The bitch-wolves are smaller; and moreover there is often great variation even in the wolves of closely neighboring localities.
The wolves of the southern plains were not often formidable to large animals, even in the days when they most abounded.

They rarely attacked the horses of the hunter, and indeed were but little regarded by these experienced animals.

They were much more likely to gnaw off the lariat with which the horse was tied, than to try to molest the steed himself.
They preferred to prey on young animals, or on the weak and disabled.
They rarely molested a full-grown cow or steer, still less a full-grown buffalo, and, if they did attack such an animal, it was only when emboldened by numbers.

In the plains of the upper Missouri and Saskatchewan the wolf was, and is, more dangerous, while in the northern Rockies his courage and ferocity attain their highest pitch.

Near my own ranch the wolves have sometimes committed great depredations on cattle, but they seem to have queer freaks of slaughter.