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Show stripping away the old branches they fastened the tree trunks together, hitched a team to the lot of them and dragged the wood supply to camp. There was always a good source of firewood when they camped in the mountains where there were many dead trees. PREDATORS AND BELLS It was important to be on the alert for predators, the worst of which were coyotes. When coyotes killed a lamb or ewe they seldom ate it but tore one or more of the organs from the body of the victim and ate only what they wanted at that time, depending on how hungry they were. Then they left the carcass in a mangled condition. Sometimes other wild animals or birds ate the remains, but losses of sheep to other predators were minor. It angered the shepherds to see the useless killing and waste, and they grew to dislike the coyotes more and more because of the loss. It wasn't unusual to find several or even many bodies of torn and mutilated sheep where a pack of coyotes had cornered and killed them, wantonly. Herders carried rifles on their saddles and were prepared in case of an emergency. The coyote problem grew to be so acute during the early years of John K's own herd beginning that he imported two greyhounds for use in camp, along with other sheep dogs. The speed of the hounds made them especially valuable in chasing and catching coyotes if and when they saw them. One hound was grey and shaggy-haired, and called Jack. The other one was 65 |