Varmint of Burke's Garden
Encyclopedia
The Varmint of Burke's Garden was the name given to a coyote
that terrorized the community of Burke's Garden, Virginia
, in 1952. The animal killed over 400 registered sheep and caused damages in excess of $32,000 before being killed.
To aid in the creature's capture, the board of supervisors
of Tazewell County
contacted Clell and Dale Lee
, two of the best-known big-game hunters then active in the United States
; their dog
s were well-known for being able to track most kinds of animals. The men were residents of Arizona
, but were requested to come to Virginia
to help local residents. Dale Lee was in Venezuela
hunting jaguar
s, but his brother Clell was available and answered the call. He arrived in Bluefield
to find himself coolly received by local farmers; however, Mrs. Meeks, the wife of one of the men, was kinder, and invited him to stay at her home.
Lee identified the animal by a track that had been left in a block of ice. His diagnosis shocked many, as no coyotes had been seen in the area in memory. Accompanied by the sheriff
, as well as by local farmers, hunters, and game warden
s, Lee and his dogs soon found the scent, following it for around five hours before nightfall.
Lee ordered all parties back to the hunt at dawn the next morning. The sheriff objected, saying that nobody in the county hunted on Sundays; Lee, however, explained that he had found a fresh scent, and saw no reason to impose upon locals any longer than necessary. Learning that the animal had struck again that night, killing two sheep, Lee stationed hunters near the site of the attack and set his dogs back on the scent. A Burkes Garden Resident, Alfred Jones, killed the coyote after a chase of a few hours. Alfred was accompanied by Dewey Tibbs and Hugh Cox. The Varmint was killed in the Joe Moss Cemetery.
The creature was found to be quite large - it was nearly four-and-a-half feet long and weighed 35 pounds, and its fangs were an inch long.
Local residents were jubilant, and a dinner was held in Lee's honor. The coyote was strung up and hung from a tree near the courthouse
, and nearly 7,500 people came through to see both the hunter and the dead animal. The animal was stuffed and is currently on display at the Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell, Virginia
.
& 5K
race, held annually in June. Winners receive trophies in the shape of sheep to commemorate the destruction caused by the Varmint.
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
that terrorized the community of Burke's Garden, Virginia
Burke's Garden, Virginia
Burke's Garden or Burke Garden is an upland valley and unincorporated community in Tazewell County, Virginia, United States.-Geography:The oval, bowl-like valley is known for its fertile land and was once the bed of an ancient sea...
, in 1952. The animal killed over 400 registered sheep and caused damages in excess of $32,000 before being killed.
To aid in the creature's capture, the board of supervisors
County board of supervisors
The Board of Supervisors is the body that supervises the operation of county government in all counties in Arizona, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Sussex County, New Jersey as well as a handful of counties in New York...
of Tazewell County
Tazewell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,598 people, 18,277 households and 13,232 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 20,390 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
contacted Clell and Dale Lee
Dale Lee
Dale Lee is a Montserratian international footballer who plays as a midfielder.-Career:Lee made his international debut for Montserrat on 15 June 2011, in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. He has one cap to date, which came in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match....
, two of the best-known big-game hunters then active in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; their dog
Hound Group
Hound Group is the name of a breed group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds, and does not necessarily include all hound-type dogs...
s were well-known for being able to track most kinds of animals. The men were residents of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, but were requested to come to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to help local residents. Dale Lee was in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
hunting jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
s, but his brother Clell was available and answered the call. He arrived in Bluefield
Bluefield, Virginia
Bluefield is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, along the Bluestone River. The population was 5,078 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578...
to find himself coolly received by local farmers; however, Mrs. Meeks, the wife of one of the men, was kinder, and invited him to stay at her home.
Lee identified the animal by a track that had been left in a block of ice. His diagnosis shocked many, as no coyotes had been seen in the area in memory. Accompanied by the sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, as well as by local farmers, hunters, and game warden
Game warden
A game warden is an employee who has the role of protecting wildlife. Game wardens may also be referred to as conservation officers or wildlife officers...
s, Lee and his dogs soon found the scent, following it for around five hours before nightfall.
Lee ordered all parties back to the hunt at dawn the next morning. The sheriff objected, saying that nobody in the county hunted on Sundays; Lee, however, explained that he had found a fresh scent, and saw no reason to impose upon locals any longer than necessary. Learning that the animal had struck again that night, killing two sheep, Lee stationed hunters near the site of the attack and set his dogs back on the scent. A Burkes Garden Resident, Alfred Jones, killed the coyote after a chase of a few hours. Alfred was accompanied by Dewey Tibbs and Hugh Cox. The Varmint was killed in the Joe Moss Cemetery.
The creature was found to be quite large - it was nearly four-and-a-half feet long and weighed 35 pounds, and its fangs were an inch long.
Local residents were jubilant, and a dinner was held in Lee's honor. The coyote was strung up and hung from a tree near the courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
, and nearly 7,500 people came through to see both the hunter and the dead animal. The animal was stuffed and is currently on display at the Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell, Virginia
Tazewell, Virginia
Tazewell is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, USA. The population was 4,206 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area, which has a population of 107,578. It is the county seat of Tazewell County....
.
Marathon
In 1993, Burke's Garden began hosting the Varmint Half MarathonHalf marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
& 5K
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
race, held annually in June. Winners receive trophies in the shape of sheep to commemorate the destruction caused by the Varmint.