Coyotes in Their Economic Relations

This concise early‑20th‑century bulletin offers a thorough look at the prairie wolf known as the coyote, charting its physical traits, wide‑reaching distribution from the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific coast, and the many regional varieties that still puzzle scientists. The author sets the stage by explaining why the animal matters to farmers and ranchers, especially those tied to the western sheep industry, and hints at how smarter land use could lessen the need for costly herding.

The remainder of the report delves into the coyote’s everyday habits—its diet, its role in controlling smaller wildlife, and the ways it can damage livestock and game. It then surveys the practical measures of the day: fencing experiments, poisoning, trapping, hunting, and bounty programs. Readers get a clear picture of both the creature’s ecological niche and the economic challenges it posed to early American agriculture.