Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

 

Nebraska Farmers Find that Raising Wolves Pays.

     The large number of claims coming into the Nebraska State Auditor’s office for bounties on wolves and coyotes had led to the discovery that some farmers and ranchers in the western part of the state have gone into the business of breeding those animals for the bounty market.

     In one instance a man was found to have raised more than 100 wolves last summer from animals he had trapped and penned up for that purpose. Other cases were unearthed where from fifteen to sixty of these animals had been reared. In October and November they were killed and their scalps presented for redemption at the office of the county clerk in each county.

     The State now authorizes the county clerk to pay $3 from the county fund for each coyote or wolf scalp presented, and he certifies the fact to the auditor, who pays $1 additional. Four dollars for each wolf or coyote pays better than hog raising, and naturally some farmers have turned their attention to this industry. The law was passed years ago when the wolf and coyote were the great foes of the cattle and sheep men. In the last ten years $150,000 has been paid by the State alone as bounty.

     What makes the State authorities angrier is that there is nothing to prevent a man from running a wolf ranch if he desires to.