Wolves
were numerous and bold in this area when Daniel was young. They were the
most ferocious predators of foothill and plain, but one has to wonder if
they were as terrible as they were reported to be.
Most
residents were ranchers in those early days. Stock raisers were
especially vociferous in condemning the wolf, which they blamed in
almost daily reports as being responsible for heavy losses of cows and
sheep.
During
the winter, when other food was hard to come by, wolves were not a bit
hesitant about approaching the towns. Danielites were kept awake many
nights by the-no, not bloodcurdling, maybe, but still long, dismal howls
of wolves on nearby
hills, and even from animals slinking through the willows close to town.
It was claimed that wolves were killing stock within a couple of
miles of Daniel. While the killing of stock was bad enough, it was the
sight of other |animals still alive but pitifully maimed by marauding
wolves that revolted many, and caused wolves to be considered awful
terrors to be done away with.
.
. .
Ranchers
carried rifles everywhere they went. Whatever else they were doing was
forgotten if they saw a wolf. The wolf was chased until killed, or until
the cunning animal had outrun or outwitted the rancher.
Wolf
hunts were organized. Most residents joined in since this was considered
a worthwhile endeavor.
.
. .
Ranchers
finally realized they could not do this job alone. A bill was introduced
in the state legislature in 1904 to provide a $10 bounty on wolves. It
was hoped that money would encourage non-ranchers to join in and kill a
wolf on sight.
To
make wolf hunting even more appealing, ranchers in this area formed
their own bounty association later the same year. They agreed to pay an
additional $20 for each wolf hide brought in.
Keeping money in the kitty to pay the bounty proved to be a
problem, since some cattlemen failed to pay their assessments.
.
. .
Buck
Elmore, who is buried in the Daniel cemetery, killed that year the
largest of three monstrous wolves he saw on Duck Creek. It was large as
a calf and measured seven feet two inches in length.
It was almost white, a freak color for wolves.
In
1906, reports kept rolling in claiming many cattle were being lost to
wolves. Ranchers realized that more had to be done. Those belonging to
the Wolf Bounty Association of Pinedale, Cora and the Green River areas
joined together and agreed
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p.
92 The First Hundred Years
to
each pay $1 into a kitty for every wolf killed. With this money,
they increased the bounty to a considerable sum for those days. They
agreed to pay $40-a month's wages-for a female wolf with pups, $20 for
grown dogs and $10 for pups. A real incentive to get out there and do
some hunting.
Charlie Alexander of Cora soon brought in two females and a dog.
He was paid $20 for each, since there was no evidence the females had
pups. He had overtaken a band of eight wolves, shooting one from his
horse while at full gallop. This proved difficult even for him, so he
roped the next one. This held the wolf more or less quiet while he shot
it.
William
Alexander. Courtesy,
Bud Alexander
The next day,
his two brothers, Will and Frank, joined him in overtaking the pack.
They killed the dog. This made a total of seven wolves the Alexander
boys killed during that winter. They also brought in twelve
coyotes and two mountain lions for the state bounty paid on those
animals.
Frank
Alexander. Courtesy,
Bud Alexander
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