Irish wolves thrived in great forests

THREE-TOES, one of South Dakota’s most notorious outlaws, was easily tracked; having lost toes to a metal trap his footprint was recognisable.

It still took 159 trappers 13 years to hunt down and kill him. Las Margaritas, a New Mexico wolf, was even more extraordinary.

One of the last surviving wolves in the lower 48 States, she would uncover the traps set for her and urinate on them. A fanatic named McBride, having pursued her on horseback for 11months, found her Achilles heel; she liked to roll in the dying embers of campfires. McBride set a trap, lit a fire over it and that was the end of poor Margaritas.