WILD DOGS IN OTAGO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1820, 20 April 1888, Page 3

WILD DOGS IN OTAGO

Recently two- wild dogs, which have quite a history, and ha"ye m their time caused much damage among some of the flocks m Maniototo and Waitaki counties, were shot on Omarama Station by two shepherds who had been watching for them for a long time. A year or two ago a shepherd on one of the stations lost a slut On Mount Ida. She gave birth to two pups (fortunately both males), which she brought up among the hills, bo they naturally acquired the ferocious instincts of the progenitors of their race. In the Coarse of time the pair took to worrying and killing sheep, of which they destroyed large numbers, and then the shepherds raised a hue and cry after them, At one time the dogs would be seen on Ewebarn Station, then on Hawkdun, next on Kyeburn, aDd finally on Omarama and Benmore, Various devices were resorted to to destroy the pair, but for a long time without success. On one occasion they were given battle by a pair of big stag-hounds, but the hounds got the worst of the fight and were badly defeated. Finally, two shepherds on Omarama Station sighted tha pair on a ridge some distance away. The men hid themselves behind a large rock, and In a few minutes the dogs came within range, when one cf them was shot dead, his fellow scampering cfF. The shepherds remained m thtir hiding-place, and toward midnight the surviving animal returned to search for bis mate, with the result that be also was shot dead. The pair are said (o have done a lot of batm among the flocks on several runs, and their death was hailed with acclamation by the station managers affected by their depredations. It is statad that the flocks on Taierl Lake Station are also often worried by a lurcher slot which originally came from Mauugatoa. She is frequently sighted, but directly she is seen ehe clesra oat. The extent of her depredations may be gnagod by the fact that a reward of £20 is offered to anyone who will take her dead body to the manager of the station •*-" Mount Ida Chronicle,"