Buffalo Attacked By Wolves

BUFFALO ATTACKED BY WOLVES

February 15, 1868, pages 105 & 106 (Illustrated Article)

The buffalo bull is Monarch of his Herd only during his youth; buffalo, like human nature, is ungrateful, and beasts and men renounce servants and leaders alike in their old age. With the buffalo the cry is, "The king is old, long live the young king!" When a buffalo king begins to show signs of decay he is not only deposed as leader, but exiled or driven from the herd as a useless member of buffalo society and left to take care of himself, which, owing to the weakness which caused his repudiation, he is not always able to do. During the summer months these aged exiles roam, sometimes singly, sometimes in bands of four or five, over the choicest pastures of prairie land, where they are safe alike from wolves and Indians. The first, having plenty to eat in summer and being in that season rather the hunted than the hunter, do not care to struggle with the buffaloes; and the Indian has too much aversion to hard work to think of eating an old bull when young ones are to be had in such plenty.

But when the deep snows of winter come, and wolves and buffaloes, too, are well-nigh famished, then come the "tug of war." Hunger gives the wolves courage, and they attack the old bulls which are left behind by the herds. Several packs join forces, and a buffalo chase takes place the like of which summer hunters never see. Our spirited illustration on page 105 will, however, give them an idea of this exciting hunt—exciting alike to wolves, buffalo, and the fortunate hunter who witnesses it from a safe an respectable distance.

February 15, 1868, pages 105 & 106 (Illustrated Article)

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