upper　Missouri　stands　thirty　or
thirty…one　inches　at　the　shoulder　and　weighs　about　110　pounds。　A　Texas
wolf　may　not　reach　over　eighty　pounds。　The　bitch…wolves　are　smaller；
and　moreover　there　is　often　great　variation　even　in　the　wolves　of
closely　neighboring　localities。

The　wolves　of　the　southern　plains　were　not　often　formidable　to　large
animals；　even　in　the　days　when　they　most　abounded。　They　rarely
attacked　the　horses　of　the　hunter；　and　indeed　were　but　little　regarded
by　these　experienced　animals。　They　were　much　more　likely　to　gnaw　off
the　lariat　with　which　the　horse　was　tied；　than　to　try　to　molest　the
steed　himself。　They　preferred　to　prey　on　young　animals；　or　on　the　weak
and　disabled。　They　rarely　molested　a　full…grown　cow　or　steer；　still
less　a　full…grown　buffalo；　and；　if　they　did　attack　such　an　animal；　it
was　only　when　emboldened　by　numbers。　In　the　plains　of　the　upper
Missouri　and　Saskatchewan　the　wolf　was；　and　is；　more　dangerous；　while
in　the　northern　Rockies　his　courage　and　ferocity　attain　their　highest
pitch。　Near　my　own　ranch　the　wolves　have　sometimes　committed　great
depredations　on　cattle；　but　they　seem　to　have　queer　freaks　of
slaughter。　Usually　they　prey　only　upon　calves　and　sickly　animals；　but
in　midwinter　I　have　known　one　single…handed　to　attack　and　kill　a　well…
grown　steer　or　cow　disabling　its　quarry　by　rapid　snaps　at　the　hams　or
flanks。　Only　rarely　have　I　known　it　to　seize　by　the　throat。　Colts　are
likewise　a　favorite　prey；　but　with　us　wolves　rarely　attack　full…grown
horses。　They　are　sometimes　very　bold　in　their　assaults；　falling　on　the
stock　while　immediately　around　the　ranch　houses。　They　even　venture
into　the　hamlet　of　Medora　itself　at　nightas　the　coyotes　sometimes　do
by　day。　In　the　spring　of　'92　we　put　on　some　eastern　two…year…old
steers；　they　arrived；　and　were　turned　loose　from　the　stock…yards；　in　a
snowstorm；　though　it　was　in　early　May。　Next　morning　we　found　that　one
had　been　seized；　slain；　and　partially　devoured　by　a　big　wolf　at　the
very　gate　of　the　stockyard；　probably　the　beast　had　seen　it　standing
near　the　yard　after　nightfall　feeling　miserable　after　its　journey；　in
the　storm　and　its　unaccustomed　surroundings；　and　had　been　emboldened
to　make　the　assault　so　near　town　by　the　evident　helplessness　of　the
prey。

The　big　timber　wolves　of　the　northern　Rocky　Mountains　attack　every
four…footed　beast　to　be　found　where　they　live。　They　are　far　from
contenting　themselves　with　hunting　deer　and　snapping　up　the　pigs　and
sheep　of　the　farm。　When　the　weather　gets　cold　and　food　scarce　they
band　together　in　small　parties；　perhaps　of　four　or　five　individuals；
and　then　assail　anything；　even　a　bear　or　a　panther。　A　bull　elk　or　bull
moose；　when　on　its　guard；　makes　a　most　dangerous　fight；　but　a　single
wolf　will　frequently　master　the　cow　of　either　animal；　as　well　as
domestic　cattle　and　horses。　In　attacking　such　large　game；　however；　the
wolves　like　to　act　in　concert；　one　springing　at　the　animal's　head；　and
attracting　its　attention；　while　the　other　hamstrings　it。　Nevertheless；
one　such　big　wolf　will　kill　an　ordinary　horse。　A　man　I　knew；　who　was
engaged　in　packing　into　the　Coeur　d'Alenes；　once　witnessed　such　a　feat
on　the　part　of　a　wolf。　He　was　taking　his　pack　train　down　into　a　valley
when　he　saw　a　horse　grazing　therein；　it　had　been　turned　loose　by
another　packing　outfit；　because　it　became　exhausted。　He　lost　sight　of
it　as　the　trail　went　down　a　zigzag；　and　while　it　was　thus　out　of　sight
he　suddenly　heard　it　utter　the　appalling　scream；　unlike　and　more
dreadful　than　any　other　sound；　which　a　horse　only　utters　in　extreme
fright　or　agony。　The　scream　was　repeated；　and　as　he　came　in　sight
again　he　saw　that　a　great　wolf　had　attacked　the　horse。　The　poor　animal
had　been　bitten　terribly　in　its　haunches　and　was　cowering　upon　them；
while　the　wolf　stood　and　looked　at　it　a　few　paces　off。　In　a　moment　or
two　the　horse　partially　recovered　and　made　a　desperate　bound　forward；
starting　at　full　gallop。　Immediately　the　wolf　was　after　it；　overhauled
it　in　three　or　four　jumps；　and　then　seized　it　by　the　hock；　while　its
legs　were　extended；　with　such　violence　as　to　bring　it　completely　back
on　its　haunches。　It　again　screamed　piteously；　and　this　time　with　a　few
savage　snaps　the　wolf　hamstrung　and　partially　disembowelled　it；　and　it
fell　over；　having　made　no　attempt　to　defend　itself。　I　have　heard　of
more　than　once　incident　of　this　kind。　If　a　horse　is　a　good　fighter；
however；　as　occasionally；　though　not　often；　happens；　it　is　a　more
difficult　prey　for　any　wild　beast；　and　some　veteran　horses　have　no
fear　of　wolves　whatsoever；　well　knowing　that　they　can　either　strike
them　down　with　their　forefeet　or　repulse　them　by　lashing　out　behind。

Wolves　are　cunning　beasts　and　will　often　try　to　lull　their　prey　into
unsuspicion　by　playing　round　and　cutting　capers。　I　once　saw　a　young
deer　and　a　wolf…cub　together　near　the　hut　of　the　settler　who　had
captured　both。　The　wolf　was　just　old　enough　to　begin　to　feel　vicious
and　bloodthirsty；　and　to　show　symptoms　of　attacking　the　deer。　On　the
occasion　in　question　he　got　loose　and　ran　towards　it；　but　it　turned；
and　began　to　hit　him　with　its　forefeet；　seemingly　in　sport；　whereat　he
rolled　over　on　his　back　before　it；　and　acted　like　a　puppy　at　play。
Soon　it　turned　and　walked　off；　immediately　the　wolf；　with　bristling
hair；　crawled　after；　and　with　a　pounce　seized　it　by　the　haunch；　and
would　doubtless　have　murdered　the　bleating；　struggling　creature；　had
not　the　bystanders　interfered。

Where　there　are　no　domestic　animals；　wolves　feed　on　almost　anything
from　a　mouse　to　an　elk。　They　are　redoubted　enemies　of　foxes。　They　are
easily　able　to　overtake　them　in　fair　chase；　and　kill　numbers。　If　the
fox　can　get　into　the　underbrush；　however；　he　can　dodge　around　much
faster　than　the　wolf；　and　so　escape　pursuit。　Sometimes　one　wolf　will
try　to　put　a　fox　out　of　a　cover　while　another　waits　outside　to　snap
him　up。　Moreover；　the　wolf　kills　even　closer　kinsfolk　than　the　fox。
When　pressed　by　hunger　it　will　undoubtedly　sometimes　seize　a　coyote；
tear　it　in　pieces　and　devour　it；　although　during　most　of　the　year　the
two　animals　live　in　perfect　harmony。　I　once　myself；　while　out　in　the
deep　snow；　came　across　the　remains　of　a　coyote　that　had　been　killed　in
this　manner。　Wolves　are　also　very　fond　of　the　flesh　of　dogs；　and　if
they　get　a　chance　promptly　kill　and　eat　any　dog　they　can　masterand
there　are　but　few　that　they　cannot。　Nevertheless；　I　have　been　told　of
one　instance　in　which　a　wolf　struck　up　an　extraordinary　friendship
with　a　strayed　dog；　and　the　two　lived　and　hunted　together　for　many
months；　being　frequently　seen　by　the　settlers　of　the　locality。　This
occurred　near　Thompson's　Falls；　Montana。

Usually　wolves　are　found　singly；　in　pairs；　or　in　family　parties；　each
having　a　large　beat　over　which　it　regularly　hunts；　and　also　at　times
shifting　its　ground　and　travelling　immense　distances　in　order　to　take
up　a　temporary　abode　in　some　new　localityfor　they　are　great
wanderers。　It　is　only　under　stress　of　severe　weather　that　they　band
together　in　packs。　They　prefer　to　creep　on　their　prey　and　seize　it　by
a　sudden　pounce；　but；　unlike　the　cougar；　they　also　run　it　down　in　fair
chase。　Their　slouching；　tireless　gallop　enables　them　often　to　overtake
deer；　antelope；　or　other　quarry；　though　under　favorable　circumstances；
especially　if　near　a　lake；　the　latter　frequently　escape。　Whether
wolves　run　cunning　I　do　not　know；　but　I　think　they　must；　for　coyotes
certainly　do。　A　coyote　cannot　run　down　a　jack…rabbit；　but　two　or　three
working　together　will　often　catch　one。　Once　I　saw　three　start　a　jack；
which　ran　right　away　from　them；　but　they　spread　out；　and　followed。
Pretty　soon　the　jack　turned　slightly；　and　ran　near　one　of　the　outside
ones；　saw　it；　became　much　frightened；　and　turned　at　right　angles；　so
as　soon　to　nearly　run　into　the　other　outside　one；　which　had　kept
straight　on。　This　happened　several　times；　and　then　the　confused　jack
lay　down　under　a　sage…bush　and　was　seized。　So　I　have　seen　two　coyotes
attempting　to　get　at　a　newly　dropped　antelope　kid。　One　would　make　a
feint　of　attack；　and　lure　the　dam　into　a　rush　at　him；　while　the　other
stole　round　to　get　at　the　kid。　The　dam；