Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park (September 1915): Thirteenth EditionHornaday, William T. (William Temple)
History
Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park (September 1915): Thirteenth Edition
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple)
New York Zoological Park
At the northeastern corner of the Elk Range there is a huge, bare
granite rock, two hundred feet long, shaped precisely like the hump of a
bull buffalo. The high end of the hump is toward the north, and its
crest is about fifteen feet above the ground on its eastern side. A
fringe of small trees and bushes grows along its western side. On the
east side, well sheltered by the rock itself from the cold west winds of
winter, and also shaded by several fine trees which most opportunely
grow close beside the ledge, the Wolf Dens and Fox Dens are situated.
In regard to the iron work, these dens are merely an understudy of the
Bear Dens. The dimensions of each den of the series are 16 by 48 feet,
and the height of the bars to the top of the overhang is 9 feet 6
inches. The sleeping dens are of simple construction, all save one being
of wood, trimmed with bark-covered slabs. At present the Wolf Dens are
divided into four compartments.
The Gray Wolf, (_Canis nubilis_), is known by as many names as it has
color phases. In the North, where it is white, it is called the “White
Wolf,” while in Florida it becomes the “Black Wolf.” In British Columbia
and around Great Slave Lake, both white and black wolves abound, as well
as the standard gray, but on the Barren Grounds the white phase
predominates. In Texas a “Red Wolf” is found, but apparently the red
phase is of somewhat rare occurrence, and is never found in the North.
In the West this animal has recently come into prominence in a way that
is striking terror to the hearts of ranchmen and others who have stock
to lose. While all kinds of desirable game animals are decreasing at an
alarming rate, the Gray Wolf not only holds its own, but is multiplying
rapidly. The destruction by it of calves, colts and sheep, has become so
great that nearly every western State has placed on the head of this
bold marauder a bounty varying from $2 to $10. In some States this law
has been in force for several years, but with no sensible diminution in
the number of wolves.
[Illustration: TIMBER WOLF.]
The Gray Wolves which live in touch with civilization are by no means
such bold and dangerous animals as they formerly were. In the early
days, when wolves were numerous and fire-arms few and primitive, the
Gray Wolf undoubtedly was a dangerous animal. But the breech-loading
rifle has changed all this. Excepting for his stock-killing
propensities, the Gray Wolf is now a skulking creature. In the United
States this animal possesses the courage of a coyote, but in the Barren
Grounds it is still fierce and dangerous. However much the wolf may
skulk and flee when the way is open, when brought to bay he knows how to
fight. One snap of his powerful jaws and shear-like teeth is enough to
disable almost any dog, and send it howling to the rear. It is no wonder
that western dogs of experience are shy of approaching a Gray Wolf
within snapping distance.
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