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From the bulletin Ruffed Grouse in New York State by A. M Stoddart. Common Oats a Menace With regard to the house cat, as a factor in the decrease of the grouse, the result of the Commission's inquiry indicates that it is a very serious menace, cats being given fourth place of importance by both protectors and sportsmen. One sportsman remarks that tracks in the snow are the best proof of the incredible number of cats ix the woods. Several game protectors complain of the depredations of cats left in deserted lumber camps, which have reverted practically to a wild state. New York S tate's new "cat law" passed in April, 1919, should prove of greot value in the elimination of hunting house cats. By the terms of this law, game protectors are required, and all holders of hunting licenses are encouraged to destroy cats at large found hunting birds.
Housecat Red Fox St. John, Harold. "Sable Island, with a Catalogue of Its Vascular Plants." Proc. Boston Soc. of Hat. Hist., Vol. 36, No. 1, p. 28: "In 1882 rabbits were again introduced and the story is almost parallel with the foregoing. They multiplied and became such a nuisance that in 1999, seven cats were brought from Halifax and in 1890, thirty more. hile the cats were wintering and fattening on the rabbits, seven red foxes were brought from the mainland and in a single season they made an end of all the rabbits and the cats."
Feral House Cats in Relation to Wildlife During November, Paul V. Jones, graduate student in wild game, traveled 2,555 miles on the highv ays in southern Texas. In this distance he saw 41 cats (one to 62.3 miles), 9 of wshich were taken. The contents of 13 storachs were analyzed during the month. Garbage and carrion, and small rodents such as cottonrtts ( Sigmodon hisius texianus), hispid Docket mice (Peroanathus hispidus hispidus), and cormaon house mice (:Jus musculus) made up the bulk of the food eaten. Three stomachs contained remains of birds. One, from e male cat killed in Colorado County, Texas,by Valgene Lehmann, contained the remains of an Attwuter Drairie chicken (Tpanuchus cido att%,ateri). The others contained remains of a meadowlark (Sturnella ma)e and a mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura).
Cat folder Note from "Progress Report of the New England Ruffed Grouse Investigation Committee," by Alfred 0. Gross, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me., Sept.l, 1920. Kitten found in stomach of a goshawk during 1926-27, New England Flight.
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Cat Folder Excerpt from "The Heath Hen," by A. 0. Gross, page 523. "The average weight of twenty-five adult cats secured on the island was nine pounds but some of the largest specimens weighed more than twelve pounds and one unusually large one trapped August 4, 1925, weighed eighteen pounds. The majority of the cats killed are in good condition indicating that they are able to secure an abundance of food.'
Extract from the book "Proaation of Wild Birds" by Herbert I. Job. (Prom Chapter VIII, Control of Vermin, paLe 1og) Stray Cats. The domestic cat is one of the worst >inds of "vermin" with which one has to deal in increasing birds. The various devices suit- able for such eanimals will usually reap a harvest of felines. It is astonishing 'ow many cats have taken to the woods, and are runninr wild and raising wild offspring. On the Eowell preserve, in a very remote and ountainous section of Connecticut, eleven miles from the nearest large town, Winsted, the keeper, William Whisker, told me he had killed nearly 200 of these semi-wild cats. Many people would be asonished if they knew how many miles their pussy, so quiet and demure in the daytime, had roamed by night, and how much game it had killed in a year".
Erringt on S. Dakota Cats. Most of the cats away from houses are toms. Usually head- quarter at abandoned farms but sometimes in brushes on river banks, sometimes in muskrat runs. Hartl ey Jackson Feral Cats. Many tracks in Lawrence County, I.W. Missouri, also in Oneida Co., Wisconsin. 2 miles from occupied dwellings. Never found litters. In S. Wisc. ran cats into den (hole in ground, Rock County) which looked as if it were a cat den. In southwest Wissouri hunting with coon dogs would tree about b cats to 1 coon and about as many possums as cats. Major Goldman Cats. Never heard of wildcats preying on house cat but would think it not unlikely. Bobcat. Has instance of their killing grbwn deer.
(Housecat Folder) From TEi SURVEY - March, 1924. One of our hunters in the Colorado District has written the followin, which is of interest as showing how rabies may be spread from coyotes to bobcats: "To-day while riding from the Dietz ranch to the head of Cottonwood Creek to follow a poison line down the Creek and back to the ranch, about six miles from camp I was attracted by a barkin, noise that sounded like a dog oing into a hard ficht. In some tall timber which had a thick undergrowth I was led by the noise to a point Where I got a glimpse of a large coyote and laree bobcat having a real battle. I could not shoot either of the animals from the horse I was riding as it was very scary. dismounted, all the time watching the fi ht, and then I tied the lines of the bridle to the foreleg of the horse. The bobcat and coyote discovered me by this time and as they ran I shot at the bobcat throukh the thick timber but did not stop it. In a near-by tree I noticed another bobcat which was not taking nart in the fight, but evi ently was looking on; I succeeded in shootii this cat, killing it. From all I saw the coyote seemed to be pushing the fiCht but the cat refused to take a tree. The snow was gone from the ground where the fight occurred and was only to be found in patches. I could tell from the snow that the coyote and bobcat had moved as they fouCht. This particular coyote had the nerve to take hold of this very large bobcat four or five different times. I col'Ad see from the signs that the fi ht had been on for some little time. One place in the snow showed the full print of the bobcat's body stretched out on its side and from the way the snow was torn up it looked as if the coyote had thrown him. There was plenty of fur ffom both the bobcat and coyote to be plainly seen." (Housecat Folder) From THE SURVEY - February, l92 . Follows Lion Track Four ays.-- G. E. Holman, leader of predatory- animal control in the Utah district, reports that Hunter Taft strck a lion track on January 23 and followed it for four 'ays. The do.s finally treed the animal near the place where they first strick its tract just after it had Rilled and eaten a bobcat caught in one of Mr. Taft's traps.
October 3, 198. Mr. Jean Li.Ial% Mbsem of Vertebate Io1og University of Caifornia* Berkele, California. Dear Mr. Liasialet Thanks very . fer your letter of October 31 eath house ca question. Your conjecture fit very well with uW -v ad I am oblied to yo for y aeullont w ry of the edition. I did not know that yu wer associated with Dr. Grinnel for who I have a ver high rega I wish somebod cul4 make a special study of the house eat supplemeting the w already done Iatts. With beet wishes, Your* sincerely, ALDO LEPL, In Charge, Gape Suvy 110 Ceistr B uildinM
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File copy. 421 Chemistry Building October 1?, 198. Dr. T. C. Stevens. MingailCide College, Sioux City, IOWa. Dear Dr. Stevens: r ws very much interested In th article by Jean H. Linsdale in the September *Wilsn Blletin'. dee 170, Mr. Linsdale speaks of the oat as destroying many birds. I vonder, in his intensive stdy of this area, hether he obsorved any oats which seemed to be truly wild In the gone# of nt making their headquarters at eny hun habitation? Evidently there is a zone terminating somewhero in Iowa where the cats can stay outdoors the year long, and a zone north of that where they ordinarily do not winter outdoors. The GUme 8urvey is naturally concerned in looating the boundary between these two zones since control measures would have to be governed aocordingly. If you think Mr. Linsdale could give any light on this question, I woold appreciate your fomarding to him the extra y of this letter, It might be that the members of Wilson Club would have evidence pr and con which might be rublised in the OBuletino. With kindest regards, Yours sincerely, AL"jO LEOPOLD, In Charge, gme Survey.
FOUNDED. FALL RIVER. MASS.. DECEMBER S. 1888 VICE.PRESIDENT THOMAS H. WHITNEY ATLANTIC. IOWA SECRETARY HOWARD K, *LOYD KANSAS STATE COLLEGE, MANHATTAN. KANSAS AFFILIATED SOCIETIES*. THE IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION THE KENTUCKY ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY THE TENNESSEE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY ixhe WtlIsn IfluUitn OFFICIAL ORGAN PRESIDENT. LYNDS JONES, 352 W. COLLEGE ST.. OBERLIN, OHIO COUNCILLORS ALBERT F. GANIER. NASHVILLE. TENN. P. U. COFFIN, CHICAGO. ILL. DR. ALFRED LEWY. CHICAGO. ILL CHRESWELL J. HUNT. CHICAGO. ILL. CLARENCE SRETSCH. GARY. INDIANA TREASURER J. W. STACK MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE E. LANSING. MICH. EDITOR OF THE BULLETIN T. C. STEPHENS MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE. SIOUX CITY, IOWA Sioux City, Iowa, October 20, 1928. Mr. Aldo Leopold, MaJison, Wisc., Dear Mr. Leopold;. I am very glad to forwardytur letter of the 17th to Dr. Linsdale. This is an interesting problem. I have just received a very interesting article on the habits and distribution of the Mungarian Partridge in Iowa, which will probably be published about March. Sincerely yours,
Mr. Edwin Yhr"U Sc Stt Dept. of Arclue Dear Mr. 7ruh I roet yo 1abi the * of a rther thrg stud of bos Cats .a i = sa2iou to obtain a cow of this publicatio sneI amocutierM soe interesting house- cat prols in my GosSuvy Oulit you s sopW f It or toll - where I oa t ot If thre Is c , plea" 'Ill me. Yours sic l, AIMO POD Feb. I * 1929.
~$6V/?/?flA9flIX~ DR. ARTHUR W. GILBERT February 7, 1929. COMMISSIONER Mr. Aldo Leopold, 421 Chemistry Building, Madison, Wisconsin. Dear Sir: Your letter to Mr. Forbush has been referred to me. His pamphlet on the house cat has been out of print for a number of years. You can possibly secure a copy by writing the Boston Bird Book Company, 162 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Yours t JBM:EMN 2/13/29. Wrote to publisher asin for copy, or infor~intion as to vhere it cnn be gotten.
Feb. 1, 1929. Mr. T. A. Colsn Moss Point, Kississi1ps Dear Mr. Onoulou Possbly you reeber ou discussion as toa pssible rea for th of wild housne oas in the stal ft oods? S* h te Mr, . L. St*dar hs tl me that he s e a wis pradw beli o ol w.a that the bat on house at.and also a s t lss prevalet blief that th gy fox does. Nam yo vr enonee &z evidw or even an ruo to this effet? With kiMst regas,, Tours. strely, ALDO LEOPOLD In Chare Gam Suvy.
Mr. esULflr Do Mr. Lemlor Boo of min *osu Mko the Qe -uve ha confronted -0 with -om q&ttOAs on the hm"Cat whih Ia entirel =&Ue to =SA90. he rinl) 9quetitoo $s der ibt sonditions Acer the boueseat r rt t a UW wild or feral condition in the sens Of hav1~g 4beS &A raising yob aM frmildigs *ethev occupied or oouwA Seth Gordo tolls as that it is his reoslecton that the JteZA Offiers of the ftmal1?ia Gimmssia somtime reprte cats ma and having yoa in the open duin his 1nmbc tboe. If oucold' aein~intly w44 this and give so an ide wbre I an to *at extent it ocs~ in enaqlwia, I would gretly apreiate it. Uth Godo also told me that at abot 1924 ia Perry C~t Poanylq 1a, a wesl was sht cwryn a hoeat kitten about 4 inhes loM. I 1o t I woul jt metion this a a intto of Seth thnk tt coon huner tmree nd ail a.. oo eats. This obioul ocur tosom - extent, but a evienc bearinga ftoter it Is a ro trol of cat ppuation woul be "r wlom. Rvyo ,v mw heard of any wild nia e a. pry:go husooats With kindest rear* Turs sinerely,
CCSOIAT OF F i SYLVA ¢IA Board of Game Commissioners Harrisburg, Pa. February 19, 1929. Mr. Aldo Leopold, 421 Chemistry Bldg., Madison, Wtsconsin. Dear Mr. Leopold: Your letter of February 15th addressed to Mr. Ross Leffler has been referred to me. I am sorry that I can ;ive you no personally collected data on reversion of the house cat to conditions sufficiently feral to induce the animals to rear their young in dens away from buildings. I do know, how- ever, that in Pennsylvania and West Virginia house cats are to be found in some numbers in wild timber so far away from villages or occupied dwellings as to lead us to believe that they are, in virtually every sense of the word, wild. These animals are frequently chased, treed and killed by 'coon hunters. As I recall my own experience in this field we killed from one to five such cats on every night trip. Incidentally, we also ran into a good many skunks. I could not without special inquiry determine how many house ats' dens have been found in the wilds by our men but I know that a good many have been found. In your third paragraph you refer to a weasel which was shot carrying a house cat kitten four inches long. I do not know of this particular case and the record was not placed in our mammal notes apparently. I do know, how- ever, that at the farm of Mr. Quincy W. Hershey located near York Springs, Adams County, Penn., a weasel killed one night a house cat kitten at least 11 inches lon (measuring tip of nose to tip of tail). The kitten was cau-ht on the back porch and its would,..be rescuers came to late to keep the weasel from killing it though they did catch the weasel. I do not know that either the fox or bob-cat ever preys upon the house cat; but I do know that both Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls which I have had in captivity killed cats upon occasion. A Great Horned Owl which I kept tethered in our back yard caught two half-grown kittens on one night. I am sorry that this data is of frajientary nature and if you do not need the material for some time I can, no doubt, get more definite material for you within the coming few weeks. Very truly yours, George Uiksch Sutton, Chief, Research and Info rmat ion.
___ 0J 7e%. 24, iwa. Mz. Ald u~od Dea Mr. twoo p. o $A t -X ftmkl ex 'that Us, bmt dos not ppe an bm Gtxp on& postivo thsat tbs gre fox does not. In AW OI~iw o a wo-t Ibav um80SA hg that mU a -O m toble tbgt t.bob ceat Sytax"osaggoft how Cat 1A. 0 ulso.
Fob. 19# 19a9. Mr. A. M. Stodart, Rod and Ou Editor, Nor York Su, ow Tor N. T. Icar Mr. StQart: I have boo reaing with interst your bulletin -ubllizeb in 191., Ruffed Groue in New Tott State", paticularly the oxtraot enlosed on heu ecats. If it is not too ih tradble for yu to loo it ~p would you kidndly let me know whoeth ai of the answers to your qaestLowire indliated intanoes in which eats had mertod to an enti ely wild state, that its instances whore they were found dmnnin or having you aay from any buildings? If there were such instances, I rould appreciate your putting s on the trac of them. Yours truly, ATIV" TTrA" 5T In Cbare, Game Survey.
GEORGE SHIRAS 3D, VICE-PRESIDENT ~lut~~~4fl 4 lug ~ri~*edh~e ~~eig*i~u BOARD OF DIRECTORS JOHN B. BURNHAM WILLIAM B. GREELEY GEO. BIRD GRINNELL WILLIAM S. HASKELL RAY P. HOLLAND AUGUSTUS S. HOUGHTON WILLIAM B. MERSHON GEORGE SHIRAS 3D FREDERIC C. WALCOTT CARLOS AVERY ADVISORY COMMITTEE JOHN C. PHILLIPS ORNITHOLOGIST AND SPORTSMAN HENRY FORD BIRD CONSERVATIONIST HENRY L. STIMSON HUNTER AND MOUNTAINEER HENRY S. GRAVES FORMER U. S. CHIEF FORESTER HENRY VAN DYKE AUTHOR C. HART MERRIAM FOUNDER U. S. BIOL. SURVEY HUGH L. SCOTT MAJOR GENERAL, U. S. A. A. K. FISHER U. S. BIOLOGICAL SURVEY JOHN E. THAYER ORNITHOLOGIST SIR CLIFFORD SIFTON CANADIAN CONSERVATIONIST AUSTIN CORBIN OWNER BLUE MOUNTAIN FOREST PARK GEORGE P. MCLEAN JOINT AUTHOR WEEKS-MCLEAN LAW THEODORE ROOSEVELT CONSERVATIONIST AND SPORTSMAN C. B. YANDELL GAME PROTECTIONIST E. T. D. CHAMBERS CANADIAN CONSERVATIONIST JOHN M. PHILLIPS NATURALIST, GAME PROTECTIONIST L. C. SANFORD ORNITHOLOGIST SINCLAIR WEEKS CONSERVATIONIST AND SPORTSMAN L. J. TABER MASTER NATIONAL GRANGE Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway New York City Essex, New York March 5, 1929 5~,~~) Mr. Aldo Leopold 421 Chemistry Bldg. Madison, Wisconsin Dear Aldo; Alexander Stoddart had forwarded me your recent letter to him relative to his bulletin of 1918, "RIffed grouse in New York State." I got Stoddart to handle this question. I am very sure that there were no instances given in the reports to the questionnaire where cats were found having their young in dens, though of course this is entirely possible. Once in late Winter I killed two very large and heavily furred male cats on a mountain a considerable dis- tanoe from human habitation, and judged that both were living in an absolutely wild state and hunting in company. It was as much of a job to kill these cats as it would have been to bag lynx, and if my hound had not treed them, I would not have gotten them. One was killed several hours after the other. I never saw more thickly furred wild animals. Very sincerely yours, AUGUSTUS S. HOUGHTON, SEC'Y-'rREASURER CARLOS AVERY, PRESIDENT
MONTANA WILD LIFE , Traunsiplant Elk With Trac~tor ONTANA sportsmen who have re- quested cooperation of the State Fish and Game Department in defraying half the expense in securing carloads of elk from the National Bison Range at Molese for distribution in suitable areas, have been extending every assistance to make "the plant" successfully. While many states are crying for Montana elk for transplant- ing, many of these monarchs of the forest have been sold to be butchered for meat and sold to eastern corpora- tions or given to Indians. Those which have been requested by state clubs of sportsmen have been moved in the dead of one of the hardest winters in the history of the state. Sportsmen have demonstrated their sportsmanship. One of the most interesting incidents of the transfer of a shipment of these elk is explained in the weekly report of Allen T. Holmes, deputy state game warden stationed at Billings, who as- sisted in unloading and liberating the consignment for the Red Lodge club. They constructed a huge sled, hauled it into the hills with the aid of a cater- pillar engine and only three elk were lost. But let Deputy Holmes tell the story in his own words: on bare ground. The cow that had the hair off her left side was in the creek dead. We pulled her out of the creek and out of the way. Then we put some hay where this other cow could eat it. Another cow in the first load looked as though she had the distemper. "When we came back to the sleigh one bull was still there, so we threw out the hay in the bottom of the sleigh. He started to eat some of the ha and was standing there when we went out of sight. Outside of the three I have mentioned I think the others will make it all right, after a few days of sun- shine and a little rest. They will get over their soreness and excitement from being penned up. The elk did well for wild animals not used to being handled by man, penned up and shipped by rai then unloaded from the car inn on a sleigh, and hauled ad one- half miles by a cater4r tractor over a snow road one ix feet deep." "John L. Corey furnished these. The poles were spiked at ends and to the upright pieces and the rear end was fixed so that poles could go through when the elk were loaded. We used one-by-twelve-inch boards, eighteen feet long, and nailed them to the poles on the inside so that the elk could not get their feet through the cracks between the poles, four feet high. One cow elk was down in the car when we opened it and she had been tramped quite a bit. The hair on her left side was about half off, and left her skin bare. They showed fight from the start. "It was four and one-half miles from Red Lodge to the mouth of Nickles creek where we turned the elk loose, and the Red Lodge Rod and Gun Club had 15 bales of timothy hay scattered there but the elk did not stop to look at the hay. They went up on the side of the mountain and stopped and looked around. Then some of them started to brouse and didn't seem to be afraid. "When we got up with the last load two stood around close to the back end of the sleigh. Then we went up the creek to where one cow was in the snow up to her belly. We got her out WILk1 1 I,1aut1l UUUUM UULUL U SCe le- line enemies of song birds, ground- nesting birds on farms and in the woods, the club merits the com- mendati f Montana sportsmen. The N York City division of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports the elim- ination of 322,279 cats in a period of eighteen months. It would appear that this society is alive to the importance of radically reducing the number of domestic cats in the Interest of increas- ing the bird population. James Sheldon, writing in this report, says that along the beaches near New York last year a multitude of cats were left behind by vacationists. They became ravenous and actually fought with the fishermen for the fish they brought ashore. They climbed porches at night and entered homes in search of food. I MONTANA BEAVER WORTH FORTUNE FFICIAL records of the State Department showing the num- ber of beaver trapping permits issued at $10 each, where farmers and stockmen complain of beaver damaging irrigation ditches or flood- ing meadows, make an interesting tabulation. Before a permit is is- sued, the Commission insists that the premises be inspected by a game warden. During 1915 and 1916 there are no permits of record as none was required by law. Then during 1919-1920 the fee was waived by law. In 1927 the largest number of per- mits, 641, was issued. During 1929 the total reached 582. The follow- ing table shows the number of per- mits issued since 1915: 19 15 ................ ............ 19 16 .. ----_------ 1917 __........................... 213 19 18 ................................ 10 0 1 9 1 9 ------------------------........ * 1 9 2 0 ----_-----_----------- - 1921 ................... 242 1922 ................... 244 1923 ........... .............. 259 1924 ----------------- 139 192 5 -------------------------------- 5 62 607 1927...... ........641 1 928 ------- 613 1929 8------- , r 2 SportsmO~oii Wair on(Ct lt ................................................ I
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE flume~~~~ 0.uu =rn n. nfA* o Oft WASHINGTON, 0. 0. ADDRESS REPLY TO CHIEF. BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY AND REFER TO Jul. 19, 1929. GP -5 X, Mr. Aldo Leopold, In Charge, Gme Surveyr, 421 Chemistry Building, Madison, Wisoonsin. Dr Mr. Leopolds Receipt is acknowuledge of your letter of Jay 12 and I want to &as= yon that I enjoyed reading your report very much ineed ad an in a position to understa the tremeu of effort which must have gone into its preaxtion. Perhaps in 7 commnts r.lative to boboats kilns house oats I should have explained that I had er witnessed evidence of such an attock personlly but I have heard of such tances suffi oeatly often an frm s oes suffioiently reliable so that I feel assured of the facts, In my old ho in Vermont when [ as a younster bob- oats were fairlyne rus and I used to hear the wosmn tell of loslng their house oats in this v .nner I have often hear of similar instmoes occurring in sections of Canaa where boboats and bay lynxs are fairly abuant. I ti4nk perhaps that an inquiry direoted in reg$ops where these anils are reasonbly abundat will furnish fresh f ots on the subjeot. In my boyhood I heard the se stories quite frequently ad ca to accept them as faots without having an opportuniy to view any eviAene personall. I my say that I have no doubt as to this tenency. here is some proof to substantiate the matter in the knou fact that my of the half-wild male house oats 'will attack and kill kittens at eight. Ton are quite welcoo to make any use of this statement that you wish and I am sorry that I cannot give you definite etails. With best personal viheso, I am Sincerely yours, H. P. Sheldon, U. S. Geme Conservation Offioer.
Quotation from "The Arctic Prairies" by Ernest Thompson Seton, page 13. U "As I walked down the cro ked trail along whichsraggle the cabins, I saw something white in a tree at the far end. Supposing it to be a White-rabbit in a snare, I went near and found, to my surprise, first that it was a dead house-cat, a rare species here; second, under it, eyeing it and me alternately, was a hungry-looking Lynx." (Passage has reference to the Indian village of Pelican Portage, which is 60 miles north of Athabaska Landing.)
The Winter Status of the Feral Housecat in East Central South Dakota Paul L. Errington My generalizations deal with the Sioux River and the Oakwood Lakes of Brookings County, South Dakota, roughly, from 1917 to 1928. Cat tracks were to be seen along wooded lake shores and stream courses at practically any time throughout the winter months. The cats responsible for these tracks were, almost without exception,. old Toms which often frequented brushy tracts as far as three-quarters of a mile from the nearest inhabited human dwellings. Since the community referred to was well settled, three quarters of a mile represented the approximate maximum distance that an animal would be liable to wander from an occupied building. It was rarely that a Feral Cat shunned human society to the ex- .tent that he would not enter a farmyard, although he might be wild enough to whisk under a shed or go bounding through the woods at the first appear- ance of a man. Deserted buildings on a river bank usually harbored a variable fauna, among which could be listed Mice, Rats, Squirrels, Cottontails, and Pheasants (in rank surrounding weed patches of Marsh Elder, Ragweeds, Nettles, and Sweet Clover) in addition to transient or resident predators such as Weasels, Skunks, and vagrant House Cats. Sometimes a Red Fox scouted the en- virons. Under an old hog house on an untenanted river farm, I caught in three seasons out of four, a total of 6 House Cats, all Toms, 30 Skunks (Mephitis), 1 Weasel, 2 Barn Rats, 1 Fox Squirrel, 20+Cottontails (no count kept), and numerous Mice (Mus and Microtus). From the foregoing it can be readily seen that a vacant farm affords food and shelter to a host of wild
life, not the least of which is the House Cat. In the hardwood river brush, I have tracked Cats to refuges which include holes in the ground (Rabbit and Skunk dens), cavities behind overhanging root-tangles, hollow trees, and roadside culverts. Summer cot- tages along a lakeshore, provided that they have holes underneath, prove very acceptable from the standpoint of stray cats. As a whole it might be said that a Feral Cat will prefer a group of ruinous farm buildings, if relatively undisturbed and grown up to weeds, to the more primal native timber environ- ment. I presume that this is true because of retention of semi-domestic feline habits and the great availability of suitable food about places of this description. I have made it a practice to shoot tats whenever I could, unless they were virtually in somebody's yard. Examination of their stomachs dis- closed that very few are mousers to any appreciable degree. The average (if an haverage'$ can be taken) stomach content ran something like this: 1 mouse, part of a Cottontail, part of a Pheasant. It isn't certain that every Pheasant or game bird eaten by these Cats was necessarily killed by them; however the general unfavorable evidence against the hunting House Cat is sufficiently complete so that there seems to be little chance of unjust accusations in the majority of post-mortem cases. As to effect of cold upon House Cats, I cannot recall having seen fresh Cat tracks at temperatures lower than ---- 20 F. In South Dakota ---20 F is cold; ---- 30 F to ---400F, extremely cold. At the former temperature the activity of most wild creatures will show a decrease; at the latter, minks cease running and, consequently, one would expect to find no Cats abroad. Some Cats are out at - 20 F. During a cold snap in the last of December, 1927, when the weather was seldom warmer than - 200 F, I remarked
on consecutive days the track of a large Tom on open lake shore. This individual had a regular den under the roots of a shore- line Cottonwood tree, though he spent time about a group of occupied farm buildings more than a mile away. I suspect that he visited another farm a half mile in the opposite direction from the Cottonwood, but I didn't inves- tigate. While I had a trap set for his especial reception--which trap1in- cidentally, was put out of order by drifting snow--I noted that he once stay- ed in the den for two days without trying to leave. From childhood on, I have encountered Cats, mainly in town, which were suffering from frojen feet. As nearly as I recollect, these Cats were either kittens or sickly, scrawny, under-sized animals in poor physical con- 60 dition withstand exposure. I doubt very much if a healthy, mature Tom-cat, in ordinary game country, would succumb to Eastern South Dakota cold. He might be compelled to go hungry once in a while or to lay up a few successive days under a shed or in a hole somewhere, but he is quite able to take what punishment he would need to. The periods of extreme cold are of relatively short duration in the locality discussed, and there is always to be found a limited amount of food and wholly adequate shelter, natural or artificial, according to the taste or requirements of the Cat. Madison, Wisconsin September 11, 1929
September 10, 1929 Professor H. W. Wight School of Forestry & Conservation Ann Arbor, Michigan Dear Wight: Last spring Stoll of the Detroit News asked us to loan him Sabin to break in the keeper of a private estate near Detroit. We diii this and Stoll brought in to me a list of "vermin" which he stated had been taken from less than 2500 acres during the two months ending August 15th. I know very little as to the location or character of these lands but Stoll thought the list was authentic and, if so, it would certainly seem that some manner of vermin control was in order on these premises. 1 fox (red) - 9 cats 139 skunk 30 red sq. 22 weasel 11 house rat 10 dogs 2 badgers b mink 75 crows 629 Eng. sparrow 18 starling 2 great horned owl 1 sharp shinned hawk 2 yellow belly woodpecker 1l snapping turtle 34 gar pike 56 wood cbuck holes gassed Yours very truly, P. S. Lovejoy Game Division 14
Housecat folder Excerpt from "Fins, Feathers, and Fur," No. 77, Sept. 1929 VtAIGRA-1 T HuUSL CATS "The greatest destroyers of birds are our housecats. They destroy our most valuable birds, those that were created for our benefit to destroy noxious weed seeds and all kinds of harmful insects that are a menace to livestock and necessary vegetation." Warden Klet's reference to the house cat's destruction of game birds recalls an instance related by Warden Sheridan Greig, of Pine County. His children being pleased with a large black cat that strayed into his place one winter's day several years ago, he let it remain, against his better judgment. Several mornings later the cat was missing and seeing the trail led in the direction which he intended to patrol that day, he followed it to see what the cat would do. Within the first mile that cat had caught and partialiy eaten two grown partridges. Needlessto say, Warden Greig snowshoed that trail until the cat was eliminated; and the trail was seven miles long before the demise took place.
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THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE L. J. COLE MADISON R.A. BRINK H. L. RUSSELL, DEAN AND DIRECTOR 23 April, 1930 Mr. Aldo Leopold Game Survey, 421 Chemistry Bldg. Dear Mr. Leopold: I Just got back a day or two ago from my western trip and am trying to get caught up on accumulated corres- pondence. I am returning your slip asking for information on the gestation period and breeding of the domestic cat. Marshall, in his "Physiology of Reproduction" gives the gestation period as nine weeks but I do not know the mini- mum breeding age and d seem to have anything here in the office that gives it. I am under the impression, how- ever, that it is, as you suggest, a year. When I have time to get up to Agricultural Eibrary, I will look in some of the cat books and shall see whether I can find a state- ment on this point, or if you are in a hurry, I would sug- gest that you might look it up if you happen to be in Ag- ricultural Hall. Many thanks for the reference to Bergtold's paper. I think I have a copy of this but have not yet had time to look it up. I knew of this paper but did not appreciate that it was the one to which you were making reference. I have got to go to Washington the last of this week and expect to be back about the 3rd of May. I hope then we may have time to get together occasionally and discuss some things of mutual interest. Sincerely, L. J. Cole LJC"n Professor of Genetics
ATTLVE POUND CIT3 T One of the largest half-wild domestic cats ever killed in the history of the Ga-me Comission was received at their offices recently, it weighed 12 pounds cnd me.sured thre feet from tip of heo-d to tip of til, In coloration the cat is a confused nixture of blacks, brovms, grc.ys and whites, soewh at tigerish in appeoarance. It was shot from a large >ealock tree in Bald Eagle Township, Clinton County, by Mr . Robert Farwell -end taken to Division Game Supervisor John' B, Ross of Lock Haven, who in turn forwarded it to te Game Comission. The specimen -will be mounted.
ReviewinA House Cats an, (I Birds of Prey (In printing the various articles which we receive from our contributors we ofttimes find that such artices bring out opposite views expressed by persons who are readers of this magazine. Recently we published an article by Jack Miner, entitled "Hou s CATS AND B-ros op PREY." We now have an article from our frien Dr. A. K. Fisher, Senior Biologist, United States Bre of Biological Survey.) IT certainly does not help restoration, I purposely omit conservation, which word hai become so warped and distorted through improper usage to have such papers as "House Cats and Birds Prey" by Jack Miner broadcasted through the country. This paper is so full. of misstatements and errors it would seem to be wronging the public to let it go unnoticed. When men have outgrown hunting water-fowl for the market, and have become interested in a few species furnishing material for lectures and moving pictures, they rarely are tolerant of species that may interfere even slightly with their hobbies, or are of little pecuniary interest to them. Education may have had something to do with lessening wholesale slaughter of small birds, but if the Treaty Act with its over-shadowing penalty was not in existence, it is fair to assume that swallows, cedar birds, vireos, kingbirds, robins and other thrush- es, still would continue to be for sale in some of the markets and their killing in evidence eleswhere. Mr. Miner claims that the slow increase of "these cheerful, lovable birds" rarely shot nowadays, is due to their natural enemies keeping them down, which knowledge he says he secured from woods and fields. He further states they are not winter kifled because they migrate. Such thoughtless statements are absurd. Orni- thologists know that perils may accompany migration at every step, and those who have made a careful study of the subject estimate that at least fifty percent of the migratory birds-even from extended areas- may be lost in a single trip. Wind storms, rain, sleet, losing their ffightline, or lack of food are among the more important causes leading to their destruction. In a locality a species may have been abundant JOHN F. MILLER GAIN has taps sounded for an employee of the Game and Fish Department; once more a beloved co-worker has been taken from us. John F. Miller was born February 27, 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a veteran of two wars, having served in the Spanish-American and World War; an injury sustained while in camp at San Antonio pre- vented service over-seas in the latter war. He was a regular army man, having retired from active duty some eight years ago. He faithfully and efficiently served the Department for the past seven years in the accounting division and his unselfish spirit of co-operation will be sadly missed by his fellow workers. He is survived by the widow, Mrs. Louise Miller, one daughter, Ethel, and four boys, Frederick, Gee A fred. Funeral services uder Mason pices and he w ur with ilitaryMhon at the Fo Selling Cemetery. 13 before migration and then almost absent for a series of years following, showing that some accident had befallen them. The cuckoo was abundant about Washington half a dozen years ago and their notes heard in every good sized woodland-since then, a few only have been heard through the entire summer season. In 1895 a three day sleet storm practically killed all bluebirds in the states between South Carolina and Maine by covering their food and chilling their bodies. In February, 1897, Mr. Wayne reported thousands of woodcocks being killed in South Carolina by an icy storm. A protracted cold storm in June, 1903, killed large numbers of adult and young of the martin and other insect-eating birds, and in March, 1904, millions of longspurs were killed in a driving snow- storm in Minnesota. Dr. T. S. Roberts after making careful calculations, estimated that there were 750,000 dead birds on the surface of two frozen lakes about two square miles in area. Personally I counted two-hundred and fifty-six dead English sparrows under a tree in the Smith- sonian grounds in August after a cold thunderstorm. The above citations are merely samples, and plainly show what is happening to a greater or lesser degree at all times. It readily can be understood that an individual will become prejudiced against a Cooper hawk or sharp-shinned hawk that molests his chickens or birds, but how anyone with even a vestige of open mind can believe that a marked general diminution in the abundance of bird life is due to inroads of natural enemies is beyond normal comprehension. Point Pelee fifteen miles from his home is one of the well known flight routes of migratin birds between the United States and Canada which ac- counts for his seeing all the hawks that pass to and from the eastern United States. We are greatly in need of many more hawks because through ignorant intolerance toward their enemies, field mice and pine mice have so increased that millions of dollars worth of orchards are des- troyed by them annually in the apple sections of eastern United States. If Mr. Miner thinks there are ten times too many hawks, why are there not ten times too many geese, and why should that fool change be made in the bag limit, impossible of enforcement, when there is not enough food to properly feed the present number of water-fowl? Where there is a hotel travelers go for shelter and not to see the proprietor or guests-and in the same way migrating birds that depend on trees for rest go there primarily for that purpose and not because other species are present. Mr.-Miner's grove is used as any other clump would be, along their routes. It is hard to understand the mental complex of those professing faith, and who approach the Infinite with full adulation attempting, without a blush, to rearrange in Nature to suit their selfish wishes, those things which have worked in harmony for millions of years. Believing as they profess they do, it would seem too mild an expression to refer to their action as travesty! Sportsmen and naturalists agree that cats will eat mice, but not if birds are available for food. In my old home in southern New York cats ate the young from sixteen robins' nests one season, when mice were common in the meadowsof adjoiningproperty. On this point I can not agree with Mr. Miner, but do agree fully with the editorial comment on the eat at the head of the article. If cats and rats could be eliminated other natural enemies of birds need hardly be considered. -Dr. A. K. Fisher. filas, 4Pallbers =aiuir
HOUSE CATS AND BIRDS OF PREY The following extract is from an article by Jack Miner of Kingsville, Ontario, and is quoted as a matter of interest: "The house cat is the natural mouse hunter, but takes birds if he can get them; but these Hawks and Owls are natural bird hunters but will take mice if they cannot get birds. All men that are ac- quainted with the above mentioned creatures know that this is true. Now don't be led to believe that I am in favor of the house cat. I have not kept one on my premises for over thirty years and I destroy every one that comes on the premises; but the Great Horned Owl is five times more destructive on birds than the cat ever was. Never in my life have I known a cat to climb over fifteen feet high in a tree for the sole purpose of getting a bird's nest, nor have I seen his claw marks around an empty nest that high in a tree; but there is not a bird that can build high enough or low enough to be out of reach of the Great Horned Owl. Yes, it is true the Great Horned Owl will kill Crows now and then and that is the reason the Crows are fighting him and trying to drive him out of the country before he goes to roost; but remember, the Great Horned Owl also kills the Red-tailed Hawk, and a Red-tailed Hawk kills fully five times as many Crows as an Owl does, for the crow is one of the easiest birds for an awkward Red-tailed Hawk to catch. When we are catch- ing Crows here, one of our handicaps is the Red-tailed Hawk coming and disturbing them. I have seen this great favorite of mine dart right under my Crow net after Crows and you can well believe I didn't catch many Crows that morning."
i'TWELYE POUND HOUSE CAT One of the largest half-wild domestic cats ever killed in the history of the Pennsylvania Game Commission was re- ceived at their offces recently. It weighed 12 pounds and meas>ured three feet from tip o head to tip f al.I Coloration the e t is a confused. mixture of blacks, browns, grays and whites, somewhat tigerish in appearance. It was shot from a large hemlock tree in Bald Eagle Township, Clinton County, by Mr. Robert Farwell and taken~ to Division Game Supervisor John B. Ross of Lock Raven, who in turn forwarded it to the Game Commission. The speci- men will be mounted.
527 TWELVE POUND HOUSE CAT MARAUDER DESTROYED "The Service Bulletin of the California Fish & Game Depart- ment discloses a report from Pennsylvania of a twelve pound semi- wild domestic cat being shot down from a large tree- he cat measured three feet from tip to tip and was tigerish in appear- ance, showing how rapid reversion to the wild state takes place, increasing weight and size. The Missouri Game Department reports that every time a hunter kills a semi-wild domestic cat he saves his daily quail bag limit. 1600 persons, receiving pheasant eggs in the state cooper- ative pheasant egg hatch, report that domestic cats caused more deaths of young pheasants than died from natural causes. Sports- men are urged to do their part in curbing the depredations caused, by house cats running wild, Farmers who permit cats to roam about their places are keep- ing away birds which aid materially in destroying insect pests. City dwellers cannot attract birds with bird houses, bird baths and feed pans so long as their greatest natural enemy, the cat, is sneaking, sleeking around, ready to pounce." This is all very true, as our men at the du Pont Experimental Game Farm at Carney's Point, New Jersey, can well attest. We recently began to suffer losses in our pheasant pen. One or more birds were found dead in our winter pen every day for several days, Fresh tracks of a cat in and about the pen offered the only clue to the reasons for this mortality. Considerable ef- fort was made to trap the cat, but to no avail, until the entire pen was made a trap by slanting a piece of two foot wire from the top of the fence inward, so that a cat getting into the pen would be unable to get out. It meant the sacrifice of at least one bird more, but it worked. Two cats were trapped in this manner on consecutive days, less than fifteen days after our first loss, having accounted up to that time for nine full grown pheasant breeders.
Refuge Keeper L. D. Rearick killed a 'rge house oat that had 2 rabbit ears, the tail of a chipmunk, and the wi0 of a grouse in its stomach. The cat weighed 10 pounds.
TWELVE-POUND HOUSE CA
A recent report from an Eastern state rev als that a 12-pound
semiwild domestic cat was shot from the top of large hemlock tree.
The cat measured three feet from tip of head to p of tail. In colora-
tion it is a confused mixture of blacks, browns, grays and whites and
the animal was somewhat tigerish in appearance. The specimen will
be mounted. This is believed to be a record.
Missouri Game and Fish Department reports that every time a
hunter kills a semiwild cat he can easily figure that he has saved his
daily bag limit of bobwhite quail. A checkup of the results of the
cooperative pheasant egg hatch shows that after the 26,000 eggs had
hatched, cats caused more deaths of young pheasants than died of
natural causes. The toll taken by predatory animals and hawks was
very meager in comparison to the toll taken by cats, the report filed
by the 1600 persons who received eggs revealed. Sportsmen are urged
to do their part in curbing the depredations caused by the common
house cats permitted to run wild.
Farmers who permit cats to roam on their places are keeping
away birds which aid materially in destroying insect pests. City
dwellers must be content with only empty bird houses if they keep cats,
bird authorities point out, as feeding places, houses and baths are not
sufficient incentive for birds when their greatest natural enemy, the
cat, is about.
More than 300 semiwild house cats have been killed in Southern
Butte County by an expert hunter for the Feather River Rod and Gun
Club in California, according to reports coming to this office. Stomachs
of 100 of these cats were opened and in 99 of them was found bird meat,
principally duck and quail. Only one cat was found to have fed on
mice.
This gives some idea of the importance of elminating these clever
creatures from our game lands.
zd
r('0
File: Cat I/ Hawks & Owls Maryland Predator chapter, text Extract from "Bird-Bandtig," Vol. III, No. 1, January, 1932. General Notes, page 33- AN INTRESTING GREPAT HORNED OWL CAPTURS--While returning from tending a duck trap on the Walter P. Chrysler estate at Horn's Point on the Choptank River, Maryland, just after dark on the evening of October 7. 1931, I flushed a Great Horned Owl, which fluttered up in front of my car and flew laboriously down the road. The headlights showed it to be carrying something heavy, something which it could not lift two feet off the ground. I gave chase, and the bird dropped clumsily a hundred yards farther on, to crouch defensively atop the prey it seemed so loath to leave. I stopped the car twenty feet away and turned on my strong spotlight. The owl's attention was riveted by the dazzling beam, and while it stood motionless staring into the glare, I crept up cautiously on the dark side, threw my jacket over it, and pinioned it down. After wrapping the claws in my handkerchief to prevent accidents, and folding the bird safely in my jacket, I stopped to pick up its prey, which, to my surprise (and delight) proved to be a half-grown house cati The kill evidently had just been made, for the llmp body was still warmand quivering. The owl weighed forty ounces, and from its small size I judged it to be a male. The cat weighed nineteen ounces, almost half as much as its captor. 0. L. ihtta,Jr., Bureau of Biological Survey, Cambridge, Maryland.
/I / / THE MARAUD The house cat the ancient H and Babylonian ourus" of the e Romans, origi "cat," is now ki a marten cat, a mal. It seems to ha a wild species fr east central Afr cated by the Eg crossed with a species originall proved so valua fields of mice a stroying vermii tians came to de an extensive ca bodies of cats w preserved religi After the con cat was import( Rome, replacing and from there Game Commission f 4 !,# C ff J Game Protector Ralph A. iphart of Homestead Releasing Cock Ringnecked Pheasant ING HOUSE CAT ove Europe generally. And some- like other things, was not known to whe e along the line it was crossed or starve, a cat m ,brews, Assyrians mode or less with the European has no place in si s, and the "ail- wilicat (Felis catus), a cat having, tory, and must be earlier Greeks and in ontrast to our own wildcat, a to maintain our inally translated st ped body and a long ringed tail game. At presen iown to have been --so that the present house cat is in the aggregate, very different ani- partly European wildcat, and the stroys more small present European wildcat partly other predator in] ave been originally house cat. om north or north- But somewhere along the way-- rica, first domesti- due to changed conditions and With all these ryptians, and later man's mismanagement-the house cigarette ads th decidedly different cat has degenerated from a bless- doors is gettin' y from China. It ing to a very serious predatory beauty contest. ble in clearing the pest,-when it is allowed (or nd other grain-de- forced) to roam at large and sup- n thatl the Egyp- port itself in a small game country. The main diff fy it and developed A cat kept at home, day and a sport and a sp , religion, and the night, is one thing; a cat roaming man part of it ere mummified and the woods and fields at night-and ously. in many cases "dumped out" and luest of Egypt this forced to go wild and live on small This "cent a ed into Greece and game-is a very different thing. tainly would be t their marten cat, And whatever one's sympathy with representation. gradually spread the victim of circumstances, that, shell" tax cer- axation without N '"iQ \. '4 ' f \ ' Fr must either kill ost emphatically nall game terri- killed if we are stock of small t the house cat, undoubtedly de- game than any Pennsylvania. billboards and e great out of to look like a erence between ortsman is the
-2- (JV E. E. Lee will put in some winter bunting for mountain lions in the Chiricahuas where lions are damaging game and live- stock quite heavily. We are Dleased to state that all of our hunters are now operating at lower elevations where severe storms are not likely to damage their catch. Last year we had several men snow-bound and considerable time was lost thereby. WUe notice that the skins coming in are being very well taken care of and the new stretchers that r. Gilchrist designed for us are greatly improving the appearance of the furs as a whole. We note from the reports received from Denver that you are continuing to turn in stomachs in good shape. Please con- tinue to do this. Domestic stock and game listed below represent depreda- tions by various predators that were actually found by hunters during the month. No effort is made to show similar reports reaching this office from other sources. Killed b-v Lion: 17 deer, 5 calves, 5 sheep. Killed by Coyote: 4 lambs, 9 sheep, 107 chickens, 8 turkeys, 6 calves, 8 goat kids, 10 goats, 3 deer. Killed by Bobcats: 4 quail, 70 chickens, 33 turkeys, 1 sheep, 2 lambs. Killed by Bear: 6 hogs and 1 steer. Killed se cats. Killed by Eagles: 1 turkey. Killed by house cats: 1 lamb. Rodent News: November finds all of our rodent work getting under good way for the winter. The following report from the various coun- ties has been taken in part from reports submitted by the several assistants in their respective districts. Yua County - P. IU. Mercer, kssistant in Charge Gooher control operations were carried on in Yuma, South Gila, North Gila and Mohawk Valleys, poisoned sweet potato bait being used for the most part. Traps were used in the South Gila Valley on some land that had been treated with poison and resulted in almost complete eradication. The acreage that was trapped is fairly isolated from any infested area and should be free from infestation for some time.
WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT!
An ordinary house cat, eighteen inches
high, killing three six weeks old pigs. It
happened in Erie County several months ago
and the farmer and owner of the pigs acci-
dentally told the story when he brought the
pelt of the cat to the environmental exhibit
of the Board of Game Commissioners, then
on display in that city, and desired to know
if a bounty was paid on such an animal. He
was disappointed when be was Informed that
such claims were only paid on the wild cat.
"It was about ten o'clock at night wht4
we heard the pigs squealing," the farmer
excitedly informed Trapper Blair Davis at
the exhibit. "We ran to the barn, and the
animal (we didn't know what it was at the
time) was finishing the last of the three
young pigs as we approached. It ran out,
up a tree, down again and then up a tele-
graph pole where It stayed until we shot It."
ABOUT 250 SPECIES OF BIRDS
OCCUR IN PENNSYLVANIA
I
I
The Problem of the Vagrant Cat 'By T. GILBERT PEARSON THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AUDUBON SOCIETIES Circular No. 18 I T is a widely recognized fact that domestic cats are great destroyers of wild bird-life. Particularly is this true during the spring months when the young birds are leaving the nest. Many people do not observe the destruction which these animals inflict upon the bird population about every town and in the countryside, because the killing is done largely dur- ing the hours of darkness and in the early morning. Drivers of motor cars at night frequently see the eyes of marauding cats by the roadside. Control should be exercised over the cat population and arrangements made for destroying humanely vagrant and unwanted cats, the numbers of which are exceedingly great. Cats are known to be carriers of disease, their cries at night disturb the slumbers of men and women everywhere, and thousands of sick people are rendered nervous and irritable by Grimalkin's nocturnal serenades. STATE LAWS FOR KILLING CATS Legislation has been enacted in the following states to encourage the destruction of bird-hunting cats: California Fish and Game Laws. "All cats found within the limits of any fish and game refuge shall be considered and classed as predatory animals and subject to all provisions of law relating to the destruction or killing of such animals, and the Board of Fish and Game Commissioners, their depu- ties and employees are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to kill all such cats so found within the limits of such fish and game districts; provided, however, that the provisions of this section are not applicable to any cat while it is in or at the residence of its owner or upon the grounds of the owner adjacent to such resident." Conservation Laws of Maryland. "Any person may and it shall be the duty of any deputy game warden or other officer of this state to humanely destroy any cat found hunting or killing any bird or animal protected by law and no action for damages shall be maintained for such killing." New Jersey Fish and Game Laws. "Any person holding a valid hunting and fishing license may, and it shall be the duty of any Fish and Game Warden or peace officer, to humanely destroy any cat found hunting or killing any bird or animal protected by law or with a dead bird or animal of any species protected by law in its possession; and no action for dam- ages shall be maintained for such killing." New York Conservation Law. "Any person over the age of twenty-one years, who is the holder of a valid hunting, trapping and fishing license, may, and it shall be the duty of a game protector or other peace officer, to
humanely destroy a cat at large found hunting or killing any bird protected by law or with a dead bird of any species protected by law in its possession; and no action for damages shall be maintained for such killing." LICENSING OF CATS BY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES The National Association of Audubon Societies has on numerous occa- sions called attention to the perfectly natural bird-catching habits of these animals. It financed the publication and distribution of the most complete treatise on the subject that has ever been issued, viz., "The Domestic Cat," by Edward Howe Forbush. For many years we have urged the passage of state laws and municipal ordinances intended to reduce the surplus cat population. The Garden Club of America and many other organizations also have sought to have the stray cat evil mitigated. The International Cat Society of New York City, formed in 1931, has tried to induce municipal authorities to enact cat license ordinances, and in two years has been successful in three instances. The Audubon Association recently wrote the mayors of four thousand cities and towns on the subject. One hundred and fifty-six answers have been received, about half of which ask for further information. We know of only ten towns in the United States which have adopted cat ordinances. These are: Harrison, Larchmont, and the Village of Roslyn Harbor, New York; Milburn, Montclair, and Pomp- ton Lakes, New Jersey; Seattle, Washington; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Massillon, Ohio; and Maywood, Illinois. Communicating with the authori- ties of these towns, we found that there has been extremely little observ- ance of the cat license features. People do not want to pay a license on cats, and public sentiment in most places is preventing the enforcement of these measures. A SUGGESTED ORDINANCE FOR THE LICENSING OF CATS The Cat-License Ordinance prepared and promulgated by the Interna- tional Cat Society of 101 Park Avenue, New York City, is as follows: "Section I-Cats to Be Licensed: It shall be unlawful to own, harbor or maintain a cat of more than six months of age unless the owner thereof or the person harboring or maintaining the same shall have a valid and sub- sisting license for such cat. "Section I1-License Fees: The annual license fees for cats over six months of age shall be as follows: 1. Each male cat, $1.00; 2. Each female cat, $2.00; provided, that if, accompanying the application for licensing a spayed female cat, there shall be a certificate from a licensed veterinary surgeon that said female cat has been properly spayed, the annual license fee shall be $1.00. Provided, further, that any person keeping or having in his possession cats for breeding purposes, and the selling and exchange of such cats, may obtain a kennel license for the kennelling of cats of five or more in number, and shall pay for such kennel license the sum of $5.00. No license shall be granted for a period exceeding one year, and all licenses shall expire on the day of in each year. "Section III-Tags to Be Issued: A metal tag or tags marked with a number, to correspond with the number of the license, shall be issued with said license and shall be attached to a collar and shall, at all times, be worn by the cat so licensed when at large. "Section IV-Unlicensed Cats at Large: Any person over the age of twenty-one years may, and it shall be the duty of every police officer, to destroy humanely an unlicensed cat at large, and no action for damages shall be maintained for such killing. "Section V-Penalties: Any person violating the provisions of this ordi- nance shall, upon conviction of such violation, be subject to a fine in an amount not to exceed Ten ($10.00) Dollars: "Note: Where objection is made Section V may be omitted. Also, cost of license may be made optional,to suit the requirements of your municipality." This would seem to be an excellent ordinance if it could be adopted generally and enforced. A SUGGESTED NON-LICENSE CAT-REDUCTION ORDINANCE Most of the cats disposed of by municipal authorities or Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are those which people deliver to them. With this knowledge in mind, the Directors of the National Associa- tion of Audubon Societies have prepared a suggested ordinance which avoids the "tax" or "license" feature that has been found objectionable to so many people, and which many mayors, therefore, hesitate to recommend. It provides for the town assuming the responsibility of disposing humanely of cats of which people desire to be relieved. Many individuals, who shrink from the unpleasant experience of killing a cat, will gladly deliver their surplus animals to some humane agent for disposition if such an agency is easily accessible. We believe, therefore, that adoption of the following ordinance by any community would result in an appreciable reduction of the vagrant cat population of the country. The American Game Association and the Izaak Walton League of America join the Audubon Association in recommending the following: PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR CONTROL OF VAGRANT, DISEASED AND UNWANTED CATS "An Ordinance to Prevent Vagrant or Unidentified Cats from running at large in the Streets or Public Places of the Town of , in the County of , State of , and for the impounding, or disposition of such cats. "BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Council of the Town of in the County of , as follows: "Section I. No person being the owner or harboring a cat shall permit it to run at large in any of the streets or public places of the Town of , in the County of , at any time, un- less identified as hereinafter provided.
humanely destroy a cat at large found hunting or killing any bird protected by law or with a dead bird of any species protected by law in its possession; and no action for damages shall be maintained for such killing." LICENSING OF CATS BY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES The National Association of Audubon Societies has on numerous occa- sions called attention to the perfectly natural bird-catching habits of these animals. It financed the publication and distribution of the most complete treatise on the subject that has ever been issued, viz., "The Domestic Cat," by Edward Howe Forbush. For many years we have urged the passage of state laws and municipal ordinances intended to reduce the surplus cat population. The Garden Club of America and many other organizations also have sought to have the stray cat evil mitigated. The International Cat Society of New York City, formed in 1931, has tried to induce municipal authorities to enact cat license ordinances, and in two years has been successful in three instances. The Audubon Association recently wrote the mayors of four thousand cities and towns on the subject. One hundred and fifty-six answers have been received, about half of which ask for further information. We know of only ten towns in the United States which have adopted cat ordinances. These are: Harrison, Larchmont, and the Village of Roslyn Harbor, New York; Milburn, Montclair, and Pomp- ton Lakes, New Jersey; Seattle, Washington; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Massillon, Ohio; and Maywood, Illinois. Communicating with the authori- ties of these towns, we found that there has been extremely little observ- ance of the cat license features. People do not want to pay a license on cats, and public sentiment in most places is preventing the enforcement of these measures. A SUGGESTED ORDINANCE FOR THE LICENSING OF CATS The Cat-License Ordinance prepared and promulgated by the Interna- tional Cat Society of 101 Park Avenue, New York City, is as follows: "Section I-Cats to Be Licensed: It shall be unlawful to own, harbor or maintain a cat of more than six months of age unless the owner thereof or the person harboring or maintaining the same shall have a valid and sub- sisting license for such cat. "Section II-License Fees: The annual license fees for cats over six months of age shall be as follows: 1. Each male cat, $1.00; 2. Each female cat, $2.00; provided, that if, accompanying the application for licensing a spayed female cat, there shall be a certificate from a licensed veterinary surgeon that said female cat has been properly spayed, the annual license fee shall be $1.00. Provided, further, that any person keeping or having in his possession cats for breeding purposes, and the selling and exchange of such cats, may obtain a kennel license for the kennelling of cats of five or more in number, and shall pay for such kennel license the sum of $5.00. No license shall be granted for a period exceeding one year, and all licenses shall expire on the day of in each year. "Section Ill-Tags to Be Issued: A metal tag or tags marked with a number, to correspond with the number of the license, shall be issued with said license and shall be attached to a collar and shall, at all times, be worn by the cat so licensed when at large. "Section IV-Unlicensed Cats at Large: Any person over the age of twenty-one years may, and it shall be the duty of every police officer, to destroy humanely an unlicensed cat at large, and no action for damages shall be maintained for such killing. "Section V-Penalties: Any person violating the provisions of this ordi- nance shall, upon conviction of such violation, be subject to a fine in an amount not to exceed Ten ($10.00) Dollars: "Note: Where objection is made Section V may be omitted. Also, cost of license may be made optional, to suit the requirements of your municipality." This would seem to be an excellent ordinance if it could be adopted generally and enforced. A SUGGESTED NON-LICENSE CAT-REDUCTION ORDINANCE Most of the cats disposed of by municipal authorities or Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are those which people deliver to them. With this knowledge in mind, the Directors of the National Associa- tion of Audubon Societies have prepared a suggested ordinance which avoids the "tax" or "license" feature that has been found objectionable to so many people, and which many mayors, therefore, hesitate to recommend. It provides for the town assuming the responsibility of disposing humanely of cats of which people desire to be relieved. Many individuals, who shrink from the unpleasant experience of killing a cat, will gladly deliver their surplus animals to some humane agent for disposition if such an agency is easily accessible. We believe, therefore, that adoption of the following ordinance by any community would result in an appreciable reduction of the vagrant cat population of the country. The American Game Association and the Izaak Walton League of America join the Audubon Association in recommending the following: PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR CONTROL OF VAGRANT, DISEASED AND UNWANTED CATS "An Ordinance to Prevent Vagrant or Unidentified Cats from running at large in the Streets or Public Places of the Town of , in the County of , State of , and for the impounding, or disposition of such cats. "BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Council of the Town of in the County of , as follows: "Section I. No person being the owner or harboring a cat shall permit it to run at large in any of the streets or public places of the Town of , in the County of , at any time, un- less identified as hereinafter provided.
"Section II. Any cat shall be deemed to be a vagrant or unidentified cat unless it wears a collar or tag bearing either the owner's name and address, or a registered identification number. "Section III. Numbered identification tags will be furnished by the Town Clerk at cost.* "Section IV. Any vagrant or unidentified cat running at large in any of the streets or public places of the Town of , in the County of , shall be taken and impounded by any dog- catcher of said town (or other duly authorized officer), and shall be de- stroyed or otherwise disposed of humanely at any time not less than forty- eight hours after it has been impounded, unless the owner shall, before its destruction or other disposal, satisfy the Town Clerk of his or her owner- ship, and shall redeem the same by the payment to the Town Clerk for the use of said town of the sum of one dollar. "Section V. Any cat wearing a collar or tag bearing either the owner's name and address or a registered identification number, that may be cap- tured by the dog-catcher, or other officer of the town in the discharge of his duty, shall be released or returned to the owner." We favor the trial of various methods of cat control by the different states and municipalities, believing that to be the most effective way of working out a practical solution of this troublesome problem. Comments or suggestions on the control of vagrant cats will be welcomed by the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1775 Broadway, New York City. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS T. GILBERT PEARSON, LL.D., President FRANK M. CHAPMAN, Sc. D., Chairman, FRANK R. OASTLER, M.D., 2nd Vice-Pres. Board of Directors WILLIAM P. WHARTON, Secretary THEODORE S. PALMER, M.D., ROBERT CUSHMAN MURPHY, D.Sc., Ist Vice-Pres. Treasurer MRS. CARLL TUCKER Miss HELOISE MEYER ALEXANDER WETMORE, PH.D. GEORGE BIRD GRINNELL, PH.D. DRYDEN KUSER August 1, 1933 *Montclair, New Jersey, furnishes such tags for 5 cents each.
AAAK- J
ANNUAL TAKE WEORTHD IN NV JERSEY (Rounded W nearest o00)
species 19 13 192__1_93 1929
1927 192 1925 19214
gabbts 553,000 543,O0 55g.000 511,000 1441 9.0 ,46T.000
63.O O 364.000
G raM Squirrels 115.000 123.000 102.000 104.000 59.000 60.000
- ,,,,,,,,,,,I,,,, - . - . . . . .
Banants. 106000 105.000 104,,.000 96000 . , Q 97.0 92,000 0
6, 0 00 .oo 48,o
Zuail 249,000 67.000 77.000 72.000 59000 5T.00 59.000 77,000
6g.... 61.000 05,
Grouse 12,000 10,000 ,00 9,o00 3,600 *1.200 .000
10.000 12.000 10.000. 11.000
16oodcock. 11.000 12.000 15.000 20,000 12.000 9,o 9.000
10,000 12,000 9oo 900
Deqr 2j300 1,N00 1.. 1. 7 .5001 13500 1 1 1,800
1.700 1200 1.100
Ducks 3.000 730o0.000 ,000 65.000 T 5iL7.0 64.00
64.m, 63.000. soo 95,ooo
Geese & Brant --5, 1700 0 ..500 ..... .0 .?Q 560001.
7,000 . 7,000 . 5.00
PRATORS ((Rounded off to nearest 100)
iff~ -- -' -
"eSrlerel
Red SScrrrel
Foxes
10.900
ii f~1%P~
3. ioo
12200
h 1ir~r~
9.300
11o000
Ii .~fA 14 C.'J'J
1,300
1. 3oo
10. 000?
4.,goo?
"Aooo?
3 *o00?
0 GAA
J~ ~
2,200
i 900
10,200
7 inn
7 1 r
Q - -ann
0 Innv
6.9 00
6,90
2L.6o
4-700
11,600
14.200
$0.. . 0o
11.000
4.000
70
13,*200
5.000
*Closed season on brant
**Closed season on grouse
Farm Game
Forest Ga
r Waterfowl
mne
FISH (Rounded off to nearest 1000)
Trout 000 I46.000 40 000 411, 000 269. 000 000 264, 023000
206, O , 00c01 16g,000
Bass 171.0001177.00011600001147 01100.000104.O0 99.000 ,112000
I1.0001 S6.oo121,000
Pickerel 1 000 1201o000 201 00 2 00o 1000, 20 0 l001 000
1 00 1 o0 1 1000 191 00)0
(R ujuded off to nearest 100)
License%
0 139015,$0
issued 1150,2001137,900 121,001314,4001202,2001202,0001195,200 119
00175,700173,9001159, SO0.
IIIII I IIIII
. I _
I I I I
1
vate . .........
m
700
100o
t
A IAL STOCKING Il =EW JERSEY
1 ~~~year --__ ___
Species I o i 1 19 2 193F 1939 11929 1 192S 1927 1926 1925
i9 1923 192
Rabbits 25.000 31.000 22.000 0 go.oo 21,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 1,000
9,000 9,ooo0 2,000
Pheasants 34.000110 ,000 2,000 31,000 23000 18,000 26.00016,00 ,00
17,00 ,0.00 6,600
Qail sooo 6,00 3, 500 2, 100 2 9o 7oo, 10 - SO01 100 36
11 __
I - - - 14311 326 L-029 16o 151---
__--- - - . .... ..........
.... ........... .-.._ _ _ _ _ _ I -- -.... .
I 1
. . . . . . . . . . . . 8o .
- 1
id ,, rkeys - - '-.. . . - 80... . _ _ _ .... ..
.......
Cost Items Per Bird.
HRns Reported
--,.. , ~ o ,, o, I I
No.W fbas -- - - --- --9001600
1
Ci~ ATS AND MORE CATS C1 Mr. Walt Jamison, Glenwood, Iowa, has found out how many cats roam over his orchard. Early in the winter he put out five box traps to catch rabbits that were girdling his fruit trees. He says, "In the last two months I have caught and killed 36 oats and there is no question about them not eating the wild birds, as one of them ate too much fat meat (the bait in: the trap) and became sick and threw it up together with a cardinal it had just eaten. We had a fine covey of quail that were raised on the place and I have been feeding since they were the size of a sparrow but they have all disappeared. I believe the coats cleaned them up. I know they catch the young squirrels. I never see these cats in the daytime, wouldn't know there was one in the country, but they work all night and take an awful toll of the wildlife". Think of it, 36 cats caught in this orchard, and Mr. Jamison did not know until he put out the traps that there were any oats around. le recommends a license for cats.
Pa. Game News March, 1935 HOUSE CAT KILLS GREAT HORNED OWL A Great Horned Owl with a wingspread of four feet fell prey to a plucky house cat at the farm home of Zach Lawhead in Law- rence Township. Mr. Lawhead heard a com- motion outside the house and upon investi- gating discovered the owl, mortally wounded, the cat having found a vital spot with its teeth. It is presumed that the owl, in its hunger, attacked the cat. Great Horned Owls prey often on skunks and the cat, par- ticularly if it was black and white in color, might have been mistaken for one.
PENNSYLVANIA GAME NEWS j4A -4 I? 3 5" HOUSE CATS TURN WILD; PREY ON DESERT RODENTS Tame cats gone wild have become a prob- lem In Death Valley. These animals, once pets at the Furnace Creek Ranch, multiplied as is the way of cats and spread out into the mesquite thickets adjoining the ranch. Reverting to the primitive, they have be- come quite wild and to some extent have replaced the native meat-eating animals, particularly the little desert kit fox. KI LL TH-E STRAY CAT The especial prOblem involved In these cats gone wild is their liking for native ro- dents, which, because of abundance of shel- ter, food, and wate'r, live largely in the mesquite thicket. Cottontail rabbits, wood rats, antelope ground squirrels, and kanga- roo rats, as well as Gambel quail, all fall prey to these feral house cats. "Control of the wild cats" now is being planned by the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior, which has au- thority over the Death Valley National Monument.
COUTTY FORESTS County forects of Wisconsin now total mor e than 1,500,000 acres with the addition of 302,346.72 acres accepted for entry by the conservation cow:ission at its recent meeting. New entries are: Ashland 3,753.35; Bayfield, 10,612.02; Burnett, 28,007,22; Clark, 9,052.97; Douglas, 25,440; Eau Claire, 1,293; Florence, 10,683.17; Iron, 41,052.59; Jackson, 57,733.97; Juneau, 3,160; Langlade, 400; Lincoln, 3,720; Marinettp, 27,552.33; Monroe, 5, 360; Oneida.,. 25,339.57; Polk, 2480; Rusk, 7,800.20; Sawyer, 26,783; Vilas, 5,719; Washburn, 3,817.83; Wood, 2,704..: 4BIRD KILLS CAT I3 }Members of the field force often comp ain about cats killing birds but Forest Ranger Raymond Pr pps, Boulder Junction, has a real comuplaint about a bird killing a cat. The station cat was near the front porch when a great horned owl swooped down and the cat disappeared over the tree tops and has not been heard from since. EAGLES The Mrarch Bulletin carried a story of a deer killed by eagles in Vilas county. Dr. E. F. Graves, department veterinarian, recalls seeing an attack on a fan by an eaole in Alaska.
librarp ot rUbo 3leopob PENNSYLVANIA GAME NEWS OCTOBER THE COMMON &AT By CHAS. F. STAMBAUGH beast of the jungle cat stalks Its prey. HE cat has absolutely no protection in Pennsylvania. Many individuals who are more or less interested in the house cat are somewhat perturbed that an animal so apparently harmless and compan- ionable should be denied the smallest meas- ure of protection. The fact is, that practically all of our forty-eight states today refuse to recognize the cat as personal property; and in Penn- sylvania as well as most other states, no action by law can be taken to recover the value of a cat that may have lost its life at the hands of some intentional destroyer. It is virtually "an animal without a country" -a legal outcast. ORIGIN The present domesticated cat apparently originated in ancient Egypt, where its exist- ence is evident in the very earliest records. It must have been much admired by the an- cients, as elaborate mummy cases in which it was entombed have been found. However, there is nothing in the records to indicate that it was anything but an habitual killer of other forms of animal life-a carnivorous animal. In India we find it mentioned in manuscripts dated at least 2,000 years Before Christ. From Egypt the cat was brought to Europe, whence America received its pres- ent stock. For approximately 4,000 years, then, man- kind has endeavored to domesticate and civ- ilize the cat; and how have we succeeded? Well, as educators of this feline animal, we humans are hopeless failures! INSTINCT Not long ago the writer watched an ab- normally large pet cat sneak noiselessly up- on an adult robin, seize the bird in its mouth, and proudly carry the limp form to the door of its mistress. That this cat was well fed was clearly indicated by its excellent phy- sical appearance. Many similar cases of gen- erously fed cats killing birds and rabbits have been reported to the Game Commis- sion. Practical experience and observation have proven that the old theory that a well fed cat will not destroy wildlife must be discarded. The ancient, irresistible instinct to kill is there, even though the need for food is lacking, and in the thousands of years the cat has associated with civiliza- tion, this urge has not been dispelled. He is a prowling, predatory animal, of the same family (Felidae) as the lion, tiger, leopard, puma and other nocturnal feeding relatives. Regardless of how well fed he may be, this inherent desire to kill is ever present, and the cat will constantly seek an opportunity to satisfy it. Maybe we should not blame the cat itself too severely; one cannot be responsible for his heritage. But we can face the facts and try to control the situation accord- ingly. CATS VS. BIRDS Early this summer a friend of ours had been watching a pair of song sparrows nest in a hedge fence at her home. She saw the four mottled eggs, then later observed the mother bird feeding the four young in the nest. One day she came, practically in tears, and reported that a neighborhood cat had completely torn down the nest and killed all four young birds. Now, the diet of the song sparrow in the summertime consists of more than fifty percent insects, including various beetles, ants, caterpillars and grasshoppers. The balance of the food is made up of the seeds of noxious weeds. Any one of these four young song spar- rows killed by the cat would have been much more valuable economically to man- kind than the cat. Insects offer an increas- ing menace to human existence, and sci- entists admit we are fighting a losing bat- tle against their growing hordes. It be- hooves us, therefore, to give every possible encouragement to birds and other creatures that feed on insects, for without birds, in- sects would make human life impossible. One of the best ways to encourage birds is to control the cat. TOO MUCH FREEDOM It is increasingly apparent that if we are to encourage wild creatures of more aesthetic and economic value, something must be done in the not too distant fu- ture to definitely prevent the house cat from continuing to enjoy the freedom of the entire neighborhood in which he lives. He may have some value in destroying ro- dents, but if given absolute freedom, this value is far offset by the harm done in destroying birdlife. No one wants to see any species of animal life exterminated, and such drastic action is certainly not advocated in the case of the cat. But, in all fairness, it does seem that something should be done to reduce the excessive number of felines now in existence. Many of them are home- less, thrown out of automobiles and farm- houses to shift for themselves. THE CAT ON THE FARM Even on the farm, the value of the cat in destroying rats and mice is questionable, when one considers the countless hundreds of insects that might have been killed, had not the cat taken its heavy toll of insec- tivorous birds. The farmer knows only too well the ceaseless battle he must wage against insects, and the birds on his farm are helping every day in this fight by con- stantly feeding upon these pests. It be- hooves him, therefore, to give his bird friends every encouragement by either abol- ishing or controlling their arch-enemy, the cat. He cannot have cats and birds; one class must be eliminated if the other is to progress. Surely he cannot afford to elimi- nate the birds, so he must do something about the cats. SELECTION Is it not possible to select, by a "weed- ing out" process, the more desirable and attractive breeds of cats, from the stand- point of beauty and charm? And then, with equal vigor, discard in some humane man- ner the worthless, unattractive, common ones remaining? If this were done, those selected could be owned with sufficient es- teem to keep them under proper control, so that the menace to wildlife would be negligible. The cat will always be a killer; he is no more civilized nor better mannered now than he was for the ancient Egyptians. And if you want more birds-and less insects- you must have less cats. But if, after all this, you must keep a cat, please keep him on your own grounds, under constant con- trol. Even the well-eared-for house pet will occasionally resort to the wild. 1o..0 ftoo y*!, VOT~ooez, 1!1509 P. 1.2
FOX NOT GUILTY OF THIS KILLING During the month of December, Frank S. Johnson, living two miles northeast of Ida Grove, noticed evidence of the killing of hen pheas- ants on three different occasions. The killings had taken place near a pheasant feeding station near his farm. In each case the tracks of the predator and the trail of the pheasant as it was dragged led to a den, supposedly that of a fox, located on the banks of the Maple River. The birds were evidently devoured within the den. Johnson set a fox trap inside the entrance to the den and on December 27th the killer was trapped. It proved to be a very large and fierce white male house cat. It appeaxently had gone wild a many cats have been known to do. The killer was killed and no more pheasants have been found destroyed in that vicinity. OVER HUNDRED =SF IN
House Cat Extract from "The Life History of the Rufescent Woodchuck" by W. J. Hamilton, Jr. Ann. Carnegie Museum, Vol. XXIII, July 5, 1934, p. 132: House Cat Inside a large woodchuck hole I placed a trap on April 9, 1932. The hole had been somewhat enlarged, but without a noticeable mound at the entrance. Tae following morning the trap held a large house cat. The animal was a female, carrying three embryos of approximately half time development, and stomach crammed with the reaing of a rabbit. Apparently the cat had made this burrow her home for some time, as old rabbit far was strewn about. She may even have planned for the arrival of the kittens in this burrow. It is not unlikely that mink, muskrats (near water), squirrels, and other maunals frequently resort to vacated woodchuck burrows. The wirter, however, has no positivedata concerning these forms.
CAT CATCHES TROUT Fish Warden Sam Henderson of West- moreland County reports that while patrol- lng a stream recently he saw a large house cat adroitly catch a large trout.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME based on facts carefully gathered and Labrador to study the distribution of the developed. At this time there is no vertebrate fauna of the region. On his other organization in the country in Labrador trips he did notable work in possession of as much information re- bird banding, particularly with Arctic lating to wild-fowl conditions in North terms, in cooperation with the Biological America as the Biological Survey. The Survey. Two of the terns that were re- opponents of the present regulations and covered, one in France and another in others who are urging still more drastic South Africa, established remarkable restrictions can be in possession of only flight records, the latter flying the longest limited information by comparison. The distance of any banded bird ever re- Biological Survey, however, must be captured, as far as any known records acquainted with all phases of the prob- show. lem-phases that concern the food re- sources of wild fowl their migratory NEW LEAFLET TELLS HOW TO habits, and their abundance, and other MAKE A CAT TRAP information that can be developed only Vagrant, unowned house cats are from reports of agents of the bureau and a serious menace to song birds, insec- other reliable observers widely distributed tiverous birds, and game birds, to rab- throughout North America. bits, squirrels, and other small forms of "We need sound public sentiment in beneficial wild life, and to poultry, and favor of the observance of the law, and therefore they should be destroyed, says a willingness on the part of sportsmen and leaflet just issued by the U. S. Depart- conservationists to adopt all the restric- ment of Agriculture on how to make a tions that are necessary to the preserva- cat trap. tion of the wild fowl," said Mr. Hender- Stray cats-usually hungry, mangy, son. and diseased-abound in every city, town, and rural community, and are the most BIOLOGISTS TO STUDY WILD LIFE common carnivorous mammals in many IN FORESTS places far removed from human habita- Two research specialists have been ap- tion, says the leaflet. Usually they have pointed to positions in the Bureau of been left unfed by their owners and are Biological Survey, U. S. Department of forced to get a precarious living by hunt- Agriculture, effective at the beginning ing and scavenging. As they are abroad of the year, in accordance with cooper- mainly at night they are seldom seen and ative plans to place qualified biologists at it is not generally realized that they are various experiment stations of the Forest as numerous as they actually are. The Service. These scientists will study the leaflet says that in 18 months more than relation of wild life to the forests, as 50 stray cats were caught in one trap authorized by the recently enacted Mc- set in only two locations in a city, and Sweeney-MeNary Forestry Research Act. that in one city a humane society put to Thomas D. Burleigh, for the last nine death nearly a million vagrant cats in years head of the division of forestry of four years. the Georgia State College of Agriculture Stray cats can be caught in any well- and one of the appointees, has been ap- constructed and baited trap. The one pointed to the position of associate biol- described in the new leaflet, devised by ogist and will be stationed at the Appala- the Bureau of Biological Survey, has chian Forest Experiment Station, Ashe- proved satisfactory and is easily made. ville, N. C. He is a graduate of Pennsyl- It is merely a box with a drop door that vania State College and the University is held up by a projecting wire, one end of Washington. He has devoted consider- of which is attached to a false floor or able time to the study of the bird life of treadle. The weight of the cat on the Georgia. treadle beyond the fulcrum pulls back Oliver L. Austin, Jr., of New York, a the wire and releases the door. The graduate of Wesleyan University and leaflet shows, by picture and text, how who has done three years' graduation to make the trap, and it also tells how to work in Harvard University, has been bait the trap and how to dispose of the appointed assistant biologist to carry on captured cats. studies of wild-life and forest relation- The Leaflet, No. 50-L, "How to Make ships at the Lake State Forest Experi- a Cat Trap," can be obtained free from meat Station, St. Paul, Minn. He spent the Office of Information, Department of the summer of 1925 studying jungle Agriculture, Washington, D. C., as long ecology in British Guiana, South Amer- as copies are available for free dis- ica, and has made three trips to tribution. , A 14 261
AISANU1NJ W CAI HUULU B. HUMANELY AND QUICKLY DESTROYED- THEY KILL MANY MILLION OF THE INSECT DESTROYERS EACH YEAR SENTIMENTALISTS and other well-intentioned persons say that kittens and purring tabbies can do no harm. Farmers, sportsmen and conserv a- tionists know better! The cat is a killer by instinct! the roving stray cats take a tremendous toll of quail, partridge, pheasants and song birds! z NT C 0 0 0
C
0
P
Y Fish and Wildlife Service
Merchandise Mart
Chicago 54, Illinois
Mr. Roberts Mann
Cook County Forest Preserve District
536 North Harlem Avenue
River Forest, Illinois
Dear Bob:
Your letter in regard to weights of manmals killed three
years ago on the Forest Preserve Districts was forwarded to me from
Urbana. Fortunately I have with me a copy of these weights, as
follows:
#1, 3-2-42
Cat, domestic - weight, 11.3 lbs; castrated male., very fat,
7 face broad and heavy; black and white, vth heavy coat.
#2, 3-2-42
Dog, mongrel plus cross?? weight 42 lbs. male; fat; brown.
#3, 3-2-42
Dog, police; weight 61 lbs; male; sleek and in good condi-
tion but not fat; darl, typically colored.
014, 3-2-42
Uoyote kidentification positive, by Goldman, U.S.Nat.Mus.)
weight, 30 Ibs; male; good condition.
#5, 3-2-42
Dog, police plus ?? weight, 34 lbs. good condition;
dark, obviously crossed with other dog breed (partly
decomposed, stomach not saved).
L hope this will provide the information desired by Prof.
Iaopold. I have copied it directly from our notes. The cat was huge;
we talked about it at the time; it seems that free ranging cats reach
very large size, since I have run into it on one ortwo other occasions.
Looking forward to seeing you Friday forenoon, I am
Sincerely yours
LEE E. YEAGER
Biologist
LEY
O PONDENCE CAR ADDRESS 0 N. Y ..... A [
P OST CORRESPONDENCE Oil
in the Pecos country, and so, each riding animal's soft fur. His first and oft- some forty miles in deep snow to get to- repeated remark was: "Where in 'ell did gether, we met, and on a Monday morn- you get it?" So enthused was he that, ing as clear as a bell and cold as-North in spite of his excess of abdomen that Dakota, started an eventful week after brought his weight well over 250 pounds, the big cats. he got out his horse and went with us Sturdy mountain horses, Jake, an Aire- the rest of the day. Naturally a hunter dale, and three veteran hounds made up does not expect such luck to repeat in our corps of assistants. By night of the one day, and so, unless you could call a first day we had one lion skin hung up, lynx cat luck, we were luckless for the after a.quick chase and some fancy shoot- rest of the day, and the old boy was ing to cut limbs from under him where keenly disappointed. he lodged in a tree. E MERY ARNOLD, a ranchman who had contributed a dozen or more colts to the stomachs of these marauders, joined us Tuesday. Wednesday we brought in another big fellow, and when, two days later, Mr. Lloyd, a fat English ranchman, finally persuaded us to come down his way and save the rest of his colts from the "blarsted brutes," not even the stiffness of horses, dogs a men held us back. Lloyd warmed ou hiearts with hospitality and Scotch rye, .nd in return we brought him in a dead lion not thirty minutes after we left his house. O F course we spent the night with him, and either because we were tired out or because our host and Fisher swapped stories and drank friendly old Scotch un- til midnight, we got a late start the next morning. It was Sunday, though, and we did nots object to a little rest. We rode south to Indian Creek and up it to near the head, where we found an old deer carcass abandoned by a huge lion a week or so before. This track was so large that we resolved to get him at all costs. The track was dimmed with new snow and we could not follow it far. but did succeed in getting the general direc- tion, which was into an exceedingly rough patch of country at the head of El Macho Creek. WE made our way into the main canyon below where we thought the lion would cross it, then followed up the bot- tom of the canyon where there was deep snow, until between two cliffs we again picked up his track. We went up the canyon a couple of miles fo be sure he had not crossed back and then circled southward into the next fork of the canyon and crossed his track still headed south, but apparently not more than three days old, for it now showed to have been made after the light snowfall of Thurs- day night. The dogs were able to follow the scent very slowly on the north slopes but on the southern exposures where the snow had melted off they would lose it al- together. Progress was slow and at sun- down it was evident we would get no lion that day, so we gave up the chase. In our excitement over this r~ammoth track we had paid little attention to how far we had traveled and how late it really was. When we at last looked around to A Mountain Lion Hunt in New MVexico,
A Mountain Lion Hunt in New Mexico see where we were and what the chances were to get back to Lloyd's that night we decided it could never be done. It was now dark and there was no other ranch in reach. There we were in a rough, trail- less country, fifteen miles from the near- est ranch house, nothing to eat for either Durselves, our dogs or our horses, and the air getting biting cold as the night came on. Emery Arnold knew of an old French miner's cabin a couple of miles down the canyon where we might find horse-feed and possibly some grub, al- though old Fortunat Malluchet, the pros- pector, never stayed there in winter. He did, however, usually raise a patch of potatoes and also some oats for hay for his burros in the spring. As there was no other choice we went there as quickly as possible, finding plenty of oat hay for our horses. T HERE were several log cabins and a root .cellar which all looked good to us from the outside. With considerable dif- ficulty we broke into one after another of them looking for grub and bedding. All we found was salt, pepper, a little lard and a cellar half full of small Irish pota- toes. So we boiled, fried, baked and oasted potatoes for supper, alternately ept and lay awake on our saddle blankets, d then, for variety's sake, ate four kinds potatoes for breakfast. We also took ig fried and baked spuds for our noon ...uch. The horses had fared well and were in good shape. At daylight we were off again after the biggest lion in the hills. Arnold had gotten enough lion hunt (also potatoes!) so he left us and rode home. Bark-wl;t we had quit the trck the frozen snow and ground promised to ruin our hunt. The dogs could do nothing at all. We gave it up and circled for fresher signs. About nine o'clock Fannie told us she had it on a barren ridge, but the track did not prove to be very fresh. The dogs worked well, however, and in half an hour brought up at the carcass of a 900- pound horse killed by Mr. Lion not more than forty-eight hours before. Evidently only one meal had been eaten by the lion, which had then headed northwest back into the roughest part of Macho Creek. The scent was fresh enough for the dogs to make fair headway, and without los- ing any time we were off on what looked like a sure thing. VER ridge after ridge and across canyon after canyon he led us, always choosing the roughest course, under and over cliffs where it was impossible for the dogs to follow without circling and where it was often necessary for us to go half a mile around to gain a hundred yards headway. Worst of all, as the sun warmed up the south slopes the track seemed to lose its scent entirely, and the hounds could hardly progress at all, and were fast becoming discouraged. Then when they would get into the snow on the north slopes they would give tongue freely and their hopes and ours would be revived. At last we started up a long, steep and rocky slope facing directly to the south and well dried out. Here all the dogs quit entirely except Fannie, Fisher's veteran, whose patience and perseverance, in spite of her bleeding feet and the failing scent, were almost incredible. We led our horse,, and tried to help her, but it was a mat- ter for noses only. As she was making little progress-perhaps half a mile ar hour-we let her go on while we stopped and ate our potatoes, which, in spite of natural hunger, were not very appetizing. It was now two o'clock and we realized that our chances as well as our stomachs were slim, but as we started to catch up with Fannie, now a quarter of a mile ahead of us, Fisher remarked: "I'll stay as long as ol' Fan works like that, if I starve!" "So will I," I replied, "but we won't starve as long as Malluchet's potatoes last. Besides, we'll kill a grouse or two before night-or else have lion steak for supper !" "We haven't seen a grouse all day, and ain't likely to in this here Godforsaken country," Fisher reminded me. "Then it's lion steak I" I said with a show of confidence I hardly felt. BY the time we caught up with Fan- nie she had come to the top of the ridge and was bellowing off over the cliff into the canyon below, as the lion had gone down over some cliffs she could not negotiate. We puzzled a while what to do, while Fannie found a way around. We made a bigger detour and soon dropped down into a sort of cave below the cliffs, aboit as discouraged as two hunters could be. There we stood lis- tening to the half mournful howls and barks of Fannie as she laboriously worked out the course of the lion, track by track. We had waited here for about fifteen minutes when Queen and Red sniffed the air and trotted off around the hill into a patch of timber toward which Fannie was working. Jake was not interested and curled up under a tree to snooze while we waited, -wntng to quit but ashamed to while Faithful old Fannie, still said she would get him. A yelp and bawl from Red, followed by a bawl and several yelps from Queen, then presently, repeated at a higher tone by both, and some "I-a-comin'" howls from Fannie, with Jake jumping off like a flash, all told us that they had jumped Mr. Lion. We leaped to our horses, half in doubt, but as we made off toward the scene a long-drawn out bawl from Fannie at a nervously high tone with a note higher at the end, told us as surely as anything could that our game had been jumped. Our pulses quickened and our nerves tightened as we rode recklessly and as fast as we could after the dogs. They led us down hill through better country for a while. Then, as they pressed him closer the big fellow took to the rougher ridges and side draws. But in his first run, which evidently was made while we had worked up the dry slope and eaten our potatoes, he had left the roughest coun- try and could not get back to it, so we were able to ride on his trail, following in the general direction of the dogs. N we went for an hour, expecting every minute to tree him, but no such luck. He dodged and doubled and ran and jumped from rock to rock, trying, tc throw the dogs off. We had over-exerted ourselves in the past thirty hours and were unduly excited. We galloped over rocks and logs and ice and brush that al another 'time we would have hesitated ever to lead our horses over. Once I rounded a point at a gallop, not being able to se( far ahead, to find myself on a steep ic3 slope with a large log lying up and dowt the hill right ahead and a twenty-foo, cliff below. I could not stop my hors4 quickly, nor turn him lest he slip on th4 i frozen ground and fall, slipping help I lessly over the ledge below. In "th excitement of ,the moment I put spurs to him and he leaped the log and luckily caught footing, and after scrambling pre- cariously along for a few dangerously slip- pery rods was on safe footing once more. Before I could warn him Fisher had fot!owed me, and as his horse leaped the log his upper feet slipped and he fell to his side. Quick as a flash and as only a veteran horseman can, Fisher slipped from the saddle as the horse went down, but held to the bridle reins, and as his horse caught for a second against a bush he wrapped the reins around a small fir tree and held him from slipping over the cliff. I ran back to help him, and with a rope as an anchor we soon got the horse to his feet and around the hill to safety. The pony came out limping and Fisher was obliged to take it somewhat slower, but called to me to "Stay with the dogs I" And I tried to. Half a mile more brought me out upon a sharp ridge 250 yards above a narrow, steep-sided draw, and as I stopped for a second to locate the dogs I saw three of them on the steep slope opposite me. Poor Fannie had fallen a hundred yards behind and was striving painfully to keep up, yelping pitifully and leaving a red trail from her sore and bleeding feet. Before I reached the bottom of the draw they barked "treed," which was, I think, the most welcome report I have ever heard from a pack of dogs. My horse was all winded and about all in otherwise, so I left him in the draw while I kicked off my spurs and chaps and climbed afoot up the steep, slippery slope. Fisher stopped on the ridge back of me and cadl tAthe would wat h from there, as he could see the lion. When within a hundred yards of the tree and just as I saw the lion for the first time and realized how big he was, Fisher called to me to shoot, for the lion was about to jump. I shot, too quickly as usual, but broke a shoulder. The big cat fell a few feet, then caught. I shot again -through the neck but not breaking it. Again he fell and caught on some of the lower branches. I shot again, hitting him in the flank and ranging forward. He quivered ,Z-d screamed, a blood-curdling squall it was, and turned loose all holds as I shot again-this time straight through the shoulders. THE dogs pulled and bit him as if tak- ing final vengeance for the long and gruelling chase he had led them. This was by far the largest mountain lion either of us had ever killed and was in every way a fine specimen. The fur was short and thick. Besides being badly shot up, the skin showed the scars of many battles. We skinned him there in the draw and fed the dogs great hunks of the meat, which they devoured ravenously. T HOUGH it was sundown we set out for Arnold's Ranch and, believe me, we bad one sweet time getting there out of that wilderness. But though the memories of, that night's trip are too painful to re- late suffice to say that we got in before midnight and had something besides po- tatoes to eat for our midnight lunch. And while admitting that we had had enough lion hunting for a while-four big ones in one week was not bad-we promised each other to go again sometime. Now when I look at this fine specimen of a mountain lion, made into a rug with full head mounted and measuring over eleven feet from tip to tip, I would be willing to start out tomorrow with only a boiled potato in my pocket if I could have that experience' over again. 1029
SERVICE BULLETIN handle sent in came from one of the old tun- with bound, big cat went over a bank nels. All the relics found are in an excel- r into th brush. lent state of preservation, - District 3. h man with whom the boys were yi a 22 rifle and an old hound which e time in its career had lost a leg in a bear trap, so when the lion disappeared AND THE BLIND G ESS SMILED they went back for these reinforcements. There were only two .22 short cartridges for the rifle, so the boys out some stout clubs "I called on e sor of the and hurrying back, put the hound on the trail Kaibab Nation1l Fore - s I recall it where the lion had left the road. The dog now, I b t h o t e draw and stopped fir- gave tongue and soon treed the lion. The ing Qnly 0 oth of y guns - or was it all fi-st of the two precious bullets glazed on four e e ty. I rolled the body under the sternum and the lion jumped, only to be a de i' lked out." treed again after a short run, when a more The a ve is from the pen of a fiction carefully placed shot found its heart. write . - District 4. Sanford has the skin of the beast. , '' I I"The playfullness displayed by this fully grown cougar was certainly very un- LOOKOUT TOWER usual and something I have never seen in any writings about the animal." -W. S. Sometime ago, in a review of ompson Seton's "Lives of Game Animals," ment n was made of the playfulness of the cougar. Now A CATTLE SLUMP comes Paul Fair,of D-5, with a good ya on this little-known characteristic of th big President Pyeatt of the D. & R.G W., cat: in checking over the cattle slipments over "A very interesting instance of this came to my notice not long ago and I thought you might use it. "Burnett Sanford, now forester for the Sugar Pine Lumber Company, and another man whose name I have forgotten were working several years ago on a timber sale on the Shasta and living with an old mountaineer in his cabin near the sale area. "One morning in going to their work they noticed the fresh tracks of a cougar in the dust of the road. Coming around a bend in the road they met the lion walking leisure- ly along. Neither man carried a gun and'as the lion stopped, seemingly not alarmed by their appearance, they picked up some rocks and began to throw them at the beast. Much to their surprise this procedure aroused neither fear nor anger, but seemed to awaken a spirit of play. When a rock whizzed by, the lion, instead of dodging, would strike out at it with a spread forepaw, just as a domes- tic cat will with a ball tossed to it. "This happened several times until the boys managed to register a direct hit, when his lines became very much concerned recently in the showing of red-ced business and began to ask questions among his organization on ways and means of rehabilitating the live ssT.ck industry, especially the cattle industry. Representatives of the system have been gathering data to show the trends, and a meet- ing has been called by the Chairman of the Agricultural Livestock Development Committee of the Denver Chamber of Commerce to discuss the question: Questions that are being asked are, 1. Now that the upturn seems to have begun, how should it be encouraged and direct- ed . 2. What steps shall be taken toward restocking the range. We have been invited to attend the conference and as the subject relates to the National Forests, we expect to show that the great part of the reduction in cattle has been absorbed by increases in sheep. There seems to be a general impression that large areas of National Forest land are being unutilized because of the reduction in cattle as shown by railroad shipments.
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ALBUQUERQUE GAME PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP $1.00 PER YEAR (REPORT VIOLATIONS OF THE GAME LAW TO THE SECRETARY) .. 192...... Name .............. ....... having paid $1.00 Membership Dues for 192. is hereby certified to be a member in good .. standing of this A iation. ..SE..... . ....
MR. SPORTSMAN: The Game Protective Association needs you as a member. Here are the reasons why you should join: 1. You want law enforcement. The way to get it is to join us and work for expert, well paid wardens who mean business. 2. You want more ducks. The way to get them is to join us and work for well- policed refuges, planting of duck feeds and improvement of breeding grounds. 3. You want more quail. Help us study the unsolved problem of how to bring them back. 4. You want more deer and turkey. Help us work for better predatory animal con- trol. Help us decide whether we need more refuges, better refuge enforcement, or a totally closed season. 5. You want better fishing. Help us work for more hatcheries and better rearing ponds. 6. You want a place to shoot and fish. Help us solve the "posted land" problem by keeping the streams open and establishing public shooting grounds. 7. You want good game laws. The only way to get them is to join the G. P. A. and increase the strength of our influence. 8. You want to keep posted as a sportsman. Attend our smokers, give us your ideas, and learn the other fellov's! YOURS FOR MORE GAME FOR EVERYBODY FOR ALL TIME ALBUQUERQUE GAME PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION (TURN THIS CARD OVER AND SIGN UP NOW)
H - JAGU~A. I have a very good set of records as to where and when and by whom jaguars were seen or killed, I seem to Le short, however, of definite information as to whether or no they ever occurred in any part of southeastern New Mexico. I have only one record for t1e. desert country of southwestern Arizona and would be interested to hear of any additional records there. There has lately arisen a further very interesting question of whether all the animals commonly reported as "jaguars" may not in part be ocelot. This species, as I understand it, is smaller, Slimmer, and has sclid black spots instead of large clouded black spots. Any information to differentiate ocelot records tvoulO be extremely valuable. I am alsc particularly interested in the killing hhbits of these cats - that is, just what size and kind of animals they tackle and just what method they use in killing them. It is not known whether the Jaguars of Arizcna and New Mexico are all "strays,, from Mexico or whether they breed here. Does any- body know? 4 I F - I F I .- I ) &4Ax~ (~LL ~x &)-'RIM-~ U ~ ~> v', U' ~ 1\~ I p
Mather, V. W. Geological Srvey of the State of Ohio. Seond Annual Report, Coliubus, 1535. 256 pp. (Copy owned by J. A. Laphas) p. 23. WThe rise...wa mentiond in the lat Anma Reort(193tr-Theeffects are disastrous-.fine farms are completely inundate4...the coast is washing...neeesa to make the wharres Wgier...to raise the streets of towns. A traitio ists that there is a periodical rise an fall of the water through a certain period of years. ... the present rise is higher than has curre for MW years before, for extensive tracts of forest are now said to be overflowe". pp. 5,52. T 1796-1839. USX. fluotuation 6' below 1535 level in 110an 119 PP. 15 -.200 Report on Zoology of Ohio by J. P. Kirtland, tor.L1839 p. 6 v n *undoubtedly inhabited the northern parts of Ohio in former tim ut hs g been extint Pishr2 speimens taken in Ashtabula Co. in 1937, where a few probably V"Dr. Earl...has tskoe it in the vieinity of Chillicothe" Coga 7N. conclor and. , eeam. The mountain tiger sand the mountain eat. The pioneer hunters blended both these speie uder the commn inns of c m . They both formerly inhabited this state but haye now disappeared. Mr. Dorfeuille has in his usem at Cininnti well nene of each species tat were taken in Ohio". wa killed La Trumbull County "bOut 10 yrs. since*. bhre; sometims seen in 1. 3. parts IlAshtabula Ca. r Oct. 1.35 Lled in Sandy Fork Syme's Or. La 1500. These were last. p. 10. hyesa "sometimes spens the winter as far n as Lake YxIO. ftinks of it as a southern speciest Or misprint? p. 184. se. Reported on shores of Iie. Not authenticated. 8 1 or *eoopia crane* 2 killed Coshocton Co. 1 37 p. 15-. e" am informed by Dr. Ward that it is sometimes seen in the Sioto Valley*. p. 205. "I know of no reason why it might not be a vantageously p. 177.
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F 4 .2 ~24>** 2 4. 4 44 44 44 44 I' >4 t <2 4 4 t 9< 4 4 44 4 " 4 * 4 ~ >44 4 44 * 1$25.00 RC lARDI That Kills Our Game ft4~dfin4Wderandhere is how. wepro-1 inntckliat rncpehers ad government S 'ycsnfui qbseryation, give it as their 6 ea1 "tain lion n the state kills at 4 h ahh t each week, upon which to live hb feed almost entirely upon our eer, occasionally killing horse or huger and scarcity of their favor- 3:#mqp wd the deer. dasiro a mountan lion you are east fifty mwountailt sheep or fifty mountain lion killed in Colorado, of $25 in cash. .... We ask of those good hunters and good sport- who destroy these animals, that they take the mon lion, as soon after they have killed it, as possible, nearest postoffice and make an affidavit as tothe: cumstances of the killing and swear to it bfeore the master or the justice of the peace, and send such, davit to us with the cleaned skull of the lion. If thin is satisfactory we will immediately send a Post chi $25 and we shall regard it as buying more satisf than any other $25 we could possibly expend, ' with the 4ptruction of the mountain lion we sa head qf gaul. either deer or mountain sheep. epor dleer are worth to the state $2,500 and if we can save fifty head a year, by destroying a mountain lion foa $25, this $25paid in bounty by The Post saves the state $2,500 worth of mountain sheep or deer, so you see what great economy and what sav~ing value this bounty given y The Post, has to the state. Andnot only that. It saves the lives of fifty of these beautiful, harmless, sweet creatures, typical of our be- oved Colorado and of our glorious mountains and forests and valleys and plains. N~ TOw we want this to be spread all over Colorado. We want hunters everywhere to seek out and de- stroy th3ese pests, these destroyers of our most and stealthy tread, they can approach the deer and she easily and silently and run them down in the snow, as the deer and the mountain sheep, with their tiny hoofs, cut 4thru the crust of the snow, while the mountain lion runs over the top of it on account of the size and the fur on its feet. W HEREVER you find deer and mountain sheep you find the mountain lion lurking around and preying and feeding upon the herds. With the extermination of the mountain lion there will be fifty times more mountain sheep and deer in this state, in fact almost every hill and mountain would be beautified (Continued on Next Page) >94 , I
WAGE TUTO THE DENVER POSt NEW YEAh EDITION.
SECTION POTS
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The
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WHAT SAY? ZhtAyes Have It 1- Uyown eXperience covers but one instance in which a mountain lion ut- tered some of the most pier'cing, awe-inspiring screams that I have ever lis- tened to, except from some of our alley cats here in Washington. The moun- tain lion is, of course, the ptuma, known officially as ,,felis concolor" or He is nothing but a great big cat, and why any man who has OVer listened to the screams, howls and wails of the ordinary alloy cat, es- loecially of the Thomas variety, should doubt that his older and larger rela- tive, the puma or mo;Antain lion, does not indulge in the sme sort of vocal a*-'o-itle , I am urable to state. In other wor~s, I am thoroughly convinced -hat the rountain lion does emit screams or cries or howls, or whatever you 1,036 to call "-ebo, eractly as does the alley cat and for probably the same 3enOral qwusep. In loclting for authority on this subject, I went at once to *e Dorson whose oooervations as to the habits of wild. animals in America are VobUly tha most w54ely respected of any of our present authorities. This is 1. W. ielson, present chief of the Biclogical Survey. (Nelson, by the was once a cowman on the same Arizona ranges with myself and Potter.) Iu his wonerfully interesting discussion of "The Larger Nohrth American Nam- r ,,ut" ishl originally in the National Geographic DM6Pgzine Lor NIovember, i~i6J I fil4 under the head of "mountain lion (: ,t the following STatementm "It has a wild screaming cry whioh is thrillingly impressive.-*** In Ie -ntains of Axioan one sV er a mxatain lion rpily passed along a Serie of riAgs high above mW cabin at tik, uttbrinE this loud wierd 3ry poP- ularly V'oed t resqmble the screems of a terrified woman." As far as i am 'Oncerra, t's is ejnugh for me. U16 mZun.%nlions do howl. (This ends the
4lent ,Kats" of th 'Kai.ab: Mountain lions may scream, agin they may not, Ut it would appear that if they -do they would make the Kaibab ring since, 4- there are numerous lions on the Kaibab, and, so far as is of record, no one who is reliable has ever heard one scream, although a captured kitten was heard to maie a noise similar to that made by a house cat. This, of course, is not conclusive evidence that mountain lions do not sorem.a but I have spent most of the past twenty years on the Kaibab and other areas on which lions occur and have never yet heard one scream. It might also be remarked that "Uncle Jim" Owens never has heard a lion scream, and he probakly has killed more lions than any other man in the United States. --Benjamin Swapp. The' acream on Ole 1haniksuz Whle I have not had the forty years of foothill and mountain life experience that our worthy friend Loring of the San Juan speaks of, yet I have other endowments which may qualify me as an expert wit- ness, one of which is, I am a' ' "issoRian" by birth ar a Montanan by natural- ization, and with twenty-three years residence therein, I still retain that Missouri instinct of "Show Me." I have been shown to my entire satisfaction that at least one mountain lion did scream. It was the summer of 1907 on the Kanilku Forest in northern Idaho, while following an old and therefore dim section line through a heavy stand of matured white pine and cedar, with an understory of hemlock, that I was suddenly halted (all ecept my heart an hair) by the most unearthly scream I had ever heard. This was followed by a dead silence of a few moments duration, in which it seemed that the trees of the forest quivered. This silence was quickly broken by the second scream, which irdicated it came from a point just ahead. ar on the section line I was following. The underbrush obstructing a clear view ahead, I dropped to my knees to detect if possible the A11hirring Wimpers," but 10, it was a she lion with two kittens arn a fresh killed deer. D)uring the few seconds I was hesi- tating to offset two and a half chains to the west, I actually saw the old mother lion open her mouth ad actually heard a third unearthly scream, and thus my "Missouri" "Show me" instinct was satisfied.--GlOnASmith, D-1.
Apache Inspection 1921 Cleve Miller illed 30 lions since October between Eagle and Blue, Cospers to Grey's Peak. Biological Survey now hunting jaguar.
Prescott Inspection - 1922 Killing labits. Van Dickson saw a lion kill a big colt. Jumped at him from front, grab- bing high on the side of the throat and raking the neck and chest with the hind claws, tearing the jugular vein. Dragged him 60 yards and later returned to feed, eating the heart. Oldham says alleged leopard in Matazals kills cows by pulling the head down and break- ing the neck. Feeds on lungs and never re- turns for second feed, Hardy Schell says the one in Matazalq invariably tears out a shoulder blade - probably to get at the lights,
9@ Sitgreaves Inspection- 1922 Hoyt suays no lions on Sevier or Zaibab until atbout 1890-95. Then became abundant.
Tonto Inspection - 1923 Wt. of Lions One actra large one killed by Murphey weighed 140# after entrails removed.
Prescott Inspection. 1922 Japaa killed by W. H. Smith near Willow Springs, Smith Canyoh, about 1895. 01dham got this record.
Prescott Inspection - 1922 Jagua. *Vyatt says one killed 12 miles N. of Wickenburg by Leonard White in 1905, on the Hassayampa, and another 3j miles A. Crown King on head of Bear Cr. by Jno. Dickie in about 1900.
Prescott Inspection -1922 Jaguar kille& by Haskell in Greenback country on Tonto 20 years ago. Schel. saya John 4line told him this.
Prescott Inspection - 1922 Jaguar. 2 killed by W. R. Morley near Datil P.O. around 25 or 30 years ago* (Oldham)
Prescott Inspection- 1922 Jaguar seen by R. Martin, a fire guard, In head of Little Dry on Gila in 1912, acoordinS to M nro
0 0 Prescott Inspection - 192Z J killed on Sycamore Cr. 5 miles west of Skull Valley by Pete White about 1900, according to Van Dickson and Grant Carter of Skull Valley and Kirkland respectively. Hide seen by Dickson.
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Fish & Game December 8, 1922 ORANDUM FOR FILES: Additional Records of the Northern Limit of Jaguar Occurrence. During the past field season I have picked up the following records where these bir cats have been killed in recent years; TOITO FOREST: George Kline and his brothers, who live on Tonto Creek above Roosevelt, killed one in 1917 or 1918 in the region between Tonto Creek and Four Peaks. Former Thnger Sherman is quite sure that they killed more than one although I failed to ask them personally about this. Earl Bacon told me in October that he and his brother, Grant Bacon, killed one in 1907 or 1908 near the box of the Salt River. They were trapping for coon along the river an& a jaguar was treed by their hounds. CROOK FOREST : Ranger Chipman tells me that one was killed in 1918 in Harrison Canyon in the south end of the Caliuro M:ountains by a Mexican. The name of this man he did not know but it could probably be dug up since it is thought that he resides in the region and several parties saw the pelt which is still believed to be in the region. Grazinp Examiner.
108 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. THE WHY AND HOW OF MOUNTAIN LION HUNTING IN CALIFORNIA. By JAY BRUCE, State Mountain Lion Hunter. The importance of the control of the mountain lion (Felis co-ncolor) as an aid in game-conservation can be appreciated when it is realized that the present lion population of California is scientifically estimated to be about 600 lions, and their annual kill of deer 30,000 head. This is over twice the number known to be killed by human hunters. Since does are probably about five times as numerous as bucks, a lion has five chances to kill a doe for one chance to kill a buck. So, naturally, most of the deer killed by lions are the breeding stock of females. Although deer form their principal food, lions also kill thousands of dollars worth of domestic stock every year, even including full grown cattle. In fact, no animal in California is entirely exempt from the bloodthirsty instincts of these animals. I know definitely of lions hav- ing killed and eaten foxes, skunks, coons, porcupines and bobcats. I also have reliable information of several instances where lions have killed and eaten domestic dogs, while two lions now in captivity ipn the Yosemite Valley killed and ate a cub bear which managed to get into the lions' cage from his own adjoining cage. The lion problem has been intensified by the establishment of a chain of game refuges where no public hunting is allowed. The breeding stock of deer and other game is fast increasing in these areas, and nat- urally the lions accumulate there. Since the lion's instinct is to kill at every opportunity, the most damage will be done where deer are most numerous. In order to meet this condition a high state bounty was advocated. It seemed doubtful, however, whether a $100 bounty would attract enough hunters to confer a benefit anywhere in proportion to -the addi- tional cost, as will be shown later. Another mEthod of control consid- ered was the employment of experienced lion hunters on a regular sal- ary, plus the present bounty. As an experiment along this line the writer was employed by the California Fish and Game Commission, on January 1, 1919. This system costs only about $2000 per year, as against the $15,000 by the increased bounty, and lions are killed where there is the most need of killing them. The main object of the plan adopted was to control the lions in game refuges, and then to answer any calls where lions were doing unusual damage. During the last three years I have accounted for ninety lions, as follows: 1919, twenty- six lions; 1920, thirty lions; 1921, thirty-four lions. Most of these were taken in and around game refuges. Since October, 1908, the California Fish and Game Commission has been paying a bounty of $20 for each mountain lion killed. Claims for such bounty are made on blanks furnished by the commission, and every claimant has been requested to furnish the commission with a written statement showing where the lion was killed, why it was killed, the damage done by the NOTE.-There have been few articles appearing in CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME Of more general interest than the one offered here, written by a man who probably knows more about the habits of the mountain lion than any other Westerner. In bagging 121 lions, Mr. Bruce has traveled on foot over 10,000 miles, hunting, trailing, and studying their hablts.-EDITOR.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. lion, methods used in taking him, and the sex of the animal. In July, 1917, the bounty on female lions was raised to $30 per head. The information sent in by claimants for bounty indicates that nearly all of these lions were killed either accidentally or because they were doing damage to stock, and not on account of the bounty. Now if the bounty were raised to $100 per lion, the state would be paying $75 more on an average for each lion now killed under the present bounty, and this would amount to about $15,000 annually. From the foregoing it might be argued that the present bounty is useless and should be abolished, so let us examine and see what benefit FIG. 51. One hundred and fifty pound male lion treed near Lynchburg ranger's station, Placer County, November 1, 1921, is derived from this expenditure. It is evident that no situation can be handled intelligently or with efficiency without accurate data as a basis for action. Now on account of the bounty of $20 paid since 1908, the commission has been furnished with the following data: The number of lions killed during the last thirteen years; The proportionate number of these killed from year to year under q given condition, which should indicate the comparative lion popu- lation; The damage known to have been done by each lion; The methods used in taking the animal; The percentage of each sex killed since 1917. These data are of immense value in any effort to control the lion, and are, now being used to advantage for that purpose by the commission. Forinstance, we find from an examination of these data that the range of the lion on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains between Siskiyou County and Kern County, is confined to a straight belt Ibout fifteen miles wide by section lines, and at an elevation between 3000 and 5000 feet above sea level and averaging 4000 feet. The same elevation will apply to the range -of the lion in the Coast
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. Range Mountains. All the country above or below this belt can be eliminated as lion country for all practical hunting purposes. The lion does not habitually follow some of the deer to the higher mountains in summer and other deer to the foothills in winter, as many people suppose. This lion belt is so well defined in the Sierra that we can draw a straight line through the center of the belt, from a point in Siskiyou County to a point in Kern County, and it would be pos- sible for a hunter to camp along this line and kill approximately every lion on the western slope of the Sierra. Of course a lion will occa- sionally stray out of this belt temporarily, but he soon returns, for his natural home is there. The lion probably selects this belt because it is the natural home of the deer. The variety of ceanothus, commonly FiG. 52. A large 160-pound male lion which measured 7 feet 3j inches. Killed near Avery, Calaveras County, in March, 1921. Photograph by L. V. Peterson. called deer brush, which is the principal food for deer, grows in abun- dance in this belt between 3000 and 5000 feet elevation. The deer that summer higher winter here, and those that winter below summer hero. Most of the deer stay here all the year, so this area is the best all-year range for them. In other words, the maximum deer population is to be found in this area. For this reason the lioness selects some place Y in this belt when her young are to be born. She usually has two or three kittens, although sometimes only one, and occasionally four, are born in a litter. On account of many females not mating every year, the yearly increase probably averages one kitten for each adult fewrale. The lair is usually located around some bluff or pile of rocks, which furnishes places for shelter and concealment of the kittens when small. In my experience, the kittens are born in either February, April, August or November. The mother nurses them for about two months, and probably brings them some food in her stomach during that time.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. After they are weaned she makes a kill and moves the kittens to it, leaving them to eat it while she goes away hunting. She continues moving the kittens from kill to kill until they are about six months old and weigh about 35 pounds for females and 50 pounds for males, by actual scale weight. They now hunt part of the time with their mother until they are about a year old and weigh about 65 pounds for females and 80 pounds for males. The mother then abandons them. The kittens sometimes continue to hunt together for a few months longer, when they finally separate, selecting different beats, but still in the same belt where conditions are the same as where they were raised. When fully matured the male weighs from 140 to 160 pounds and measures from 64 feet to 71 feet from tip of nose to tip of tail. The female weighs from 90 to 105 pounds and measures from 6 feet to 7 feet from tip to tip. These are actual scale weights and tape measurements. The adult male accompanies the female only during the mating period and does not help to feed and care for the young. Lions do not make their kills by lying in wait on the limbs of trees and springing from there. In fact, I have never known of a lion climbing a tree except to avoid the dogs. They tirelessly hunt and stalk their quarry on the ground, taking advantage of every cover, and finally rushing from a distance of 40 or 50 feet. This distance is covered in about a second. A 100-pound lion moving at a velocity of 40 feet per second will strike a blow sufficient to prostrate a yearling steer. The heavy muscles of the lion's neck, shoulder and forepaws are tense for the blow, and easily absorb the shock that prostrates his unsuspecting victim, which is then killed by being disemboweled. The liver is eaten first, and then the loins and hams. An examination of probably 100 deer killed by lions showed no -evidence of the lion having touched the throat of any of these kills. I have found the lion to be normally a solitary and invariably a silent animal. I have never heard that hair-raising scream the lion is sup- posed to utter, and I do not believe it makes any loud sounds, but that the noises usually attributed to it are made by owls and coyotes. On one occasion of which I know, about fifty guests at a mountain resort were listening one evening to the braying of a mule colt, and were told in good faith that they were hearing a mountain lion scream. Every one of these people, including their informant, probably believes to this day that they were hearing a lion. Some writers have condemned the mountain lion as being cowardly and unwilling to attack in the open, but they lose sight of the fact that the eat family is short-winded and unable to capture its prey by running it down as the dog family does. If the lion should openly approach his prey and challenge it to combat, his intended victim would imme- diately take to flight, leaving the lion to go hungry. His only means of making a living is to surprise his quarry. In a fight to the death, the mountain lion is more game than the black bear. le will fight with his last breath, when the black bear will quit and cover his head with his paws and bawl like a calf. The most reliable method of taking lions is trailing with dogs, and the best dogs for this purpose are fox hounds. A hunter, requires at least four dogs, which must be highly trained on lions and thoroughly proof on deer and other game, as there are probably a thousand head
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. of deer and other game combined, for each lion. The dogs are used in pairs, allowing each pair to rest every second day, as a dog uses so much energy in running, baying and wagging his tail during ten or twelve hours of trailing that he needs one day's rest for each day of work. Furthermore, a dog's feet will not stand continuous hunting. To be successful, lion hunting must be done intensively. Since a lion does most of his prowling at night, the hunter must leave camp early and travel fast, in order to find a fresh trail and have the most hours of daylight to trail the lion down, as a person can neither travel to advantage in the mountains after dark, nor see tracks when necessary to help the dogs. A lion travels a regular beat over about 100 square miles, usually making his round about every four or five days, so as soon as some part of this beat is learned, the hunter has a clue to Fia. 53. Mountain lion scratches. work by. Since the dogs can smell only a reasonably fresh track, the hunter can not depend entirely upon their sense of smell to find the trail, but must always watch the -ground carefully fbr any old signs which would indicate the places where a lion had been traveling. The signs left by lions are fresh or old kills, dung and tracks, and if a male is traveling a beat the plainest sign will be marks about a quar- ter to a half mile apart along the beat and apparently made by the lion digging with his forepaws in the dead leaves near the base of a tree or in the rotten wood near an old log (see figure 53). These marks are all alike and can not be mistaken for anything else when once learned; they are made only by the male and are a sure indication to
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. I the hunter of the sex of the animal he is trailing. After some part of the lion's beat has been learned, that part must be hunted first every day, continuing the hunt then from there. If one day is missed and the lion passes, the track may be too old for the dogs when it is found the next day, and this may mean four or five days before the trail is again found fresh enough for the dogs to follow. A dog can not follow any but a very fresh trail on hot and dry ground or in dust, so the hunter must use his eyes to help the dogs past such places. In the cool, damp weather of winter a twenty-four hour trail can usually be successfully followed, while in the hot, dry weather of summer a six- hour trail is found difficult. When snow is on the ground, trailing is FiG. 54. Doe and fawn killed by mountain lion near Bear River on north fork of Mokelumne River. easy and a four or five-day-old track should be followed, as a lion may make a kill at any point on his beat and may have returned for a feed, allowing the hunter to get a fresh track at the kill. I estimate that while killing 120 lions I advanced an average of about fifteen miles the day the lion was killed. This distance does not take into account many loops made in looking for tracks when it was necessary to help the dogs. Many times I have trailed a lion this distance each day for three or four days before bagging him. Several times I have advanced twenty-five miles, and once thirty miles, the day I got the lion. Gen- erally the hunter travels on foot over 100 miles for each lion killed. I estimate that on the average trail my dogs will travel about five times the distance advanced. To me it is very interesting to watch a hound on the trail. He rushes along with nose close to the ground, head sweeping from side to side and tail wagging furiously, stopping sud- denly as he catches the scent, smelling intensely for a moment to make sure, then throwing up his head and baying loudly as he rushes ahead for a hundred feet or so, then trying again for the scent, and circling 'until the trail is located. Now another rush ahead, and so on for twelve or fourteen hours, or until the constant baying indicates that
114 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. the lion has been routed out of his bed and is making wa, with the dogs in close pursuit. The hunter knows when the lion iS finally treed, by the changed note in the baying of the dogs and by the fact that the baying comes continually from one place. On arriving at the tree, he can see anywhere from 100 to 160 pounds of cat, standing among the branches, usually about 30 feet above the ground. The lion may be just watching the dogs with interest, or he may be very angry, which is indicated by his constant growling. At the crack of the gun, out he goes, and even though shot through the heart he may still be able to seriously injure a dog. For this reason it is best to tie the dogs before shooting. It is quite an exciting experience to see a wounded adult lion on the ground, trying to hold at bay from two to four frantic dogs. Every moment will be full of action, as the dogs attack from different direc- tions and the lion continually turns to meet each attack. All the while he is growling and spitting savagely, his ears flat back, mouth wide open, claws unsheathed and hair and tail standing up. If the dogs crowd him too closely he turns over on his back and fights with his mouth and all four feet at the same time. Now is the time for the hunter to rush into the fray, shove his gun between the frantic dogs and get in a fatal shot. BLACK BASS SHIPMENT TO MEXICO. By GEOROE NEALE, Executive Officer, California Fish and Game Commission. In 1909, at the request of the Mexican government, Mr. Chas. A. Vogelsang, at that time chief deputy of the California Fish and Game Commission, made arrangements for the shipment of black bass to Lake Chapala, Mexico. The California Fish and Game Commission's distribution car No. 1, in charge of the writer, left Fresno early in December, 1909, with ninety-two cans containing about 1800 adult black bass. Some weighed as much as three pounds. After many delays, Ocotlan, on the shore of Lake Chapala in the Mexican state of Jalisco, was reached. Here the first planting was made. Seventy-two cans were transferred to lighters, which were towed by launches to the south end of the lake, where the fish were liberated. Some of them immediately began feeding on the minnows. We were then taken to the governor's palace on the shore of Lake Chapala, and were lavishly entertained by Governor Landa. Accom- panied by the governor's quartette of guitarists, we returned to Ocotlan after midnight in a terrific blow. Lake Chapala is a magnificent body of water, larger but not so beau- tiful as our own Lake Tahoe. It contains a food fish known as the whitefish, which differs from our whitefish in that it is transparent. But it furnishes a fine food for the black bass, which food is most neces- sary to insure increase. Lake Chapala is also said to contain carp, but we did not see any. This lake should now (eleven years after the plant- ing of these black bass) be an anglers' paradise for those who know how to lure the fish, which are, as Dr. Henshall states, "inch for inch, pound for pound, the gamiest fish that swims."
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME "CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION" Volume 9 SACRAMENTO, APRIL, 1923 Number 2 CONTENTS. Page RABIES IN A MOUNTAIN LION ---------------------- Tracy I. Storer. 45 CALIFORNIA'S LARGE GAME ANIMALS-Continued__M. Hall McAllister 49 SARDINES ABUNDANT NOW-BUT WHAT OF THE FUTURE? -------- ----------------------------------------------------- Elmer Higgins 50 PENDING FISH AND GAME LEGISLATION --------------------------- 51 EDITORIALS ------------------------------------------------------- 55 FACTS OF CURRENT INTEREST ------------------------------------ 72 NOTES FROM THE STATE FISHERIES LABORATORY --------------- 73 CONSERVATION IN OTHER STATES -------------------------------- 75 UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE COOPERATION ------------------ 76 REPORTS ---------------------------------------------------------- 77 Seizures --------------------------------------------------------- 77 Violations -------------------------------------------------------- 78 Incom e and Expenditures -------------------------------------------- 79 Fishery Products -------------------------------------------------- 80 RABIES IN A MOUNTAIN LION. By TRAcY I. STORER. (Contribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California.) It is a general belief among naturalists and well informed laymen that the California Mountain Lion (Felis oregonensis) does not ordi- narily attack human beings. This belief is strengthened by the experi- ence of many thousands of people who have camped and lived in the range of the mountain lion in this state without being harmed in any way by the species. In fact there is, for California, so far as the writer is aware, only one recorded instance in which a mountain lion has without obvious provocation attacked a human being. This occurred in Quartz Valley, Siskiyou County, on June 19, 1890, when a seven year I old boy was set upon and killed by two lions while he was playing among the foothill oaks at some distance from his home.* Children are believed to be slightly more subject to attack by lions than grown persons. Captive mountain lions in Yosemite Valley some years ago were observed to watch children intently even when the latter were at some distance, whereas adult people under similar circumstances aroused little or no interest on the part of the lions. The mountain *Outdoor Life (Denver, Colorado), vol. xxxvi, no. 2, August, 1915, pp. 162-163. 2563
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. lion, instead of seeking out people, usually carefully avoids them. Very few people even so much as catch sight of one of the animals. The above general remarks are given to indicate the ordinary relations between mountain lions and human beings. There is, however, at least one instance in California where a mountain lion, evidently infected with rabies, voluntarily attacked and was responsible for the death of two persons, including one adult. This occurred near Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County, in 1909. So far as known, this case has never been made a matter of record save in the local newspaper. It has seemed desirable to ascertain and record the facts as fully as possible, and for that purpose, the writer, acting in the capacity of compiler, has gathered the available information and herewith presents it to the readers of CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. The first account of this attack appeared in the Morgan Hill Times for July 9, 1909 (Vol. XI, No. 8), and the article is reproduced here verbatim with the exception of a final paragraph which was only of local interest. "The people of Morgan Hill were greatly shocked about four o'clock Tuesday afternoon, [July 5, 1909] when the news reached town that Miss Isola Kennedy had been attacked by a mountain lion on Coyote creek and seriously injured. Dr. J. T. Higgins was summoned and hastened With all speed in his automobile to her assist- ance. He dressed her wounds as well as was possible with the appliances at hand, and she was brought to her home in town on a cot on a wagon by her father who had also been summoned. It was nearly eight o'clock before they reached home with her as they had to drive very slowly on account of her serious injuries. She was made as comfortable as possible for the night. "Early Wednesday morning Dr. Higgins assisted by Dr. F. W. Watt, made a thorough examination of the wounds and dressed them. One ear was completely eaten off, the other ear badly lacerated, and a three-cornered cut by the right eye laid the bone bare but left the eye ball uninjured. Her left arm was fearfully mangled from bites and scratches, there being about fifteen deep gashes extending from the shoulder to the wrist and nearly a hundred lacerations from the teeth. The right arm, leg and back were also badly torn. While she is very weak from loss of blood and has suffered great pain, the doctors think she will recover unless blood-poisoning sets in. "Miss Kennedy had gone out for a drive and picnic on the creek about four miles east of Morgan Hill with Henry Merkle, a ten-year-old boy from Fruitvale, who is visiting the family and Curtis Lane, who is about the same age. These boys with another lad, Earl Willson, were bathing a short distance above the bridge when a lioness attacked the latter boy, striking him with her claws and tearing an ugly wound in the scalp and ear. Miss Kennedy ran to his assistance, when the animal jumped upon her, knocking her down. It then tried to bite her neck, but Miss Kennedy protected her neck as well as she could with her left arm and fought heroically by jabbing the lioness with a hat pin. "The boys ran to the tents of the Bay Cities Water Company, which are a few yards below the bridge and called Jack Conlan. He grabbed a shot-gun and ran to the relief. He fired two shots into the beast but the shot were too fine to do much injury and the animal clung to Miss Kennedy, gnawing at her arm. Conlan then ran and secured a rifle and shot the animal through the body near the heart, but not until he shot it through the head would it let go its hold. It measured eight feet in length. "The attack seemed particularly strange as there were a number of persons in the vicinity and several houses are not far distant. It has long been a favorite picnic and camping ground and such a danger was undreamed of." A request for details in the case sent to Dr. J. T. Higgins, M.D. (now residing in Watsonville), brought the following reply under date of December 20, 1921: "It is a pleasure for me to endeavor to give you an accurate account of the Isola Kennedy case; inasmuch, as I have read a great deal concerning the attacks of mountain lions on human beings and find that in such cases the animal is generally not in a normal condition, as was verified by this particular case. In talking with
CALIFORNLU FISH AND GAME.
old mountaineers and cattlemen I have learned that dogs and horses bitten
or |
scratched by mountain lions usually die.
5
"In this particular case Miss Kennedy was walking along the bank of
the
Coyote Creek, near Morganhill, when she saw the lion leap from the bank and
attack some boys bathing in the water. Two of the boys escaped, but the third
one
was knocked down into the water by the lion and scratched on the scalp. Owing,
probably, to the boy being knocked into the water the lion abandoned him
and
jumped to the bank and attacked her, she having come at this time to where
the
boys were.
"The lion held one of her arms in its mouth during the entire attack,
the severe
lacerations of her scalp and face being done by its front claws and those
of her legs
by the rear feet of the animal. She was knocked to the ground and laid in
this
position endeavoring to kill the animal by sticking a hatpin into its heart,
which
she was unable to do on account of the toughness of its skin. After considerable
time help came to her and the animal was killed.
"Examination showed the lion to be a female, but the report that she
had young
was probably erroneous as there was no active mammary gland development and
no young were seen in the vicinity.*
"Miss Kennedy through loss of blood was very much weakened, but made
an
apparently uneventful recovery, the lacerations being nearly healed. She
was
considered convalescent and had been out riding up to about seven weeks from
the
time of the injury when she developed hydrophobia and died, being sick about
one
week. The case was seen by three other competent physicians, who pronounced
it
hydrophobia.
"An autopsy performed upon Miss Kennedy's remains failed to show pus
in any
part of the body, even the original wounds being healed and there was at
no time
during her illness any reason to believe that it was septicemia or tetanus.
"Regarding the boy [Earl Wilson], who was scratched while in the water,
wish
to say that I made only a temporary dressing, when he returned to his home
in
Santa Cruz. The cause of his death was pronounced by the attending physician
in
Santa Cruz as tetanus, but judging from the character of the wound and the
treat-
ment it received in my office and the period of incubation I do not believe
that it
was tetanus, but am thorougly convinced that it was also hydrophobia.
"I believe I am in a better position to have a knowledge of this case
than any
one else as I was in constant attendance and gave it the closest attention
and will
be glad to give you any further details you may desire.
"Yours very truly,
(Signed) "J. T. HIGGINs, M.D."
A similar inquiry to Dr. D. A. Beattie brought a letter in which he
referred to Dr. Higgins as being able to give the fullest account of
the case. The following paragraph from Dr. Beattie's letter is
important:
"I will say that as a consultant I saw her more than once, and I also
performed
the postmortem upon her. But, through the very great negligence of the doctor
who took charge of the brain it was not sent to the laboratory until it had
become
useless. There isn't any question but this was a case of hydrophobia. There
were
perfectly typical symptoms, and the whole case was a picture of hydrophobia."
It may be said in explanation of Dr. Beattie's closing statement
that the early symptoms of rabies (hydrophobia) and tetanus (lock-
jaw) are somewhat alike, and physicians sometimes have difficulty in
distinguishing between the two. There is, however, one difference
which marks the courses of the two diseases. A fatal case of tetanus
usually terminates soon after the infection is acquired. Rabies, on
the other hand, may be very slow in claiming its victim. The rabies
infection travels slowly from the point of the bite along the nerves to
the brain and then (in the absence of preventive treatment during the
intervening time) terminates fatally.
According to the descriptions of the attack furnished above, Miss
Kennedy's scalp and facial wounds were caused by the claws of the
*Mr. Conlan also states that the lioness had no kittens.
48 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. mountain lion. The lion attempted to bite her neck but she put up " her arm and this the lion seized in its mouth. The infection, in a rabid animal, is carried in the saliva and on the teeth, and Miss Kennedy's infection was therefore received in her arm, probably her forearm. The head wounds were harmless from the standpoint of rabies. Had the lion bitten her anywhere on the head she would in all probability have died within a month. As it was, the infection was about seven weeks in travelling along the nerves of her arm and reaching the brain. With our present knowledge of rabies and our facilities for giving the Pasteur anti-rabic treatment, such a case, with early treatment, would stand every chance of escaping a fatal issue. Rabies was first reported in California in 1898 when there was a small outbreak among the dogs of Los Angeles County. Another small epidemic is on record as occurring at the Soldiers' Home near Los Angeles in 1906. In 1909, the year of the mountain lion attack here described, there was a severe outbreak in several of the counties of southern California, and in the years immediately following there were epidemics in several counties in the San Joaquin Valley, but none in the coast counties so far as can be ascertained. The question of the source of the infection in the mountain lion remains a mystery. According to the records of the California State Board of Health rabies has been detected in the following animals in California: Horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, domestic cats, dogs, bobcats and coyotes, and once each in the ground squirrel and gray fox. No skunks have been found positive for rabies in California. The account given above indicates that to the species of animals now known to carry the rabies infection must be added the mountain lion through the occurrence of but one authenticated case would sug- gest that in this species the infection is rather uncommon. The point to be made here is that any person attacked by a mountain lion in any way should take steps to consult a physician who can determine whether there is any danger of rabies and whether preventive treat- ment should be started. As first aid treatment wounds made by the teeth of a lion should be cauterized with nitric acid. If the lion is killed its entire head should be packed in ice and sent at once to a county or state health officer with a request that an examination for rabies be made. In conclusion, then, let it be emphasized that there is extremely little danger of attack from a mountain lion in California. The case here presented is only the second attack, and the first due to rabies, that has come to our attention. With the various epidemics of rabies in different counties of the state, and with the extensive epidemic of this disease among the coyotes of northeastern California, no inti- mation of rabies infection in mountain lions was obtained. The danger then from mountain lions in California is negligible as com- pared, for example, with that from the domestic dogs which roam our city streets and country roads. Berkeley, California, January 29, 1923.
Tonto Inspection - 1923 Jaguar Walter Lazear says was killing calves and ye-rlings in Cold Sprgs. coantry, bury- ing the kill like a lion and coming back to it. Set 5 traps around ore of these kills bat he got the calf oat without disturbing one of them. Calf had been pulled down by the jaw, not ridden. Then took after him with dogs but oat would not tree at all and mauled the dogs very badly. Ran him up over the rim. Now using on head of Duke Or, on Rim - 2 Biol. Survey men and 14 dogs after him. lias heard of others W-. of Pleasant Valley but doesn't know where this one came from
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Cory se~nt .1r. Jinn -iburuer iue, New !4exIotM9 September 11, 1923, Forest Ranger. Pines .ito, ew MeO. Dear HulJoert: Dr. L, s. Peters, utv was formerly a practiing physician Ut Fort Bayard, h' told e the follwinI story which I qluote from my notes: "Dr. L. S. Peters S&-3 70-yr. old w-aan was washinn dishes at her cabin 4 miles from Pinnes Altos in 1908, ler husband was amokiiW nearby, A she-lion jumiped int- the cabin and mangled her badly. The husb&4nd dnused the lion with a bucket of water, casili the lion to duck under the bed, where the huba shot it, Dr. Peters wu im~ed- iately called t- treat the case, and saw the skin of the lion, which was an old ouckling feealS. "'is thenry is she was starved for fnd brd this impelled the itt ack." This is an exoeedinglj exceptionl and interesting oas and I wou liA very much to learn more about it. I would appreciate it veory iueh if yn could isoertamn bj local i'nuiry the aswers t the follwiiA additinnal auestins: (1) What was the name f the womsn. who was attacked? (2) What time -f year was it?
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fI , OF~ 6AGRUTR UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY IN REPLY REFER TO May 15, 1924. Mr, Aldo Leopold, Forest Service, Albuquerqu, New Mexico. Dear Mr. LeJold: Referring to your letter of May 12th regarding the jaguar caught by Jack Fu, Jack Fund is a private trapper and hunter who has orled on the Indian Reservation for the past eight or ten years. From the letter he wrote me I take it that he caught the Jaguar on Cibecue Creek. However, I m not sure whether it was above the station of Cibecue or below. Therefore, I am unable to give you the location by town- snaps. I presame you have the records of tl ta y our en, one in 1918 and one in 194 In 19 8 was male am. he was taken on top C West of Gr ervile in the Santa Iita mount taken in 194 was a female and was taken wl Last year there re two jaguar On in the Santa Catalina mountains and spring Mr.j4o Gary, of Benson, killed either a small Ja or an ocobeit was in the Tincon Moutains, or rather in the foot hills of the Pinoone at the east end. Hoping this information will be satisfactory and assuring you that I will be glad to furnish any additional information, I am Sincerely yQUrs, Predatory Animal Inspector* M:F
May 12, 1924. Mr* M. z, Musgrave, Box 765, hoenix, Arizona. Dear Mr. Iusgrave: I note a recent article in one of the Arizona news- papers announcing the capture of a Jaguar by Jack Punk "near Blac4 River on the Apache Indian lieservation", I have been collecting Jaguar records for many years and would appreciate your giving me the aprroximate locality by township and range, I wculd also like to nw whether Funk is a BiLcgical Survey employee. Incidentally, if it is not too much trouble, I would appreciate hearing of any future records or any uther re- cent informatioa which you have stating where, when and by whom jaguars were seen or killed, ith kindest ereonaregards, Very sincerely yours,
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May 26, 1924. r. W. Rt. Morley, Datil, New Mexioo. Dear ,r. Aorley: In ollectng niterial for my book on Southwestern game I find I have two records of Jaguars killed near Datil but I rather suspect that they might both refer to the same animal. Fred Winn tells me that a ranohman of hiB qquaintanoe killed a Jaguar 10 or 15 miles north of Datil in 1904 ur 1905 and he bolieves Oseur Reddemann has the skin, 7rom another soiarge (whioh I oan not now recall) I havs a record of your killing one about 1895 near Datil. Can you please indicate on the bottom of this letter whether theie are both correct or if not, whiuh one is correet and return in the en- oloeed addressed entelopee Thanking you, Very sinoerely yurs, 4&nol oeure.~
JCopy Springerville, Arizona iV~~lZ~q- 0iL, 77I~ Fish & Game-Apache. District Forester, Albuquerque, N, M. Dear Sir: Reference is Ime to the item in the Bulletin of May 26, During the winter of 1904 or 1905 a Mexican Jaguar was killed in the Datfl Mountains about ten or fifteen miles north of Datil, N. M. by a ranchn of my acquaintance. I believe the skin was purchased by Mr. Oscar Redeman of iagdalena, N. M. Very truly yours, Frederic Wiun Forest Supervi sor. I Ma I , I Ie
March, 1925 meat to the United States. Five artificial ice plants Ied on the Seward Peninsula to take care of reindeer ,- ,., ,,.,,-, +. -.', n e'il-v rf 7.50 head a year.' Reports show that the deer feding operations saved many animals. Warden W. H. Terhune .states that during the feeding 300-deer were seen in the vicinity of Sitka on one day, February 12; a total of 287 in Tenakee Inlet on two days, February 13 and 14; and 64 in Gambier Bay, February 27. *Many other animals were seen scattered along the beaches singly and in groups. Mr. Terhune reports the snow about three and one-half feet deep in places on. the beach, but that the deer were doing fairly well when the weather moderated February 27 and rain began. Feeding was discontinued February 28, as the snow was rapidly settling and the deer could again get about and obtain food. ECONOMIC INVFESTIGATIONS Dr. W. B. Bell left Washington March 5 to visit field offices through the west and will be absent for several months. Hunter Dave Crouch killed a female lion on the San Isabel National Forest, Colorado, on February 10, and in tracking her mate was led by his dos to a cave containg the remip Qfo two lion kittens which had prob- ably been eaten by the old male. Albert L. Jones, employed as a hunter in the Apache Game Preserve district, Arizona,,in February captured 9 lions and 12'bobcats, though he did not have the equipment of most lion hunters, and his dogs were not well trained for the work. Hunter Cleve Miller caught four lions just south of this range. February is usually the most favorable month for lion hunting in Arizona, and last year's record of 21 lions was broken this year by a catch of 22.. At a rat control demonstration in King County, Washington, Leo K. Couch, leader in rodent control, showed the method of applying calcium dust to rat burrows under poultry plants. On the ranch used for this pur- pose, 3,500 hens were housed in four buildings - two of them 200 and two 120 feet long - all with concrete foundations and floors. The owner had used every precaution to rat-pro'of his'buildings, but the rodents burrowed under the cement foundations and worked holes in the cement floors and through the dust boxes. Traps and poisons had been used with little suc- cess, as the rats had access to. grain, mash, eggs, and young and sick poultry, and were causing a loss of $1,000 per year. After the cyanide dust was pumped under the buildings, 163 dead rats were picked up, and doubtless many mare were killed. Experimental work will be done with small dusters to apply the cyanide to smaller poultry plants. Where con- ditions are right to confine the gas, and where trapping and poisoning fail, the cyanide can be used to good account. A few days after the - 3-
March, 1925 demonstrations, the owner made the following report to the cooperating County Agent: "By the looks of the rat situation, I hardly think it war- rants me in getting an outfit, but I intend to be-prepared for futute trouble. I have seen only two or three rats since the grand execution although I've heen snooping around constantly at night with the flash light. Formerly I saw hundreds.. You must have exterminated two or three thousand rats." By using the rat trapping. methods recommended last fall by H. R. Wells, leader in rodent contr.ol in South Dakota, one large concern in Sioux Falls dealing in foodstuffs and unable to use poison took 6,400 rats in 90 days. At the present tiime, the man employed for this work states that rats are very scarce and that very little work is necessary, to keep them in check. -The first attempt at organized pocket-gopher control east of the Missouri River. was started in February when Mr. Wells began the organiza- tion of a cooperative pocket-gopher campaign in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. This .project will be started in April.witli one township and oper- ations will be compulsory on all laAds. Hundreds of letters have been received from cooperators telling of the benefits derived by killing rodent pests in Arizona;. The following excerpts are typical: . The value of killing rodent pests means the difference between success and failure on our ranch. We would, have lost at least $5,000 last year if we had not used the poison you.sent us." "We !r~bably saved $500 by poisoning pocket gophers on 146 acres. It is rather hard to estimate but the truth of the matter is that farming without some pocket-gopher control is impossible in the Yuma Valley." "It is estimated *that we saved several thousand dollars worth of crops and vines by using the pocket-gopher poison on our 80 acres." Good results were obtained in Idaho in poisoning jack rabbits dur- ing the winter, especially during the month of January. .At the end of February, a total of 20,760 pounds of bait. had been used. Arrangements haye been made*in Idaho .to conduct. a ground-squirrel campaign in '29 counties, and 72,000 pounds .of poisoned bait have been provided for. use-o-n privately owned lands.- Provision has also been made for the purchase-of ll0, .00 additionkl pounds as the season advances, mak- ing-.available-a 'total of 182,000 pouldis.of poisoned bait for .which funds have been provided.in the variols 'counties. *James Silver and- Morris A. Stewart, of the Eastern District, have recently returned from a trip thr6ugh New Jersey, New York, western Massa- chusetts, CQnnecticut, and Verm6rt, where a series of conferences with extension officials and others interested in rodent control were held. Interesting information also was obtained.relative to the present distri- bution and economic status of the European hare., THE SUJRVEY. - 4 -
NEW MEXICO HUNTERS' NEWS LETTER UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Bureau of Biological Survey and State of New Mexico through its College of Agriculture Co-operating. JUNE, 1924 ALBUQUERQUE, N. M. NUMBER 77 The Hunters' News Letter is issued in the interest of efficiency in predatory animal control and as a medium for conveying news of interest to the field forces and interested co-operators. The News Letter will be send free to those who are interested in the subject it represents. The excellent work that was accomplished by Government and State hunters in June is a credit to the Service. The work is all the more commendable, considering the fact that the month was extremely hot and dry. Government and State Hunters are at liberty to conduct their official work in State Game Preserves without permits from the State Game Department. This is a courtesy much appreciated and must be fully respected by all hunters and field men. Such confidence on the part of the State Game Department is a credit to our Service; at the same time, our hunters must have full freedom of their movements in order to accomplish the most efficient work. However, hunters should, so far as possible, keep Forest Rangers and Deputy Game Wardens advised regarding their movements and unnecessary disturbances should be avoided in the Preserves. PERSONAL MENTION. Hunter 0. E. Royal is to be commended on the efficient way in which he is doing his wolf hunting in the northern part of the state. lie trapped five wolves on the Tierra Amarilla Grant during June. Hunter W. C. Echols struck the wolves of Skeleton Canyon, Hidalgo county, a hard blow by taking three. This is the last of the wolves in the Peloncillo mountains for the present at least. One of the wolves trapped
by Hunter Echols was really three-legged. One of its hind legs was torn off at the hock joint and the stub stuck straight out sideways. Hunter C. C. Wood is making a good run on the lions of the Animas mountains, Hidalgo county. This is an important point to l)e guarded on account of the drift coming in from southern ranges. Hunter J. T. Bowman is still getting better than a coyote a day in the sand country of Chaves and Eddy counties. Hunter H. L. Leisering of Cliff, N. M., who is a new man in the ser- vice, captured one wolf, six coyotes and two cats. j Hunter C. S. Hightower of Mule Creek took a lion this month that was carrying four unborn young. Early in the month, Hunter Pickens left his old range and moved lip to Colfax county, where he has already taken one lion. This is a good start on a difficult assignment, to rid the Sangre de Christo Range of mountain lions. The lion taken by Hunter Ritchie was trapped. The fact that dogs are sometimes out of condition for the chase does not stop some of our wily old hunters from continuing after the varmints. Hunters Jim and Sam Young are having their round of difficulties hunting wolves. Sam lately learned that there are no more on his district and the only one Jim has left at present is ranging among the sheep where he can't keep a trap in shape, but we are sure that when Jim's wolf leaves the sheep trails it will be "goodbye Mr. Lobo." SUGGESTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS. The Inspectors are planning to prepare a good supply of foetid scent bait for use during the next fall and winter poisoning campaign. A good quantity of oil will be needed to mix with the scent. For this purpose skunk oil is best, but lion oil can be used. If each hunter will prepare as much as a quart or half gallon of the oil we will be able to prepare all the scent that will be needed. Tin cans with screw tops are best as oil containers. The oil may be kept until the Inspectors have an oppor- tunity to get it or instructions are given for shipping it to the office. It is suggested that any hunters who desire to take leave should do so in July or August, as these are usually dull months and we want to all be groomed and in good shape, with ample funds for conducting our big drive on predatory animals next fall and winter. Hunters are requested to use the space on itinerary sheets under
"remarks" for listing livestock damages and the number of predatory and fur bearing animals taken during each week. In order to simplify our office work we are attaching a sample itinerary which illustrates the method of reporting the information required. This is intended also to simplify the report work of hunters. During the summer months no part need be saved of fur bearers, such as fox, skunk or fur badger. No part of porcupine is necessary at any time. When such animals are taken in summer, mention of the fact on your itinerary report is sufficient. JUNE REPORT. During the month 17 Federal and State hunters worked a total of 439 (lays, taking 88 predatory animals, which were 10 wolves, 6 moun- tain lions, 12 bobcats and 60 coyotes. In addition to the above, 4 em- bryo lions were also destroyed. HONOR ROLL. (A) 0. E. Royal, Tusas, 30 days; 5 wolves. (B) W. C. Echols, Animas, 30 days; 3 wolves, 3 bobcats. (C) C. C. Wood, Animas, 30 days; 2 lions, 3 coyotes. (D) J. T. Bowman, Dexter, 30 days; 32 coyotes. (E) II. L. Leisering, Cliff, 30 days; 1 wolf, 6 coyotes, 2 bobcats. (F) Albert Pickens, Cimarron, 30 days; 1 lion, 1 cat. (G) W. W. Glaze, Fierro, 30 days; 1 wolf, 1 coyote. (11) J. J. Taylor, Governador, 7 days; 1 lion. (I) C. S. Hightower, Mule Creek, 30 days; 1 lion-4 embryo lions. (J) I. L. Ritchie, Rosedale, 30 days; 1 lion. Very truly yours, J. STOKLEY LIGON, Inspector, By E. L. PINEAU, Inspector Assisting. DR. II. L. KENT, President, State College of Agriculture.
I AND GAME tHROUGH EDUCATION." UARY, 1925 CONTITENTS. THE PROBLEM OF MOUNTAIN LION CONTROL IN CALIFORNIA ----------------------- - - -- - A BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF CALIFORNIA L0%kES AND STREAMS--. --------- Page - By Jay Bruce 1 3y Geo. A. Coleman 17 A CLOSED SEASON NEEDED FOR FISHER, MARTEN AND WOLVERINE IN CALIFORNIA-__- -------- By Joseph Dixon EDITORIAL ........... .--- - - FACTS OF CURRENT INTEREST - HATCHERY NOTES ---- COMMERCIAL FISHERY NOTES ----------- CONSERVATION IN OTHE R STATES ----- REPORTS- Violations of Fish and Game Laws -------- Seizures of Fish and Game ----------------- Statement of Expenditures ........... --- Statement of Income ........... California Fresh Fishery Products ..............- - 37 - .------------ -- -- 38 - 41 43 43 - - - - 44 - - -- - 45 ---- -- 46 THE PROBLEM OF MOUNTAIN LION CONTROL IN CALIFORNIA. (With five photographs.) By JAY BRUCu, State Lion Hunter. The mountain lion, also called puma, panther, and cougar, is the only predatory animal in California which is apparently of no economic benefit to the human race. Even the wildcat and coyote generally do more good than harm by preying principally upon rats, mice, gophers, ground squirrels and jackrabbits, thus helping to keep these pests under control. Although both wildcats and coyotes, especially the latter, cause considerable losses among sheep on the ranges and also occa- 35981 Number 1 26
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. sionally kill deer under favorable conditions, only a comparatively small number of these animals develop into confirmed killers of stock or deer. Furthermore, both wildcats and coyotes produce furs which are a source of revenue to a considerable number of people who live in the mountains and depend upon trapping as a means of income during the winter months. On the other hand, the mountain lion is of practically no value as a fur bearer, game animal, or source of food, but is simply a liability FIG. 1. A 160-pound lion hanging from a digger pine, out of which the lion was shot. which probably costs the state a thousand dollars a year in deer meat alone to support each member of its lion population, or at the rate of $15,000 to maintain each lion during its natural existence. INFORMATION SECURED BY PAYMENT OF BOUNTIES. Practically nothing was definitely known about the lion situation in California prior to October, 1907, when the Fish and Game Commission began paying a bounty of $20 each for the killing of lions. Until then there was no reliable way of securing information. While the bounties
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. paid on 4350 lions during the last sixteen years have cost the state approximately $96,000, the information secured through this expendi- ture has alone been worth all it has cost, and the only way such informa- tion could have been secured was by the payment of bounties sufficient to encourage persons who killed lions to furnish the information neces- sary to secure such bounties. DISTRIBUTION OF LIONS IN CALIFORNIA. Much can be learned about the lion situation in California by an examination and study of these claims for bounties. For instance, we learn from this source of information that lions do not habitually range from the lower foothills to the crest of the highest mountain ranges, but that heir normal range is confined to the areas hich r o , the varieties of ceanothus commonl n. P, rush," in which deer nd stock ceddpriipally. On the western slope of the Sierra Nevada from Fresno County north to Mount Shasta, this area can be described as that lying between 3000 feet and 5000 feet elevation, as measured on the divides between streams. The same elevations will apply to the lion country in the northern Coast Range from Mount St. Helena north to the Oregon line. In the Mount Hamilton rafge, the Gabilan range, Santa Cruz Mountains and San Lucia range, lions are found where the ridges are at least 3000 feet above sea level, while in the southern Sierra Nevada and mountains south of the Tehachapi the higher edge of the lion's normal range extends in places up to 7500 feet, at which elevation we find the same vegetation as at 5000 feet elevation farther north. A very small percentage of the 4350 lions taken during the last sixteen years have been taken outside of the above described area. ESTIMATED LION POPULATION OF THE STATE. By the application of this data it is not only possible to determine the exact areas inhabited by lions, but it is also possible to make a reasonably accurate estimate of the lion population of the state and to determine whether lions are increasing or decreasing from year to year. Mr. J. S. Hunter, assistant executive officer of the Fish and Game Commission, did make such an estimate, based on conditions existing in 1919, when the writer was employed by the Commission to hunt lions. About the same time the writer made an entirely separate and inde- pendent estimate, basedc upon density of population, and allowed an average of one lion to each township in the actual area of distribution. This was in accord with observations made while traveling for some 12,000 miles over the mountains of California hunting and trailing- lions, and bagging, up to that time, about 125 lions. According to Mr. Hunter's estimate, the lion population in 1919 was 5Z ions, while that made by the writer was 600 lions. It is interesting to note that these two estimates practically agreed, although determined by different methods. THE INDICATED REDUCTION IN THE LION POPULATION. In the interval between January 1, 1919, and June 30, 1924, the writer has taken 165 lions, or an average of 30 lions a year. In addi-
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. tion, a considerable number of lions have been taken by stockmen and others in the mountains, who started their dogs with the writer's trained lion hounds. While hunting for the Commission, it has always been my practice to encourage the killing of lions by these men who are continually riding the ranges in the lion country, and thus, in the course of their regular duties, often have unusual opportunities to take lions, if provided with a trained dog. Because of this increase in kill, the lion population should have been reduced by at least 100 lions since the last estimate was made. This would bring the population down to about 475 lions at the present time, which, according to area of normal range, should be distributed about as follows: Sierra Nevada ranges, confined to a comparatively straight belt averaging about fifteen miles wide between Tehachapi Mountains and Mount Shasta, 160 lions; northern Coast Range from Mount St. Helena north to the Oregon line, an area lying between elevations of 3000 and 5000 feet, and most numerous in the pine-timbered area between the Sacramento Valley and the Redwood belt, 125 lions; Mount Hamilton and Gabilan range from Mount Hamilton south to northern San Luis Obispo County highest area, 40 lions; Santa Cruz Mountain highest area, 10 lions; San Lucia range from Carmel River south to the northern San Luis Obispo County line, elevations above 3000 feet, 40 lions; southern California from Santa Maria River southerly through San Rafael, Tehachapi, Sierra Madre, San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains, elevations between 3000 feet and 7500 feet, 100 lions total, 475 lions. LIONS IN RELATION TO GAME REFUGES. Eighteen state game refuges and part of three national parks are situated within the area inhabited by lions. Since the principal object in establishing game refuges is to furnish a harbor of safety during the open season for a sufficient breeding stock of male deer, no hunting, except for predatory animals, is allowed in these areas at any time. Most of these refuges are ideally situated for the purpose intended, but they will never be entirely effective until the U. S. Forest Service can be persuaded to prohibit stock grazing. Deer will accumulate to the limit of food supply in these refuges where they are not harassed at any time of the year, and, as the deer increase, lions are attracted. Because the lion's instinct is to kill at every opportunity, even though fully fed, the most damage wil e one where deer are most numerous. Con-equently, lions must be eliminated from these refuges if they are to be of any benefit. Although in the actual area of distribution we find an average of about one lion for each township, and the average game refuge com- prises about two or three townships and may harbor only two or three lions continuously, still nine or ten lions may be making most of their kills within the refuge where deer are most numerous. Although lions do not roam at random for great distances while in search of prey, each one does travel a definite beat, which is usually in the form of a loop ,2or 30 miles around and encompasses about 100 square miles. There- fore,hions which range part of the time in the areas which adjoin a game refuge, may be passing through the refuge on every trip around
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 5
their beat, which is usually every four or five days, and make most of
their kills within the refuge where deer are most numerous. Conse-
quently, in order to eliminate the lions from refuges, it is necessary to
hunt these adjoining areas as well as the territory within the boundaries
of the refuge.
HOW LIONS CAPTURE DEER.
The lion is a persistent hunter, often traveling 25 or 30 miles over
rough country in 10 or 12 hours. When a deer is discovered by
the prowling lion, the big cat approaches the quarry by stealthily
moving from cover to cover, sometimes waiting for several minutes
behind a tree, bush or rock until the deer moves behind another object.
The deer is often thus stalked for several hundred feet before the lion
approaches within striking distance. Usually when within 40 or 50 KJktJ
feet of his prospective victim, the lion makes a final charge and strikes
W
it down by sheer force of onslaught, then kills it by disembowelment.( o]
-,
Every action of a hunting lion is recorded by the trac jaein soft
snow, consequently an observing person can accurately read the life
history of these animals by trailing them when snow is on the ground.
I, myself, have trailed lions for probably a thousand miles under such
conditions, but I have never found any evidence that lions lie in wait
on the limbs of trees in order to capture prey. However, a lion, while
resting after a long trip, will occasionally scent a passing deer and
sneak from its bedding place in search of the quarry, but they do not
habitually lie in wait, except for a few minutes while making a stalk.
Even then, while waiting behind the cover of tree or rock until the
deer moves behind some other cover, the lion exhibits its impatience by
continually changing the position of its front paws, as is evidenced by
the number of tracks made in such-places. There is no evidence that
it lashes its tail.
By nature, the'lion is restless rather than patient. It is not uncommon
for ' male lion to leave a fresh kill after one feed and make a 25- or
30-mile trip around its beat in search of another victim. Evidence of
waa~on killing by a lion was discovered when, ih March, 1922, while
hunting in company with Ed Garrett and Deputy James Poe near the
junction of Panther Creek and the North Fork of the Mokelumne River,
we found the carcasses of twelve deer that had been killed in as many
days by one male lion. Nearly all of these kills were within sight of an
old water ditch which the lion had been following for about two miles.
This lion's tracks were first discovered by us about eight miles west of
Panther Creek and followed to the place where the twelve kills were
found. Our camp was then moved to this place and the next day,
while trailing this lion twelve miles farther east, we discovered another
kill which the lion had also abandoned after taking one feed, as I killed
him that evening five miles farther on.
THE LION IN NATURAL HABITAT IS A SILENT ANIMAL.
Although I have several times heard lions in captivity utter sounds
which resemble a hoarse whistle, I have never heard this sound uttered
by wild lions in their natural habitat. The sound uttered by captive
lions resembles more, nearly that uttered by a -red-tailed hawk and by
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. no stretch of the imagination could it be described as a "hair-raising, blood-curdling scream." This would more accurately describe the wails of the coyote. While spending more than thirty years in the lion country, hunting lions almost continuously during the last five years in ilo nearly every part of California, trailing down and bagging 196 lions. [ c, \ have never heard one scream uttered b ou. In the nature of this big cat, whose-ver-yexist-encedep-ends upon his ability to surprise the wariest animals, silence and stealth are developed to the highest degree. BREEDING HABITS. The adult mountain lion is normally a solitary animal and does not 1A"fl'~l in bands or even in pairs except during the mating period, which nay occur at any time of the year. Unlike most other wild animals, lions-do not all breed at the same season. Therefore, the lioness seeks FIG. 2. A 155-pound lion where picked up at the base of a bluff over which he rolled when shot from a tree. the mate and when doing so she instinctively follows the prominent ridges which are used principally by the male lion, who, in order to dis- close his beat to the lioness, leaves at intervals along his beat, .ajo a diging with his forepaws in the leaves near the base of a tree or in rotten wood near an old log. These marks are all alike and, when once learned, can not be mistaken for anything else. When the seeking lioness discovers one of these marks she lingers near, leaving only long enough to make a kill and feed. When the male lion comes by on his next trip, which may be from one to three days later, he discovers by his sense of smell that a mate is near and in turn seeks her. Several times I have trailed a lioness onto a high ridge traveled by the lion and found a maze of tracks there indicating that both lions had spent con- siderable time searching for each other. Tracks were so numerous that the dogs were confused and it was necessary to circle at a distance of half a mile to find the outgoing trail, which showed that the lion and lioness had left the place together.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. MALE LIONS FIGHT TO DEATH OVER MAT Occasionally two adult male lions are using the same beat, in which case there may be a battle between the two over a lioness. Conclusive evidence that two male lions battled to the death for the favor of a lioness was discovered by Joseph Dixon, of the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, and myself while hunting in Sequoia National Park, January 25, 1924. On that date we bagged a 145-pound male lion which showed evidence of having engaged in a desperate battle a few days previously. (See Fig. 4.)' Twp toes were missing from the lion's left forepaw and his head, neck and shoulders had been severely bitten and clawed. While we were proceeding along the road from Marble Fork bridge to Colony Mill, later the same day, we found the three-day-old tracks of the wounded lion which were identified by the missing toe marks. We back-tracked this lion for about a mile and a half where we discovered the two-day-old tracks of a smaller male lion. Fio. 3. Examining tracks of mountain lion in road. Often this proves a useful way of locating lions. After tracking the latter about one-half mile down the mountain side, we found his dead carcass. Though the dead lion bore severe wounds on his head, neck and one hip, he had apparently died from infection of the terrible lacerations in both front legs. The larger lion had prob- ably intruded after the lioness had accepted the attentions of the smaller one and the latter, although mortally wounded, had apparently been the victor as the larger lion had left the scene of the combat and failed to return, while the lioness had faithfully lingered for two days near her mate's dead body, deserting it only when she heard the hounds approaching. NUMBER OF KITTENS BORN AT ONE TIME, The lioness usually gives birth to two or three kittens at a time, although sometimes only one and, occasionally, four are born in a litter. However, because of many females not finding a mate at every period,
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. the annual increase probably averages about one kitten to each adult female. LOCATION OF LAIR FOR YOUNG. Lions have no lair except in the case of the female when the young are to be born. Then it is merely a bed usually at the base of some bluff of rocks or in thick brush which furnishes a hiding place for the kittens while they are small. But the lioness herself seldom enters a den or cave even though such places a e aTailable. In Tulare County, in ebr uary, 1924, I captured *a litter of four kittens not more than ten days old. They were in a bed which the lioness had established between the base of a leaning rock and a laurel bush. The bed was within 100 feet of the entrance of Clough's Cave, which extends for several hun- dred feet into a limestone dike. There were also a dozen or more smaller caves within a hundred feet, but still the lioness refused to seek the shelter of these caves. When discovered, she stood over the kittens and held three dogs at bay until I approached to within thirty feet. Then she deserted the kittens, fled to a tree and was shot. If ih'ese kittens had been older they would surely have sought refuge in some of the numerous caves as was done by three kittens which I captured in Placer County in August, 1923. In the latter instance, the three kittens, upon hearing the hounds, fled to a hiding place in a crack which extended for eight or ten feet back into the face of the bluff of rocks. It was necessary to watch this place for three days before they left their refuge and were cut off from retreat. DEVELOPMENT AND SIZE OF LIONS. When lion kittens are about five or six weeks old they weigh from six to eight pounds each and are able to follow the mother for short distances. When about eight weeks old they begin to eat meat and from that time on the mother leads them from one kill to ano er, leaving the kittens to devour one kill while she hunts for another victim, for the lioness must accept the entire burden of caring for the young. Usually, the kittens accompany the mother unniTltey are about one year old, at which time the male kitten will be as large as its mother. en fully matured, the male lion weighs 'from 120 pounds to 160 pounds, the average weight being about 140 pounds, and measures from c j 61 feet to 7j feet from tip of nose to tip of tail. The female weighs from 80 pounds to 105 pounds-and measures from 6 feet to 6 feet 8 inches from tip to tip. The skin from a 7-foot lion will measure 9 feet 0 when stretched and that is why we occasionally read of a 9-foot lion. The largest lion of 196 which I, myself, have taken, measured 7 feet, 3j inches and weighed 160 pounds, but I will concede a possible 7 feet, 6 inches as the maximum length for the California lion. POSSIBILITY OF ATTACK BY LIONS ON HUMANS. Although the lion preys upon every other animl in California, so far as I can find, there is no authentic record of a normal mountain lion having voluntarily attacked a human being. I do not believe there is any danger of an attack on an adult human. In the case of the lioness which attacked the school teacher and child near Morgan Hill several
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. years ago, the lioness was undoubtedy infected with rabies as both of the victims died from that disease. However, I believe there is a possi- bility of the lion attacking a small child when it is unprotected. All stories of lions having trailed human beings are, in my opinion, mis- leading. Some of these stories are probably manufactured by persons who wish to give the impression that they have had a narrow escape from some dangerous animal. Other such stories are told in good faith by timid people who believe that as soon as darkness falls in the moun- tains dangerous wild animals are lurking behind every bush. When such persons are obliged to travel a mountain trail after dark they recall every lion story that they have ever heard; then as some small animal or bird moves in a nearby bush they become panic stricken, imagine they are being followed by mountain lions and are in great danger of being attacked. Again, such stories are sometimes told by veteran mountaineers, who should know better but are actually ignorant of the habits of the moun-' tain lion. They usually base these stories on the fact that they have' found fresh tracks of lions in the morning on trails that they themselves had traveled after darkness on the night before. Upon such discovery, they immediately assume that the lion was following them, watching for an opportunity to attack. In all such instances the lion is merely following his beat. ACTUAL DANGERS OF LION HUNTING. While there is some danger connected with lion hunting operations, there is not much chance of being actually injured by the lion, although on one occasion a large male lion which had been twice shot with a small calibre revolver actually did spring out of the tree at me and very nearly landed on my head. Also, I have several times had narrow escapes from injury while defending my dogs when they were fighting a wounded lion. A wounded lion, forced to defend, will fight desper- ately to the last. In such cases he usually turns over on his back, seizes his enemy with his forepaws, and while holding thus, rakes with his hind feet and bites with his powerful teeth. However, practically all such risks to hunter and dogs can usually be avoided by first tying the dogs and then making a careful shot. Consequently, so far as the lion itself is concerned, there usually need be no danger to the hunter. In fact, there is much greater danger of falling and breaking one's leg while rushing after the dogs over rough brush-covered country. I have been much more impressed with the danger of losing the sight of both eyes from having them pierced by sharp limbs while hurriedly making my way through dense thickets of brush. This danger has been brought home to me by the experience of having injured both eyes in this way and being compelled to stop for several minutes before I could see well enough to continue the chase. Being alone and blinded in rough, unknown country, miles from traveled roads or trails, especially in stormy weather, is not a pleasant situation to contemplate. However, the hunter learns to anticipate and avoid many of these dangers. The danger of accidentally shooting oneself during the chase may be eliminated by not loading the gun until actually ready to shoot the game. 2-35981
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. METHODS OF TAKING LIONS. Although a lion is occasionally seen and shot by deer hunters or stockmen, stalking or still hunting is very seldom successful because the lion himself is a still hunter, and being endowed by nature with the keenest senses of sight, smell and hearing, with paws cushioned to allow him to pass noiselessly over rocks, leaves and earth, the instinct and ability to conceal himself behind the slightest possible cover or to remain motionless to avoid detection and always on the alert to surprise his quarry, it is not surprising that he is seldom seen by humans, In fact, -a,~f~~ - -+.,U li 1,0.- +,UJ.~3 1.U 11~ 4.J~ .4I a glimpse of a lion. In all my own hunting experience, I have seen only one lion walking around in the woods, and that one was a 30-pound kitten 300 yards away, and the 149th lion that I had killed. Further- Fro. 4. After the battle. At the left, a 145-pound survivor; a 104-pound male, killed by the lion at the left, and the 80-pound lioness over whom the males fought. Sequoia National Park, January 25, 1924. Photograph by Joseph Dixon. more, in every instance that I have investigated when lions were reported seen, I have found that some other animal was mistaken for a lion. Poisoning. Poison is sometimes used by stockmen and ranchers to rid the range of a stock-killing lion. The usual method is to place strychnine in the flesh of the kills made by the lion. Poisoning is only occasionally successful, as many stock-killing lions will not take a second feed from any kill, and, in the meantime, many valuable fur-bearing animals are destroyed; also valuable stock dogs or hunting dogs are often killed by eating of the poisoned carcass. In my opinion the poisoning method is wholly objectionable from every point of view, and is unnecessary, as, in every case where poisoning is effective in taking a lion, traps can be used with equal success and with less hazard
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. to other animals. When the traps are removed, the danger to other animals ceases, while it is almost impossible to remove every trace of poison, as was demonstrated in one case by Alonzo A. Davis of Sisquoc, California, who put poison in the carcass of a calf which had been killed by a lion. After securing the lion, Mr. Davis gathered up every piece that he could find of the poisoned bait and thoroughly burned it all. Nevertheless, more than a year later, near the place where the poison was used, he lost two valuable stock dogs which apparently died from eating some fragment of the poisoned bait that had been carried into the brush by rats or mice. While practically every fur-bearing animal in California will feed on carcasses of dead animals whenever possible, still most of the carcasses of stock killed on the mountain ranges by lions and coyotes are devoured by bear, which fact often causes the bear to be wrongfully accused of killing the stock. FIG. 5. Loading the dogs preparatory to a trip. Transportation and housing is furnished by a well equipped automobile. While I was hunting lions in El Dorado County in\1922, in company with Mr. Frank Newbert, we were informed two lions had killed 100 sheep within twenty-five days, at the head of Alder Creek. Mr. Newbert and I arrived at this range about two days after the sheep had been moved out, but a cattle man by the name of Johnson took us to where, one lion had killed a sheep about three days before. We could plainly see by the tracks that the lion had killed the sheep and dragged it-for about a half mile and hidden it in a thicket of fir saplings. We found the remains of several sheep near this thicket and all of them had been devoured by bears, only the hide and bones remaining. We trailed this lion, which was a very large male, for about a mile and then found the fresh track of a lioness, which we followed until 2 o'clock in the after- noon, when we found where the carcass of a sheep had been dragged across the flat; we then followed the drag for about 200 feet and found the kill in a thicket of fir trees. This sheep had apparently been killed
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. about 9 o'clock the evening before and two bears had already found the carcass, devoured part of it and then bedded down near by, leaving only when they heard the hound baying on the lion trial. The bears had destroyed the lion tracks and scent around the carcass, and it was necessary to circle at a distance of a hundred feet to again find the lion tracks, which we followed unsuccessfully until dark. Early the next morning we returned to the kill in order to get her fresh tracks, if the lioness had returned to the kill. The lioness had not returned, but two bears had been there and devoured the remains of the sheep. I called Mr. Newbert's attention to the fact that all the evidence around the kill had indicated that the bear had killed the sheep. We then back- tracked the drag for about three hundred feet to the place where the sheep was killed. Then we could plainly see the tracks made by the lioness when she rushed over and struck down the sheep, thus proving the lioness the slayer. This lioness had apparently killed this strong sheep about 9 o'clock in the evening, dragged it to cover, taken a feed, and then left the place with no intention of returning for another feed, for I tracked her for three days and killed her twenty-five miles, from this place. During the next few days I tracked the male lion around his beat, which at one place was twenty-five miles from the sheep range. When I killed him he had almost reached the sheep range again. Trapping. The use of bait or scent to attract lions to traps is usually not effective. While such lures will attract most other animals, the lion usually pays no attention to them but prefers to kill his own food. Finding the lion's own kills and setting traps around them is the better method and that most often used by trappers. However, the most effective method of trapping lions is setting traps on their regular beat. A narrow place in the trail used by the lion should be selected and several traps set at intervals along the trail. A limb or trunk of a sapling should be placed across the trail, about two feet above each trap, to prevent deer from stepping into them. Deer will spring over such an obstruction while lions will pass underneath them. William Mayers of Paskenta, California, trapped eleven lions in this way during J two winters. Ten of them were females and one was a half-grown female that was still following its mother. The fact that these eleven lions were all traveling the same beat and were all caught in the same place can be understood by anyone who has studied the habits of animals, for every animal, whether wild or domestic, will follow a known beat or way when traveling over country where they have been before. All these lions were evidently descendants of some lioness that had used this beat regularly and who probably led two or three litters of kittens around this beat while they were growing up. The young lions when grown probably selected their regular beat twelve or fifteen miles away, but every few weeks made a trip back to the range where they were raised, and in doing so traveled over the route which they already knew. Naturally several of these kittens were females, and in turn each led several kittens over the same beat when visiting their old range. Thus in six or seven years three or four generations could be making occasional trips over exactly the same beat. These lions were all caught in the bottom of a canyon, which explains why no adult males were
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. taken, for the adult male lion habitually travels the tops of the main ridges and well defined spurs. Trailing with dogs. By far the most reliable method of 'taking lion. is by trailing and treeing them by the aid of trained dogs. Success by this method depends upon the ability of the hunter and dogs to follow the lion's old tracks for many miles. Therefore, the first-class lion dog must be a determined trailer and also a natural treeing dog. Not every dog has these qualifications, for many hounds, while good trailers, never learn to locate a treed lion, but will come back to the hunter when the scent is missed where the lion springs into the tree. Other dogs will locate the treed lion but fail to bark "treed," being content to sit for hours at the base of the tree without making a sound. Consequently the hunter is unable to locate the dog or lion unless conditions are such that he can trail them to the tree. The type of dog required by the professional lion hunter is one that will find tracks two days old and will never quit any lion trail of his own accord until he is completely prostrated. He will work a day-old trail for twenty-five miles over all kinds of country in the summer when the temperature is 95 degrees in the shade or swim swollen stream in the coldest winter weather; then with bruised and bleeding feet run down and tree the lion and hold it Areed, or, if the cat jumps out, continue to tree it for twelve or fifteen hours, if necessary, until the hunter arrives. All of these qualifications of a first-class lion dog are combined in many foxhounds or a cross of I foxhound and bloodhound, but in no other breed of dogs in existence. EFFECTIVENESS OF HUNTING WITH DOGS COMPARED TO USE OF TRAPS AND POISON. As an illustration of the effectiveness of hunting lions with dogs compared to use of traps and poison, I will state a few examples. Dur- ing January, February, and part of March, 1917, a nhmber of hogs and goats were killed by a large male lion on two ranches a few miles east of Mariposa. On one occasion, nine hogs were killed during one night by this lion, which had consistently avoided traps and poison by refus- ing to feed twice on any kill. However, I bagged this lion within two hours with the aid of one dog. In August, 1919, near Kinsley, Mari- posa County, with four days of hunting, I bagged two stock-killing lions that had evaded traps and poison for two months. A third example was when, in one hour of hunting with the aid of two dogs, I bagged a large male lion which had killed 300 goats for Charles Ralph of Tuolumne. This lion, living continuously on the goat range, had evaded traps, poison and still hunting for a year, and Ralph had appealed for aid. Still another example was in Tulare County where Britton and Loverin of Three Rivers had lost a number of calves and several larger cattle by the depredations of a large male lion. Most of these kills were found but it was noted that the lion had taken only one feed from each. As valuable stock dogs were being used continually on the range, it was deemed inadvisable to use trap or poison. With the aid of three dogs, I bagged this lion and three others within two weeks of hunting.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. TRAINING DOGS FOR LION HUNTING. Most dogs will not pay any attention to the odor of a lion or have any inclination to trail them until after having been present at the killing of one or more lions, for lions are not the natural quarry of the dog family. Indeed, very few dogs will eat the flesh of lions until after they become interested in hunting them. On the other hand, every dog is eager to run deer and rabbits, which are their natural prey. A dog that will chase deer and other animals is of no use to a lion hunter, for the dog's energy must be entirely, conserved for the lion chase. Also, a deer-chasing dog causes the hunter loss of time and energy. Consequently, the first consideration in training the young dog is to prevent him from running deer or other animals than lions. This can be best accomplished by leading the pup with a leash until the trained dogs tree a lion and then turning him loose at the tree when the quarry is shot, thus allowing the dog his first hunting experience on the game which the hunter desires him to trail. After one or two such experiences, the pup can be turned loose with the trained dogs when a lion's fresh tracks are found. In the meantime, the young dog should be severely punished whenever he pays any attention to the tracks of other game. Under no circumstances should I a deer ever be killed when the lion dogs are present or in camw or fed to the dogs. It is not difficult to inter st a pup or start a, young dog when the hunter uses trained dogs to trail and tree the lions. However, dogs may be trained to bunt lions without the aid of experienced dogs by working when there is several inches of snow on the ground, thus allowing the hunter to trail the lion until it is frightened from its bedding place. Then the young dogs should be turned loose on the lion's fresh tracks and urged to chase the lion until it is treed. HUNTING REQUIRES FOUR DOGS. The questing hound, while working out the average lion trail, which is from 18 to 30 hours old when found, will travel about 75 miles in 12 or 14 hours in order to advance 15 miles, the distance traveled by the lion. The feet of the lion-hunting dog are always subject to severe damage from sharp rocks and gravel. Therefore, he requires at least one day of complete rest for each day of work. Consequently, a lion hunter, in order to keep busy, requires at least four hounds, which should be used in pairs, each pair being allowed to rest on alternate days. Two hounds work out the average lion trail more efficiently than a larger number because there is less chance of them following a back trail through crowding or interference with each other. CARE AND FEEDING OF DOGS. In order to maintain hunting dogs in the best physical condition, it is necessary to feed and care for them systematically and scientifically. The only way that this can be accomplished is by having the dogs under control at all times by keeping them tied in temporary camp, or in a roomy pen when resting at headquarters, for a hound running loose is continually on the hunt for food and it is impossible for the hunter to properly feed his dog unless he knows just what they have been
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. eating. My dogs are fed every evening. Fresh raw meat is by far the best food for a working dog and my dogs are fed the lion carcass when- ever practicable. But many times lions are killed long distances from camp and it is not practicable to carry the carcass for miles over rough, brushy country. In such cases, the dogs are given one feed from the freshly killed carcass. The hunter must always have plenty of scientifi- cally prepared commercial food for use when meat can not be procured. After each hunting trip, which is usually from fifteen to twenty days duration, the dogs should be bathed or sprayed with a solution of water and sheep dip to eliminate woodticks and fleas. TRANSPORTATION AND EQUIPMENT. In order to carry on the lion hunting operations efficiently and to be able to respond quickly to reports from places where lions were doing damage, it was necessary to have a means of transportation which would be always available at a few minutes notice. This problem was solved by mounting a specially built camping body on a durable automobile chassis. The body was constructed so as to provide a reasonably com- fortable shelter for hunter and dogs when on the road or in camp. A gasoline stove is used for cooking and food and utensils are packed in two boxes having special compartments which hold rations for one person for two weeks. These boxes can be slung on to a pack saddle when it is necessary to pack by horse into the lion country. They pro- vide closet and table in camp and are always packed for transportation, which eliminates work and confusion of hurriedly gathering scattered equipment or of transferring articles of food piecemeal from auto to horse or vice versa. EQUIPMENT FOR THE HUNT. While on the actual hunt, it is advantageous to travel light, so all necessary equipment has been reduced to a minimum of weight. In place of the usual rifle or carbine to shoot the lion, I use-a 38-40 revolver with a six-inch barrel, carried in a shoulder holster, whinh permits the use of both hands to protect the face from brush and to assist in climbing over rocks. Instead of the cumbersome skinning knife, I use a medium sized pocketknife with one skinning blade and one long, narrow blade- for skinning feet and toes of lion. This knife, a small round whetstone, light scale, a five-foot steel tape, a compass, and extra cartridges are packed in a waterproof canvas bag. In an army bacon tin are packed a vest pocket camera, extra roll of films, a small vial of iodine, permanganate of potash, waterproof match box, sharp penknife, one yard of adhesive tape, also notebook and pencil for recording data. A lunch is always carried and, in some cases, rations sufficient for two days are carried in the event that it may be necessary to spend one night away from camp. All the above equipment, except revolver, is carried in a leather knapsack and, exclusive of food, weighs ten pounds. COOPERATION. After the first two years of hunting operations, which resulted in the taking of fifty-six lions, thereby demonstrating that this work could be done effectively when properly supported, the United States Forest
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. Service, game protective associations, stockmen, and mountain people generally began to take an interest in the work. Forest rangers and stockmen especially, on account of their riding often over trails in the lion country, are in a particularly favorable position to render assist- ance by watching for lion tracks and reporting same, and many lions have been taken as a result of following up such reports; also consider- able time and expense has been saved through the willingness of stock- men to furnish accommodations for the hunter in their mountain camps, and to furnish, free of charge, their services and the use of their horses to pack equipment for hunting operations. THE HUNT. When commencing the actual hunt, I usually establish a base camp near some ranger station or mountain ranch which has telephone com- munication, then call up every forest ranger and stockman for miles around and inquire whether lion tracks have been noticed and, if so, at what places. I also request that they watch carefully for lion signs and report to me every day. By the use of a map and the information thus secured, it is often possible for me to determine a lion's beat while I am camped miles away and, on the first day of hunting in a country unknown to me, to bag the only lion within an area of 100 square miles. I start from camp at 4 a.m. in summer and 6 a.m. in winter, and quite often I have returned to camp from a twelve- or fifteen-mile hunt during the forenoon, found a telephone message awaiting me, packed up equipment, driven fifteen or twenty miles to the source of the report and bagged one or more lions before nightfall. When I hear of lion tracks being seen several times at certain places, I assume that that particular place is part of the lion's regular beat, and I start the hunt from there each morning until the lion's fresh tracks are found, which is usually within three days-quite often the first day depending upon when the lion last passed, for a lion usually covers its beat every four orfv days. Because lions usually hunt during the night, it is not desirable for the hunter to follow the same route twice in one day, when it is neces- sary to return to the home camp each night. Instead, a loop should be followed, as this allows the hunter to cross the lion's beat at two or more places during one day, thus providing several chances to find the lion's fresh tracks. However, the best plan is to hunt across country for a distance of twelve to twenty miles, stopping on alternate nights at the opposite ends of the trip. Thus the beats of several lions may be crossed each day and the hunter can return to the camp nearest when the lion is bagged. Usually, the hunter can secure accommodations at a ranch or stockmen's camp, which eliminates the discomfort of lying out by a campfire. When driving through lion country, I always watch the road carefully and have several times noticed lion tracks in the dusty road, parked the auto, started the dogs on the tracks, and bagged one or more lions, sometimes trailing ten or twelve miles and not returning to the auto until the next day. After a lion's tracks are found and the chase is on, the hunter must keep as close as possible to the dogs. At all times during the chase he should watch the ground carefully for any sign which would explain the difficulty if the dogs should become confused, for often the lion
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. will scent a deer and turn off his beat for several hundred feet; then, if the deer escapes, the lion will double back on his own trail and continue his regular route. In such cases, considerable time will be saved by calling the dogs back to where the lion's back track was first noticed and then following a loop until the forward trail is again found. On the average trail followed it is necessary for the hunter to assist the dogs about a dozen times during ten or twelve hours of trailing. Often the lion tracks and scent are obliterated by cattle stampeding over them. Then the dogs are helpless and, if left to their own resources, they will work at such a place for several, hours without making any progress. In such cases, the hunter should immediately call off the dogs, take them away for a half mile, if necessary, then follow a loop with a radius of a half mile or so around the place where the lion's tracks were destroyed until the tracks are again found. Quite often a wise old cat, when bard pressed by the dogs, will run for several hundred feet past the tree he intends to climb, then double back over his own track and spring high into the tree and hide among the branches. This ruse confuses the dogs, who, following the fresh scent on the ground, rush past the treed lion only to come to a bewilder- ing lapse where the lion doubled back. Then the hunter must find the treed lion, and I have twice hunted for three hours before the lion was discovered. It is usually not difficult to shoot a treed lion, this most often being done at close range. However, it is advisable to tie the dogs whenever practicable, thus preventing them from being struck by the dying lion when it falls from the tree, or from attacking a wounded lion and being killed or injured in the struggle. However, it is not always practicable to tie the dogs as in a case where the dogs are tired and footsore and the lion is treed in a situation such as rough, brushy mountainside or river rim, which would render it difficult to tree the lion again if it should jump out of the tree while the hunter is tying the dogs. Then the hunter should cautiously approach the tree, make a careful shot, and be pre- pared to defend the dogs in an emergency. A BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF CALIFORNIA LAKES AND STREAMS. Its Purpose, Scope and Significance in Relation to Their Stocking With Native or Introduced Species of Trout and Other Game Fishes. (With four photographs by the author.) By GEo. A. COLEMAN. The Department of Fish Culture of the California Fish and Game Commission, realizing the importance of accurate information concern- ing the conditions of existence of the trout and other game fishes in our mountain lakes and streams, has inaugurated a survey for the purpose of obtaining first-hand information concerning these conditions. While the investigations will be conducted in a thoroughly scientific manner, the main object is not to make a great collection of the species of aquatic plants, animals and insects occurring in these lakes and streams, many -3 5981
, CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 89 and oysters, shrimp, and I ever hare we read over pages of a '"In Japan, the marine fisheries occupy handbook that seemed to so satisfactorily a place of importance comparable to that cover the ground expressed by its title.- of no other large nation." H. C. Bryant. I LIFE HISTORY NOTES. NATIONAL PARK. According to a report by Judge Walter Fry of Sequoia National Park, the opos- sum (Didelphys virginiana) is now invad- ing the southern Sierra. Opossums first made their appearance in the Three Rivers District along the Kaweah River in September, 1924. By the twenty-fifth of the month they had extended their range, following the south fork, to the Alles Brothers' ranch some three miles up the south fork, and by the first of Octo- ber they had moved up the east fork and middle fork of the river to the J. P. God- bey ranch, only a mile from the western boundary of the park. Supposedly, the animals are the product of stock brought from Missouri and liberated in the district east of Visalia. The invasion may have been augmented by the dry season. One man at Three Rivers killed 26 opossums, of which 3 were adult males, 2 adult females, and 21 were young. The two females were carrying in their pouches 9 and 12 young respectively. The larger male opossum weighed over ten pounds. THE RETURN OF THE ANTELOPE IN LASSEN COUNTY. The writer has spent most of his time in Lassen County since 1890 and has closely watched its game. One of the most interesting things observed has been the ability of the pronghorn antelope to survive under adverse conditions. During the nineties several bands, num- bering from 20 to 50, were scattered ov the Madeline plains and nearby tableland in eastern Lassen County. During thj period, the last band seen by the writt was a group of about 15 head in e spring of 1897. With the coming ofje -homesteader and the advance of the s p industry, antelope almost entirely is- appeared. Although I rode the r ge continuously, no more were seen until late in the fall of 1900, when quite a large band appeared on the range near my ranch. However, within a few days hunters from Susanville and other places were after them and I knew of about ten being killed. The band broke and scat- tered; three spent the entire winter of 1901 in sight of my house, but disap- peared the following spring. From 191 to 1909 a lone antelope was sometimes seen, then a pair, or sometimes a half dozen. By 1916 bands of 10 to 15 were not uncommon. In the fall of 1918 a herd of 75 appeared and in the fall of 1921 several bands of from 20 to 75 could be found in a day's ride. During the winter of 1924 the writer saw one band of 125 and believes there were 500 or more on this range. During the summer of 1924 the animals became more tame than ever before, scarcely running from an automobile, and could be found in most any of the fields of the large stock ranches. They travel -over a wide range, and with the splendid protection given them by Nevada and the interest taken in them, the writer anticipates seeing their former haunts in northeastern California restocked. With a little help the antelope should again become common on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley.-TVill R. Home, Ravendale, California. NOTE).-In connection with the above we fail to understand how the increase of antelope occurred by the splendid protec- tion of Nevada without any sort of an auequate game waruen service. We are inclined to believe that the increase of these animals was from the fact that a California warden was appointed to prac- tically adopt them. When Mr. Newbert was appointed in 1911 there were by actual count 13 antelope. So well did the California warden of these animals do his duty that today there are quite a number of large bands of them. These animals are very migratory at certain seasons of the year, hence e the rong con- struct reason prtcinand Increase.- MOUNTAIN LION KILLS BOY IN WASHINGTON. In CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME for April, 1923, (Vol. 9 pp. 45-48) a com- plete explanation was given of one of the only instances where a mountain lion has been known to attack a human being in California. It was shown that this lion was afflicted with the dread disease, rabies, as both of his victims apparently died with that disease. With this back- ground attention is now called to an apparently authentic case of the killing of a boy by a mountain lion in the state of Washington near the Canadian line. From two written statements, one by R.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. L. Nash, and another by P. Harris, a forest supervisor, sent us by W. L. Finley of Jennings Lodge, Oregon, the following has been gleaned: James Fehlhaber, 13 years old, of small stature, an orphan, who was living with Mr. R. L. Nash at Okanogan, Washing- ton, left Robert Nash's house at 11.30 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 1924. When the boy did not return R. L. Nash and a Mr. Kelly started out about 10 o'clock that evening to search for him. The boy was found about 75 feet from the main trail at the base of a cliff. A study of tracks in the snow seemed to show that a mountain lion had come down a steep hillside quartering behind the boy. A leap of about 10 feet from the cover of brush appeared to have been made in striking the boy down. There was blood where he fell. Five feet away more blood was found. Apparently the lion had dragged the body from this point to the base of the cliff. The body was partially eaten and disemboweled. A spot as big as one's hand had been eaten from one thigh, both hands were gone, apparently eaten to the wrists, bones and all. Skin and flesh were eaten clean from the skull, face and neck so that no trace of hair remained. From the position of the boy's gloves his hands were probably bare, so that except for the thigh the lion had eaten only parts not covered by clothing. When the boy's body was first found the coat, which had been pulled from the body, was placed over the head. When the body was removed an hour later the coat was not seen. The next morning it was found in a lair the lion had been using, about 200 feet from where the body was found. The coat, which was covered with blood, had been torn to shreds. This would indicate that the lion returned to his kill during the absence of Mr. Nash. This was also indicated by the tracks which were super- imposed upon those of Mr. Nash. At first it was thought that a lion killed on January 9th, eight miles east of Winthrop and some twenty miles northwest of the place where the boy was killed, was probably responsible. In view of later evidence, this was appar- ently another lion. Later in January a lion was killed by Mr. Charles Garratt, a ranger living 10 miles west of Okano- gan, who had set a trap for coyotes. This was a young lion in good condition. Mr. F. G. Clifford of Brewster, bought the animal and examined its stomach. Here he found a considerable wad of human hair and small bones of the hand and wrist. The hair resembled closely that of the boy's. The stomach contained other kinds of hair and meat and the human remains were wadded up sepa- rately and easily distinguished. Mr. Clifford, however, substantiates his state- ments with a number of witnesses. For- est Supervisor Harris of the Chelan National Forests states that there is no reason to doubt his account. Those seeking dependable information have sought authentic instances of the killing of human beings by mountain lions with largely negative results. This is apparently one of the first instances to be recorded, of an attack of this kind. This report should not lead people to believe that the mountain lion is a dan- gerous animal. It should be remembered that the common domestic dog claims many more victims annually than moun- tain lions, and one of the safest places to live is in mountain districts where mountain lions are abundant.-H. C. Bryant, Berkeley, California. SOME BANDED BIRDS TAKEN LAST SEASON. Dr. P. A. Webber of Sacramento, killed a cackling goose in Yolo County with band No. 303,502. On forwarding the band to the Bureau of Biological Sur- vey at Washington it was found that this goose had been banded by 0. J. Murie of Alaska during the summer of 1924. Mr. J. Basileu killed a banded canvas- back duck at El Verano, on November 20, 1924. The bird proved to be one banded by Mr. 0. H. Jorundson, Stony Hill, Manitoba, Canada. The bird was caught by Mr. Jorundson in a muskrat trap and banded by him about April 25, 1923.- H. C. Bryant, Berkeley, California. ELK IN DEL NORTE COUNTY. Although it is known that a remnant of the vast herds of Roosevelt elk which formerly inhabited the northwest coast of California remains in Del Norte County, yet a report as to their present status is seldom seen. Mr. Thomas Kring of Orick recently reported that there are in the neighborhood of 100 individuals in the herd. The country where they range is very brushy and heavily timbered and it is very difficult to obtain reliable information as to the exact numbers. Residents of the vicinity believe that the herd is slightly on the increase.-Earl P. Barnes, Eureka, California.
4-30-25. Dear Stokely: This article of Bruce's furnishes such an ex- cellent outline for the kind of life history I have had in mind for our book that I would suggest that a very good way to frame a beginning for our chapter on lions would be for you to take up his points one by one and write out how they compare with your own observations in New Mexico, adding such information as you may have on points which he does not cover. Both you and Pettit know so much more about lions than I do that this particular chapter could, it seems to me, be worked out without any necessity of conferring with me. The bulletin on antelope from the Roosevelt Wild Life Experiment Station is almost but not quite in the same class and might similarly be made a starting point for our own U) a .+ n a, , + a . W tL&p W4. VJA L V.& IUPW 0 'M 0 AJ 0
AOA1 ~Aoe ~ANP1 LACKEET The three large predatory mammals, coyotes, wolves, and ±ions, offer considerable resistance to that natural tendency of deer and elk to increase rapidly in numbers where given full protection from hunters. With the violent overthrow of the bAlance of nature on the F orth American continent since settlement by the whites first began, a new readjustment had been necessar? in both the plant and animal kingf.oms._ The coyotes adapted themselves rapidly to these new en- vironmental conditions by staying in either settleO. or unset- tled areas, and IiVing mainly on carrion, rodents, game, and stock. WolvesB and mountain lions have a greater ability to kill, and have followed the fast diminishing big game into the more remote localities. 'V.olves still offer considerable trouble to stockmen in the western states; they live mainly in the more inacOessible timbered areas, and when demands for food are not satisfied locally, they raid near or distant settlements, kill- ing stock of most all sizes and with little regard for amount of meat required for sustenance. The mountain lion has stayed with thei game in its retreat (it only occasionally bothers stock) and now forms one of our biggest negative factors in game protectionA Observations in the South Fork country of the Flathead River by a party killing' eleven lions during the winter 1923-24 Bhowed that lion were killing both deer an elk. They traveled consistently, and as opportunity afforde dIT d far in excess of food requirements and leaving from one to several deer or elk in the killing areas which were soon visited by coyotes that followed the lions to feast on their kills, and by bear .which go to lion-kill areas as soon as they come out of their dens in the spring. The ability of a .medium-sized lion to kill a large, and in excellent o.ondition, six-point bull elk was well demonstrated. Tracks showed that the lion, when possible, maneuvered to an uphill position before jumping the game, vhich it pr9fers to chase downhill, in order that he may the more easily secure his position on the baclk of the animal. The animals were killed by bites on the back of the neck, which in the case of one elk, showed a fullo set of teeth marks piercing the neck bone on both sides a few i-nches below the ears. In most cases the lion had torn, -ith his claws, large strips of hide and meat on either side of the animal, which alone would have meant death to the animal. On one small area of about an acre, a lion had killed five elk by staying on a rock ledge above an elk trail and -14- \
Reprinted from JOmAL oF MAMMALOGY Vol. 6, No. 2, May, 1925, pp. 122-124 TWO NEW OCELOTS FROM MEXICO By E. A. GOLDMAN In "Notes on the Synonymy and Nomenclature of the Smaller Spotted Cats of Tropical America,"' Dr. J. A. Allen fixed the type region of [Felis] pardalis Linnous as the state of Vera Cruz, Mexico. To Felis grifflthii Fischer, regarded as a member of the same group, he assigned an indefinite range in northern Mexico. This name, how- ever, was based on a specimen in the Bullock collection which more probably came from southeastern Mexico, and seems therefore to belong in the synonymy of F. pardalis pardalis. Brass,2 in 1911, pub- lished with color descriptions the names Felis buffoni and Felis mexi- cana for spotted Mexican cats, presumably ocelots. The name Felis mexicana is preoccupied by Felis mexicana Desmarest (1820) and Felis mexicana Saussure (1860). His descriptions are evidently based on individual color variations of which there are often many in the same locality. Felis buffoni Brass and Felis mexicana Brass are therefore unidentifiable. The general range of Felis pardalis, transcontinental in tropical Central America, is split in southern Mexico by the great wedge formed by the Mexican highlands. From this point diverging branches extend northward along the Gulf slope to southern Texas, and along the Pacific coast to Sonora. Examination of accumulated material in- dicates that western and northwestern Mexico are inhabited by the hitherto unrecognized subspecies described below. Felis pardalis nelsoni subsp. nov. Nelson's Ocelot. 32642 Type from Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico. No. 44565 e old, U. S. National Museum (Biological Survey collection), collected by E. W. Nelson, February 11, 1892. Original number, 1862. General characters.-Similar in general to Felis pardalis pardalis, but smaller; color averaging much the same, but black bar across underside of neck usually narrower; skull smaller and differing in details. Color (type).--Ground color of upper parts (spaces between stripes and spots or within circular black markings) varying from near cinnamon buff to light pinkish buff (Ridgway, 1912), the former tone richest on head and neck, becom- ing lighter over dorsum and within black circular markings or rosettes on sides, 'Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.,Vol. 41, pp. 341-419, October 3, 1919. Aus dem Reiche der Pelze, p. 412, April, 1911.
GOLDMAN-NEW OCELOTS FROM MEXICO while the latter tone appears mainly in irregular lines between circular black markings mentioned; upper surface striped and spotted with black as usual in the group; lighter element of upper parts passing gradually through pale buff to white, spotted with-black, on fore and hind legs, and feet; under parts white, heavily spotted with black mainly across abdomen, the usual broad black bar across throat, and a narrower bar across neck; ears deep black, except usual white spots; tail irregularly spotted or ringed with black, the interspaces pale buffy above, becoming still lighter toward the tip, and dull whitish below. Skull.-Compared with that of F. p. pardalis the skull is considerably smaller throughout; zygomata more squarely spreading, the sides more nearly parallel; teeth decidedly smaller. Measutements (type).-Total length, 1140, tail vertebrw, 362; hind foot, 166. Average and extremes of 3 adult male topotypes, including type: 1067 (1002- 1140); 341 (310-362); 155 (143-166). Skull (type): Greatest length (median projection of occiput to front of incisors), 144.1; condylobasal length, 141.4; zygomatic breadth, 96; breadth at constriction behind zygomata, 51.4; inter- orbital breadth, 25.3; length of nasals (median line), 29.7; greatest breadth of nasals, 18.7; alveolar length of upper incisive toothrow, 13.4; alveolar length (outer side) of upper carnassial, 12.1. Remarks.-The ocelots of North America diminish progressively in size from south to north, especially along the Pacific coast; Felis p. mearnsi of Panama and Costa Rica is strikingly larger than the northern races. Examination of a considerable number of skins from various localities from Panama to northern Mexico reveals a remarkable range of individual variation in general color tone of the lighter elements, and in the size and arrangement of black markings in the pelage. Average geographic differences may be perceptible, but specimens from the same locality may vary from deep tawny to pale gray. Felis p. nelsoni includes within its range a long section of the narrow tropical belt between the Sierra Madre and the Pacific coast. Specimens examined.-19, from localities as follows: Colima: Armeria, 1; Manzanillo (type locality), 4. Guerrero: Acapulco, 5 (skins only); Coyuca, 6 (skins only); Omilteme, 1; Papayo, 1. Oaxaca: Puerto Angel, 1. Fells pardalis sonoriensis subsp. nov. Sonora Ocelot Type from Camoa, Rio Mayo, Sonora, Mexico. No. 96216, e" adult, skin and skull, U. S. National Museum (Biological Survey collection), collected by E. A. Goldman, December 3, 1898. Original number, 13268. General characters.-Most closely allied to Felis pardalis nelsoni, but averag- ing still smaller; general color somewhat paler, the black dorsal markings more widely separated by lighter areas; black cervical stripes usually narrower; skull shorter, more rounded. Color (type).-General coloration essentially as in the type of F. p. nelsoni, but tone of lighter areas above slightly paler, the black markings over dorsum more widely spaced; facial black stripes present in nelsoni broken to form chains
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY of spots; black spots on legs and'feet smaller; under side of neck with a narrow black bar as in nelsoni. Skull.-Similar to that of F. p. nelsoni, but still smaller, the braincase rel- atively shorter, more rounded; nasals noticeably narrower; zygomata squarely spreading and teeth small, much as in nelsoni. Measurements (type).-Total length, 980, tail vertebrm, 320; hind foot, 148. An adult male topotype: 1040; 351; 149. Skull (type): Greatest length (median projection of occiput to front of incisors), 125.8; condylobasal length, 115.6; zygomatic breadth, 85.8; breadth at constriction behind zygomata, 48.3; inter- orbital breadth, 24.2; length of nasals (median line), 27.2; greatest breadth of nasals, 17.1; alveolar length of upper incisive toothrow, 13.4; alveolar length (outer side) of upper carnassial, 12.1. Remarks.-The range of Felis p. sonoriensis marks the northern limit, on the west side of the continent, of an apparently intergrading chain of forms ex- tending from South America. The species as a whole, mainly tropical in distri- bution, here enters the Lower Sonoran life zone, individuals perhaps still reach- ing sporadically to extreme southern Arizona (recorded from Arizona). Specimens examined.-4, all from the type locality. While the North American forms of Felis pardalis are imperfectly known those recognizable should apparently stand as follows: Felis pardalis pardalis Linnmus . . . Mexico (type region, state of Vera Cruz). Felis pardalis mearnsi Allen .... Talamanca, Costa Rica. Felis pardalis albescens Pucheran ....... Arkansas. Felis pardalis nelsoni Goldman .... Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico. Felis pardalis sonoriensis Goldman . . . Camoa, Sonora, Mexico. Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.
XIL LZ U LI2TIII U. S. Forest Service Dccr.b zr 28, 1926 Sout':,!s t u District In Volume Pro(tuctiot: .Lccordin' to the Gulf Coast LUn- bcrran, Douglas fir manufacturers sav par.llcl to the bark, contribufting; to straig-ht-grain in boards and to the quntity of uppcrs, ;a]ilrC the V loss in the cheaper (more ImottyP i=t . at the heart. Of all softWood lumber produced, 37% grades into T7o 2 cermon, and nearly 20% into the se- lect 1rrades. Recent Personnel Chanre_: Recent chan.,"os in District personnel include, from the Coconino, the resignati on of F. V. Bustcr, i-r1: gQ* in charge of the Bly District, and of R. F. Howell and ". J. W. iXuppo, assista.nts oi rrocct timber salcs. One of the sales positions is being filled by the transfer of Ranrer ?'onirlhan from the Apache. Jthor resi;nations that have been submittod Nii thin the past felw weeks include those of: Rangr H. . Juiai , in charge of the :anas District, Apache; Principal Clcron Albcrs of the Sit:rcavos;' and U1ss :.ir-'ret Blank, Lssist'-nt Clcrk on the AL4chc, The resigntion of -Lrs. C. A. 14.orker, Junior 0lcrl: on the Sitgreaves was incident to her 1ar- rin.je to the Assistant Superisor of tb. Stravs. Her position has been taeon by ::-s. rirc t Love laand. 'While this list of people -:ho have loft the Ser- vice for other fields of activity loo:s rather fornidable, the total Dis- trict turni ver for the past ti.o years remains at a relatively low figure. ' Of Lions Less On ThG Datil: The Evans Brothers of Beav:orhco3d ricu neucntly called on for help in catching, a lion on Elk ,ountain, aCOut 80 miles southwes-ct of -alalc, Thqyfound the trail of the lion aboat a mile south of 0 Bar 0 Ranl;or Station just after a fresh fall of snow. The talc of the hunt is intorosti.n ng? told in a recent Datil Bulletin. Their hounds :cre put on the trail ard werc able to follo '; 1t with little difficul- ty. The lion w:'as ov:crta ]cn at the carcass of a freshly kilo ddr, The dogs soon put the varnint up a tree and it wxa's shot. About 50 yards distant was another dcr whjiich the lion had , illed at lbout thQ sa.me tine, Both the deer were hitTail bucks. The li on %s a 'TC-.nle Ta5nsl '5 'seon that she had a fam.ily of young ones so th bunt(.rs took the back trail and gollovQd it to a den in a cliff of rooks, theiy found thrno lion kittens, about the size of c ,rown house cats, The.; c-ptered the kittens alive. The little follot, quickly learned dormestic h':.bits and they eagerly take milk from a nipple on a bottle just as any othGr balj creature. Lion kittens talken at that size mao most cunning pots and are playful and gentle up until they a1proach maturity at about two-thirds fron, then they become rough 'nd arc easily angered, It is estimated that each lion kills an average of fifty deer per year and they arc equally disastrous to cattlc and sheepo They like fresh, warm moat and seldom tare a meals from a single kill. It seems to be their nature, oven when not huirv to kill for the sake of de- stroying; and they have bren lmom-m to kill as rany as a dozen sheep from a flock in a single nifht, probably eating- from only one carcass. The Lvans Brothers arc owners of the vell known 8.1aAi. Ranch at Beaverhead. In addi- tion to looking after their extonsive cattlc i-tterosts, they kep a pack of well trained hunting dogs; and speud a peart of their leisure time each year at the exciting but fascinating sport of lion and bear hunting. Leave: Pooler, "'allen, Lo1eridC, Herrns, Wales (Albuquorquo); Lang (Cama- den, S.C.): Hassey (Long' Beach, Calif,); Kerr (U Pasq TeX) 7,."_r:.: Roberts (Sitgrcaves) DO JL,~ R-ndles
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE NORTH PACIFIC DISTRICT ADDRESS REPLY TO DISTRICT FORESTER_ POST OFFICE BUILDING AND REFER TO PORTLAND, OREGON * G January 3, 1927. Supervis ion Mr. Aldo !]eopold, Forest Products Laboratory, W Madison, Wisconsin. Dear Leo: Reference is made to your letter of October 6: On my return from a field trip I wrote to Supervisor Shelley on October 18 and he has since that time been endeavoring to get in touch with the parties concerned in the cougar attack to which you refer. I am enclosing copy of a letter from Supervisor Shelley, under date of December 21, and also a letter to Supervisor Shelley, dated December 22, w:hich I trust will give you the information you were seeking. Personally I have been in the mountains all my life and have never had any particular fear of cougar, being under the impression always that they were very cowardly animals as a species and I do not recall ever hearing of any attacks by cougar in the Rockies on adults or even children for that matter. However I could imagine a cougar attacking a small child, more because of its size than be- cause it belonged to the genus homo. Since coming to the Northw~est, however, there have been numerous stories of cougar attacks and some of them are fully substantiated. The killing of the small boy in the Okanogan country two years ago is an example beyond question. We are still milling around with the wilderness area question, some work having been accomplished and the situation is slowly but surely clarifying itself. There is a disposition in some parts of the Northwest and in some of our most accessible wilderness areas to develop winter sports of the European variety. Particularly is this true this past year. In some places there is a disposition to wel- come the wilderness area as such while in others there is a very decided opposition to any such areas. A bad fire season, such as 1926, when some of our best believed policies went by-the-board, in the matter of whether timber would or would not burn and at what time of day fires ran the worst, has caused us to revamp to a certain degree our ideas as to where trails and roads should be constructed.
Mr. Leopold. We are likewise facing here in the Cascades a continued agita- tion for the exclusion of sheep grazing, even though the areas which now attract so much attention because of the flora have been so used for from 20 to 40 years for grazing purposes. The agitators do not seem to realize that if their contentionwere well founded that sheep entirely destroy the flora of the region, that surely the flora on these particular areas would have disappeared long ago. We have been restricting use at certain seasons of the year on some areas, have been gradually reducing the numbers and otherwise attempting to meet the justifiable criticisms mtde by the recreation interests. However the extremists are still not satisfied and would apparently welcome the day when there was no grazing on any of the Forests in the Cascades. They overlook the fact entirely that the annual re- moval of vegetation is a natural aid in the prevention and suppression of fire. This past year was a splendid example in point since due to the lack of water many areas were partially or wholly ungrazed and it was on such areas that our fires reached the largest volume and were most difficult to control. Personally I delight in getting far away from the telephone and the automobile but am finding it more and more difficult as the years go by to either get the equipment or, having the equipment, find such an area. With kindest personal regards and best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year, ) Very Encs. -2-
Copy for Information G Eugene, Oregon Suoervision - Siuslaw December 21, 1926. District Forester, Portland, Oreg n. Dear Sir: Reference is made to your letter of October 18. Upon receipt of your letter we at once wrote to the ranger requesting any information he might be able to give, or, if possible, the man's name and address, that we might write him direct for firsthand information. To date we have received no information of any kind and I had overlooked the fact that your letter had not been answered until it was called to my mind by the last page of the Forest Service Bulletin, Vol. 10, ITo.47. So far as I recall, the gossip which goes with such things, there was good reason to believe that the attack occurred. I have spent a good many years in the woods and have never been attacked by a cougar but the stories regarding such attacks are not infrequent and I believe have a real foundation in fact, al- though I have never verified any of them. If I am able to secure any more information in regard to this, at a later date, I will advise you. Very truly yours, (s) R.B. Shelley Forest Supervisor. CC to D-1
Hebo, Oregon. Supervision - Siuslaw December 22, 1926. Forest Supervisor, Eugene, Oregon. Dear Sir: Reference is made to your requist for imformation regarding the story of a cougar attacting a man last summer in Tillamook County. The mans name is Alvin French and was located at Pitner on the old Salmon River road in Lincoln County last summer. I understand that he acted as Fire Warden for the Ilami people part of the ti-e. This cougar attact occured near Pitner in Tillamook County. I recently learned that his daughter was located at Grande Ronde, Oregon and was attending the High School at this place. I met this miss Margaret French who by the way, is small and looks anything but the part she played, being about 14 years old and the following is the story as she told it. At about 8 A.M. my father and I left the Pitner ranch for a trip through the woods and as we often did in such cases, we took our fifles along. About - of a mile below the ?itner place, along the old road, we came upon some milk cows and noticed that they seemed to be worried about something and were sort of milling around. This was in the dense timber and our trail led us past a bank of dirt, some 8 or 10 feet high. I was walking close behind my father and as we came abrest this bank, the top of which was located some 10 feet to our left, I suddenly saw a large form coming through the air from off this bank and down on top of Ala. I jumped back, and just in time, as the cat landed right where I had been standing and so close to my father that he couldnot seem to get his gun up to shoot but was punching the cat off with the barrel of the gun. T then shot the cat, through the heart just back of his shoulder, from a distance of about 6 feet and killed him with the one shot. The cat was about 8 feet long from tip to tip. The young lady does not seem to care about talking a great deal about the affair and the information was gotten mostly from short direct answers to my questions. It seems that this cat had been laying in wait on the edge of this bank in hopes of getting a chance to jump onto some of the young cattle with the bunch she speaks of. According to her discription of the top of this bank
Supervisor Shelley. and surrounding country, the cat was in no way cornered by these people and could have remained undiscovered by simply lying still where he was and had he wished to get away could have doneso by g6ing any direction but the one he took. Just what caused him to jump down upon these people, whom he seen long before they reached his location, I can not say unless he intended to attact them. Very truly yours, (s) LT.E. Garwood Forest Ranger, -2page -
A Week With a Government Hunter A]T 5HE blossoms of dandelions, wild VV . strawberries and other varieties of Archery as applie flowers were present in the foothills near - in New Mexico, in the Palisades of the Cimarron in northern and feathered shaJ New Mexico on the morning of April 27. those sly yellow The next morning they were covered with numbers of de snow, which began to melt away early in the day as the sun shone out. The writer was camped at the time on South Uracca Creek with J.A.Pickens, a professional mountain lion hunter in the service of the United States Bureau of Biological Survey. Pickens had been sent here to kill some lions, the tracks of which had been seen by a range rider during the winter. It was my intention to test out the effec- tiveness of a bow on any of the big cats (Felis concolor) that we might happen to tree with my companion's dogs. It may be said in the beginning that he uses only three dogs, hounds of unknown lineage, but of unusual qualifications, perhaps because of their owner's unceasing efforts in their training. The presence of the snow meant that we had not arrived here too late, but the blossoms indicated that the time was near when one might search for weeks without finding a lion's track, because the deer, which had drifted down into these low foothills to get away from the deep snows of the higher ranges in winter, would soon be drifting back to the green slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. When the deer migrate the lions do likewise, for they ,have a fondness for venison equal to. if not rivaling, that of ,4) Robin Hood's merry outlaws. Horse flesh is their next choice of A lJU CA may *. flL 4.1,_ LUF H e,, f Ltsts$ l-any ran~lgl ers ol eV~ can testify, and veal or mutton is not despised. It is preferred fresh, in fact is never eaten except while fresh, and to keep it in good condition as long as possible a lion nearly always drags its victim to a cool, shady place and covers it with dirt or leaves. In most instances the entire intestinal tract is removed from the carcass before it is covered. Should a wandering fox, bobcat or bear approach a kill thus hidden, it does so at its peril, for the lion is apt to be watching from some ledge or bluff near by and is credited with being able to de- fend itself against all comers. More than one rancher has awakened and found that his saddle horse that had been hobbled or staked out for the night had been stalked and killed by one of these tawny-colored night prowlers. On rare occasions even human beings have been attacked and slain, but nevertheless a mountain lion. fears, above all things, a man. BECAUSE the snow began to melt away early, and with it would go the scent of any trail that had been made during the night, we entertained no hopes of success on the first day, so decided to walk around near camp ard be ready to get down to business the next morning. Thinking that we might find a bobcat, with the three dogs, a kodak, a bow and a quiver of arrows we started up the little creek that was noisily rushing along its burden of melted snow and cold spring water. As we strolled along and silently admired the ever-changing scene, or paused to note the tracks of deer that had passed in the night, or to comment on the size of a turkey's track that had passed within the hour, my companion was in- duced to relate some of his lion-hunting experiences. Judging from what he had to say, this kind of sport is second to none, but in order to be successful one must at times forego some of the modern conveniences, such as shelter, for a longer time than would be enjoyed by imost men. It is the custom of this hunter never to abandon the trail of a lion slong as itcan be fol- lowed. (His dogh v treed lions by find- ing a t acl that had been made for forty hours, and one has never escaped after be- ing treed by them. When once a trail has been found that can be followed, about Mullins d t k er vent the animal from being treed is for a to mountain lions rain to fall on the trail. This kind of pro- shich the long bow gram often makes it necessary for the prove effective on hunter to camp one or two nights on the illers of appaling , trail before the quarry is overtaken. and live stock On one occasion Pickens rode off into that little-known wilderness called the Mo- gollon Range, which lies along the Mexican border, and 'didn't return to camp until the twelfth day, but he brought back the lion that he went after! This old horse thief was called the Flying-T lion, so named because at times it made its home on the Flying-T ranch. Somebody set a trap at a colt that it had killed, which pinched off some toes from one foot, thus making it easy to distinguish its track at varying intervals in widely separated localities. Twice Pickens struck its trail and had to give it up because of falling rain, once after having spent two nights away from camp. Determined to have this lion's scalp, and there being no other way to obtain it, he tied two flour sacks full of provisions on his saddle and began systematically to ride the unnumbered and unnamed ridges and canyons, sleeping on his saddle blankets where night overtook him, until at last a fresh trail was found. After that it was easy. An old male lion spends a lot of its time cruising about over the mountains in search of adventure. As it, travels it leaves a certain sign here and there that makes it easy for a professional hunter to determine the direction his quarry is traveling. This sign is made by raking up small piles of pine or spruce needles the only thing that ever happeis to pre'- -e As the Nion lookedl wheii we reached the second tree
Outdoor Life, January, 1927 Fresh track of the lion that Pickens ire we reached the top of the ridge, so that at first we could not hear ated not far away. They were bay- cautiously, for Pickens had warned ut and lead us another merry chase near the tree it seemed as if a efore our eyes. The lion had taken ew on the edge of a cliff, and was extended out over the edge. One iad climbed into the tree and was the snarling beast. Had the lion r struck the, dog, as it might easily ve fallen 30 or 40 feet into a pile of ifficult to stand on those limbs, the tee and we drew near. When within string ready for a shot if the animal Le some exposures with the kodak. e, however, for there were so many in could not be distinguished from hade. e edge of the bluff at the foot of the of his kodak ready to make an ex- ur chase expose himself to full view, med as if we had treed a jack rab- repared to play the part of execu- he limbs had been found thru which of the lion, and it was decided to his body. An extra arrow was stuck ness if needed, the one on the string sed. drawn nor had a shaft of mine been would be untrue to state that I had ivings as to whether it was safe to but I felt a thrill of pleasure as the nd struck, making a sound similar to and to fall on a feather pillow. In- emotion; a limb broke off and the few seconds by his front feet. then under the trees thai hidrden from the m killed. The numbei and, unlike most w of the year. They ai deer are plentiful. W E WERE pic steep hillside dogs took a noticea opening. I looked o might indicate, and that to me looked ning to appear as t "This looks like the same tone that "Come here, Sam.' into the spot indict fore moving to ano time the two other terest, but it was glance at Pickens r for the first time ti that left me guessi until the others joi around the hill. It sanow had fallen on Would the dogs melted? Right the to see visions of ca to wonder why we tions. But the ma the prospect of slee was contagious. F the eager dogs, an( to make me wond Suddenly a new nol up the hill at such an incredibly short the lion had lain do stock of groceries. observed in a thicket, from under which protruded the hind feet We swung the lion to a limb and backed the horse under him
Outdoor Lije, January, 1927 bluff and had the surprise of my life to see, instead of a dead lion lying on the rocks, a very live one speeding away in great bound- ing leaps. A sinking sensation came over me and my fingers trembled while fitting another arrow on the string. Was a bow, then, not an adequate weapon for this kind of game? A part of the arrow was seen lodged in the limbs and by the time it was retrieved and examined the dogs were baying "treed" again. The point of the arrow, a steel blade 1 inch wide by 2V2 inches long, and about 6 inches of the shaft, made of birch % of an inch in diameter, were gone. It was found later that the lion had carried this with him crosswise thru his shoulders. Most animals would have found it difficult to make any progress with such an impediment, and few of that size but would have been killed in the fall. Nevertheless, it was standing on the first limbs of a big pine some 30 feet from the ground when we arrived at the second tree. It looked as a rookie is supposed to look while doing bayonet practice-not exactly amiable. Its shoulder was bleeding badly and it constantly shifted its weight from one front foot to the other. "k ORE exposures were quickly made and all was ready Jor another shot. This time there were no limbs in the way, and every inch of the lion's sleek body was visible. At this dis- tance there was no excuse for missing a vital spot. Straight to its ribs flew the shaft, and as it struck the cat leaped to the ground with a snarling growl. A part of the arrow that protruded from its side was broken off as it brushed against a sapling; then a few yards farther the animal went up another big pine. Its tor- mentors followed closely, but it was useless to shoot again. It was dying when we arrived and was unconscious of the fact that when it fell out with a loud crash old Sam's teeth were buried deep into the throat of his seventy-sixth lion since Pickens has been using him in the service of the Government. It was found that the second arrow had penetrated both lungs, and that the point, being improperly tempered, had turned when it struck the tough skin on the far side. We undertook to reach camp with our trophy by tying the feet to a pole, which was slung on our shoulders, but before going far this kind of trans- portation was voted impracticable. A horse was brought and after being blindfolded was induced to accept the burden. To satisfy our curiosity the animal was taken to the nearest ranch and weighed. It was rather disappointing to learn that it weighed only 130 pounds. It is marvelous how they shrink after being killed. The next day pictures were made of the slain eer, a big doe, and on the days that followed search was made for other deer slayers. The remains of three more deer were found, all three big bucks, before more excitement was had. One morning Pickens rode alone to look over some country to the northwest. He re- turned late that night with the skin of a lion kitten, the size of a large dog, tied on his saddle. The next morning we returned to the canyon where it was killed, knowing that there should be a lioness and probably some more kittens in the vicinity. It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon when we found the track of another kitten. As the track was made in mud, and a shower had fallen soon after noon the previous day, it must have been more than twenty-four hours old when found. The dogs were able to follow it, however, altho slowly, and at dark we called them off, spread our saddle blankets at the foot of a big spruce tree, and spent the night. At dawn the next day the dogs were - ... .-A mste-appeal for. extermination of the mountainlion Lion 1No. Z after being shot thru the body with an arrow, the end of which may be seen protruding from animal's chest again started on the trail where we had stopped them, and they seemed to make as good time as on the previous day. About 9 o'clock, finding where the lioness had crossed the trail they were following, the dogs quit the old trail and turned southeast after her. After a run of 3 or 4 miles she was treed. WE RODE near the tree and tied our horses behind a little hill, and with kodak, bow, arrows, and this time a rifle, approached on foot. I had been reading some safety-first adver- tisements and insisted on the rifle being carried as a precaution against getting one of the dogs killed, if the lioness should only be wounded with an arrow. It may be said that unless one is wounded there is little danger of getting a dog killed, for a lion will r r as lon s able to do so. It wounded too badly to climb a tree and a dog once gets within reach4 of those sharp claws, it would re- quire something with more shock ing power than an arrow to save the unfortunate dog. Their method of defense is to grasp an enemy with front feet and teeth, draw the hind feet up near the fore feet, set the sharp claws into the skin, and suddenly straighten out. About one rake is sufficient to start a casualty list, whether the victim be man or- dog. The lioness was photographed in a spruce tree where she posed gracefully, but when all was ready to start the barrage she leaped down and ran to a taller tree. She was about 60 feet from the ground when the shooting started, and the: first arrow whistled safely over her back and buried itself deep into the trunk of the tree, where it will remain for years to come. The sec- on sotwa at lL +JU +Sg a L4,tF (Concluded& on Page 76)
opment. The foremost and largest of the auxiliary fangs often move up in place alongside the old fangs before the old fangs are shed, so you fre- quently find snakes with three or four fangs. The development of new fangs is not dependent upon the extraction of the old; it is a change which is constantly taking place naturally. Rattlesnakes get several new rattles every year. Where the summer is long they may get four or more and in the north may not get more than two. Some snakes will get more new rattles than others in the same locality. You seldom find a rattler several years old with a tapered rattle terminat- ing in the original birth button. Rattles become brittle, break up and are lost so the rattle is a very poor indication of a snake's age. I am constantly hearing or reading of people killing rattlers with so many rattles "and a but- ton." There is always a "button." The button is on the rattler when it is born but it is seldom on the snake when it is a few years old and when the "button" went several rattles probably went with it.-W. A. B. A Week With a Government Hunter (Concluded from Page 15) one; then while she was trying to make up her mind to leap out, two more arrows sailed harmlessly by into the blue. The fifth shot was better. It struck behind the ribs, ranged thru the body and emerged be- hind the opposite shoulder, piercing a lung. It was useless to shoot again, for she would have fallen out dead in a short time, but after we had taken a snapshot, which shows her about to fall out of the tree with an arrow buried to the feathers in her side, another arrow was loosed that narrowly missed piercing the heart. At this she crashed to the ground, made a few leaps to get away, and collapsed. The kitten that we had followed was killed two days later, and thus in a few days four lions were removed from the country mentioned. The old ones were killed with arrows, the kittens with bullets. Piekens says that every lion on the range will average killing two deer each week the year round, if the deer last. If there are not enough deer, then domestic animals must take their place. This being true, it seems probable that the number of deer that will drift down from the highlands next fall when the snow flies will be greater by far than as if their enemies had been allowed to continue their depredations. How the Ring-Neck Broods (Concluded from Page 30) and secrecy. In the gunning season the ring-neck cocks flush readily enough, but during the nesting time it is next to im- possible to put one of them to flight. They may be heard in the fields on all sides, uttering their odd double crow, but save at feeding time in the morning and evening, when they stroll out into the open in com- pany with the hens, nothing is seen of them until the nesting season is finished and the chicks ,well developed. The latter leave the nest almost as soon as they are hatched, the mother leading the entire brood away immediately into the shelter of the grass, where she is better able to hide and protect them than as if they remained huddled together in the nest. In this way they can accompany her while she hunts for food, and within two or three days they are faring for themselves. A week sees them capable of flight, on tiny wings. Once away from the nest they never re- turn, the mother hovering them wherever night happensto overtake them, after the fashion of domestic hens. The young pheasants develop rapidly, but in spite of this the family stays together until just before the advent of the gunning season in early autumn. By that time the birds are full grown, the young cocks even possess- ing the gaudy plumage of their elders. Foxes BREEDING Silver Foxes pays big dividends both in money returns and in the joy of fascinating employment- when Borestone is the foun- dation strain. 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Foxes Tarnedge Foxes ESTABLISHED 1910 THE PRIZE WINNING RANCH 35 Pairs of Breeders 31 Pairs of Prize Winners Grand Show Champions Sweepstakes Winners Blue Ribbon Winners The Oldest Ranch in the U. S. TARNEDGE FOXES CATALOGUE SABATTIS. N.Y. A Price and profit are fixed by quality of fur. Start with high quaity, Siver Foxes and your profit will be greater. warren Raytyer Silvers will bring suceess and a hand- some income to you just as they have to others, for they are outstanding in color, texture and depth of fuo. They are ilse prolific, Write for information about the Warren Rayner Qual- ity Foxes now. WARREN RAYNER SILVER FOX CO. 2313 Warren Rayner Building Warren. Pa. R-ho at Wrre . Pa , ad Vaou,-r. Wash. Big Moa for You Railin Silver Foxes Easy to raise and mot profit- able of all nves oca. Write fot tree particuiars and prices. MAPLEWOOD SILVER FOX RANCH Dept. 0. L. 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OUTDOOR LIFE is read monthly by thousands of sportsmen-men in all walks of life, distributed all over America-and you will find this classified advertising the cheapest and most effective you can buy.
&VCM0 DZ ILY 3ULITTIr ITO. 27-169 U. S. Forc.t Service February 14, 1927 Sout1hs3tcrn District Coronado eeds Brandina Iron: If yon .vc in stock a branding iron U. S. for animals it would bc appreciatcd if it was transferred to the Coronado. A New Officer: It is interesting to note that the Hon. Carl Hayden, Sn- tor elect from Arizona has recently bocn elected a Vico-)resident of the American Forestry Association. (Coronado Bullotini) Datil Has Antelpe: The Datil has some antolope too, strtos the Datil Bulletin. Vhilo riding near South Vfater, on the V Cross T Range, January 19, 79 antelope wcro counted in one bunch, 10 in another and 6 in another, all of which could have been counted from one point and I didn't get to see the large bunch of about 200 which run around I1orth WJater. The Coco- nine needn't think they have all of the antolope in District 3. $ale BY Estinate: On a sale by tree mowurmnnnts to the Lakeside Sawvill Company, on the I&Wkeside District of 231 U foot, the cost of administration, exclusive of a chock scale on all logs cut,, was 15.1' per M feet. The avor- age cost of administration on sales to the same company, in uhich the logs were scaled, vas 25.8 per Me feet, rAch would indicate a saving in cost of adrni t tation of lO.,17 per M feet., The cheock scale on this sale shood the estilrrt by the measurements to be low by 10 MI fet, or a loss in stua c; at $ .25 per I1, of $22.50. The saving in cost of administration howcvei, would amount to ,24.72. It is assured of course, that the check scale is correct. With more oxerience in estirnting, sales by tree measurcments should reduce the cost of administnation of riangr shles by at least 80 per M. Sitgreavcs Elkhorn. Riddina The RanrM of Lions: There h,.vo bcc% trio government hunters on the Sierra Ancha district since Christim.s stats the Tonto Iiulletin Lon NUTeaterin as caught throe grown lions in a radius of three miles of Hells Hole and is camping on another's trail at the present time. The 'wede who has been trapping on the A.-acho Indian Reservation has bagged a grown lion in the Cherry Creek and :inter range country of the Flying H Cattle Company since Christmas° Shortly brfore coming to the Flying H he bagged five lions on the Flying V tango of the Pleasant Valley District. I also know of two more lion catches that only date back to hIovcmbcr. These were bagged by Mr. Vfitldy on 1B3ker Mountain, making a total of teen grovm lions killed in these parts during the past three months. N1or sumW 07you l oio r-"tha-i C out the saving this means to the stock- men and in game 1nmt for one year, pl.exseo jelda Kerr, Hfussey (Tonto) Visitor: Sinmons (Santa Fe) DO ActinE;: Jones
,- C~adI Z72 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. taken by some strange di ase, c large federal rse c g famous for cause of which has not e a I g in it, has g The disease, in some in a ces n in October, 1926 termed alkali ,poisoning there tenth the water is much eviddice to sho in some year and was large n of ducks original size. plac ere nu may disappear c have ed some other ca s was more There is reaso potent at t ake mounted to return of rainy te to dry may fill aga, thous of b~s as evi t from the tion of this wag reports h _ ry investi tor so far Goose Lake we has mad real extent of the inroad marked wagon r east to west. II on the ck supply and the fact that of the lake Is the de h toll appears to be increasing, these ancient ru has no n apparent to most sports- filled with a fine tradition and o men. T at it is time to act and to lake bed was o make sonie effort to save a larger breed- gold seekers ad ing stock of ducks has been made ap- it here from 18 abundant rains parent by poor hunting conditions of and maintained recent years and has again drawn at- dry period whict tention to the problem of the control of be called a fo the devastating sickness which causes seventy-five ye such great mortality, expected to rest In the Saturday Evening Post for Feb- completely, for ruary 19, 1927, Dr. E. W. Nelson, chief creasingly occu of the United States Biological Survey, permanent chan taking place, aff reviews the whole situation and pictures The general d the devastation around the alkali states the Far West h tration of wild f of the west. The astonishing statement Ing. At the sar is made that losses in the Bear River tion, a concentr marshes of Utah have run from 30,000 to in very many of the water poise more than 100,000 and that in worse ing it. This, p years they have amounted to from one undiscovered dim million to two million ducks in addition to crowding, has numerous birds of other species, and that mortality, not o but to a lesser the total loss in the west since 1902 addition, It has has probably reached 15,000,000 ducks, among all the s Relative to western conditions he says: and other wa blackbirds, and The most imminent of all dangers now frequent marsh confronting our migratory wild fowl has disease occurs i developed in the states west of the Missis- the summer or sippi Valley. In this mainly arid region causing heavy the water has disappeared from number- every few years less lakes, ponds and marshes, covering lent and product thousands of square miles, through drain- In t age, the diversion of water from streams for irrigation and a rapid evaporation, IENTIFIC D; amounting to several feet a year in som HU areas, combined with a period ofNot only is rainfall extending over more than t N ong g years. performing gret These vanished water areas vary from by reducing t] small ponds and marshes to such large lions, and thus open waters as Goose Lake, lying across the border between Northeastern Call- ply, but he is al fornia and Oregon. Until within a few scientific knowl years this lake, about fifteen by forty predatory anin miles in extent, covered an area of about he has been tal 60 square miles, with its greatest depth about twenty-five feet. In October, 1926, of every anim its basin was a bed of alkaline dust, weights, and th whirling up with the passing winds into those interested stifling clouds. Tulare Lake, in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, once the usual stori had more than 250 square miles of ideal twelve foot ler wild-fowl marshes. Its bed Is now dry It has been fo and occupied by ranches. A little farther south, Buena Vista Lake, somewhat stretched very smaller but of similar character, also has of nine or ten gone dry. ments of recent In eastern Oregon a large number of re lakes are known to have disappeared dur- ing the past few years. Malheur Lake, feet. Furthern bird refuge in this state, the superb bird life breed- 'radually decreased, until , it had only about one- area existing the previous only one twenty-fifth its Vith another dry year it completely. n to believe that with the years many basins now in. A remarkable indica- In the discovery, when nt dry, of an old well- oad crossing its bed from is reported that the bed of hard clay, which held ts firmly until they were r siltlike material. Local ld records tell that this Iry and wagon trains of d other emigrants crossed 149 to 1853. Subsequent must have filled the basin the lake until the recent hhas revealed what might ssll wagon road about rs old. wet seasons 'cannot be ore the former conditions this region is being in- pled by man, and many ges have taken and are fecting its surface waters. ecrease in water areas In as forced a great concen- fowl In those still remain- ne time, through evapora- ation of alkaline contents these areas has rendered nous to the birds drink- ossibly aided by some yet sease resulting from over- brought on an appalling nly among all wild ducks extent among geese. In caused a great death rate pecies of sandpiper, snipe ders, and herons, gulls. practically all birds that es. This so-called duck n varying Intensity during fall months every year, losses each season and becoming especially viru- Ing af f- . Q n A TA SECURED BY LO JTER BRUCE. state lion hunter Bruce at service to conservation he number of mountain improving the deer sup- t the same time increasing edge regarding this large nal. For several years, king careful measurements al killed making careful us making it possible for in accuracy to discount es regarding the ten and ngth of a mountain lion. und that a skin can be readily to give a length feet, but actual measure- ly killed animals bring the length rore, as ur-
CALIFORNIA FISI AND GAME. £ nished the Museum of Vertebrate Zoologf at the University of California with i fine a series of skins as is to be found anywhere in the world. As a conse- quence, the scientists will always have useful scientific material on which to base judgments as to the characteristics of this largest member of the cat family found in the West. STORM DAMAGE, The storms of February not only over- flowed levees, inundated farms and caused thousands of dolars damage to agricultural interests, but it swept away and severely damaged various racks used by the De- partment of Fish Culture in trapping fish for spawning. e 4 dreek also withstood the high ith no loss of material. TI 1ejair of the racks and traps will take XAA he damage will hamper spawning oPrjtions and pobably reduce tie take o Tg for the season.--, AN INDIAN iBR U HADAM FOR THE TAJ~"~GG ISH. The accopanying pi Ap is of a dam built by the Pomo I of Pot- ter Valley across the main River. This dam is built entirely of brush across a riffle. On the side where thAlsh are taken a portion extends up stream some few feet forming a sort of pocket, the bottom of which is covered with white rocks so that a fish swiuning over them 1Ga. 28. Indian brush dam in Potter Valley. Typical of the old Indian method of securing winter food supply and also typical of an illegal method at the present time. Photograph by 5. H. Hellard. At Shackleford Creek, Hornbrook, Bo- gus Creek, Camp Creek and other places contiguous to Mount Shasta Hatchery, a great deal of damage was caused by the heavy rains. At Hornbrook Station the cabin and personal effects of the man in charge were washed away. On the Klamath the water is said to have been higher than at any time since 1889- 90. While the man at Shackleford Creek was reporting conditions over long dis- tance phone to Captain G. H. Lambson, superintendent at Mount Shasta Hatch- cry, the waters carried away all bridges and be was forced to take a horse on his U11 Creek suffered little, although the water ran over the tanks. is easily seen. A platform of logs is then built over the water to stand on and a stake driven into the ground on which is fastened a light. Usually this light is a pine torch in a wire basket or "torch jack." In years past the Indians would take their families, go out to the river, build a dam, stay by it for several days and catch large numbers of steelhead when they were running in the spring. This particular dam was across the river about two weeks before it was discovered. There has not been one like it built for several years as the practice is becoming obsolete. The construction was so good that no fish of any kind could get through and the
LION have at different times heard stories about a certain young man on this district by the name of Harold Wyman. These stories were always about mountain lion, were very inter- esting, and were exceptional in that they varied considerably in the telling. Wyman is about 25 years of age, stands about 6 feet 2 inches in his goat hairs, and is built in proper proportion to his height. He is quite modest, and it is difficult to get him to tell of his lion hunts. Last fall, while on range inspection in that part of the district, I stayed over- night at the Wyman Ranch, and bunked with Harold. On going to his room I noticed a very large lion rug and mentioned to him that it was an unusually large one. He ad- mitted as much. After a careful roundabout approach I asked him to tell me the story. Here it is. Wyman has two fine Rusian wolf- and bloodhounds, crossed. One day, while running coyotes on Upper Stony Creek, the dogs suddenly stopped and gave several short barks or yips which told Wyman that some- thing other than the ordinary coyote trail had been found. The scent was evidently fresh So it was with difficulty that he kept within hearing distance of the hounds. Aft- er a strenuous run to the Bitterroot Divide, across Little Stony Creek and to an open ridge on Williams Gulch. a distance of about 8 miles, he heard the dogs give the baying signal which indicated that the chase was over. By tbistimeWymnwas sure that it was a lien and that the dogs had it treed. After reaching the dogs he found that it was a lion, a big fellow, on a large limb about 40 feet up. Instead of shooting the lion at once he decided to catch up on his wind, and eat his lunch. He sat down a few feet from the' tree where he could keep an eye on the lion. His rifle was laid on the ground at his right hand in a position for a quick grab in case the lion decided to leave. The dogs were on opposite sides of the tree, watching for the least hostile move. Mr. Lion was switching his tail in the usual manner of indicating his disapproval at being placed in such a situation. Wyman was well along on the second course when one dog whined and stood up. Wyman, who had taken his eyes from the lion for a moment, glanced up just in time to see the lion spring toward him. He grabbed his rifle, shot from a sitting position, and fell backward just as the lion landed at his side. Using the end of the rifle barrel he pushed the lion away from him as it went through its death struggles. Upon examina- tion a few minutes later, he found that the bullet had gone through the neck in just the right place to put an end to the hunt.
TH BIG HORN Page Seven Game Department and the Bureau of Biological Survey, and Raymond Al- len, of the U. S. Forest Service, hunt- ing in Mineral county in February, March and April, shot nine mountain lions that had apparently been feeding on the game and furbearing animals in that locality for some time. The fund from which Mr. Vogler's salary is paid is known as the bio- logical fund of the Fish and Game De- partment and is created by the setting aside of 25c from each hunting and fishing license sold. This fund is used for the extermination of preda- tory animals and birds that prey on game, domestic stock, poultry and song and insectivorous birds. While the sportsmen are paying Mr. Vogler's salary they are not the only ones to benefit by his good work, as the big cats he has taken were also real ene- mies of livestock and annually take considerable toll of sheep, calves and colts. These men were ably assisted in their good work of destroying preda- tory animals by the two dogs shown in the pictures, which pictures are here reproduced by the courtesy of Mr. G. S. Childers of Superior. The darker dog is Lead, a fullblooded coon hound owned by Mr. Vogler. The other dog is an American fox hound owned by Harry Byrd of Missoula and is named Spot. Both are trained lion dogs. Ben Vogler, Government Trapper, and Raymond Allen, forestry worker, the skulls and pelts of eight mountain lion killed in Mineral County. Also "Spot" and "Lead." The first kill was made February 17th on Trout creek. The second hunt started on March 12th and a lion was taken that day on Fish creek; another was taken on the 14th, one on the 16th, one on the 18th and three on the 19th of March. One of the lions taken had been shot a number of times with a revolver and dropped from the tree in which it had taken refuge. Lead throwing caution to the winds, sailed in to finish the lion, but was himself being badly clawed when Mr. Vogler struck the lion a heavy blow on the back with a club, rendering it help- less except with its front feet and jaws. But for the fact that two of the lion's tusks had been shot away, Lead's chances of escape would have been very slim. The first three lions killed in March were secured within half a mile of the first foot-log on Fish creek. Others were taken along Fish creek. One, a big tom, measured 9 feet 6 inches; another of the lions measured 8 feet 8 inches. Two of the lions killed were kittens under a year old. The lion taken on Trout creek was shot as it was making a breakfast on the carcass of a beaver it had captured at one of the many beaver dams on the creek. It had eaten the head and a portion of the shoulders when killed, as seen in the picture. It has not been generally known lyt iened n thave lcalt in that lions fed on beaver excep rare- ly, but evidence in the locality in r|a which these were taken indicates that many beaver have been destroyed by the lions, which undoubtedly accounts for the disappearance of colonies of beaver in this district, disappearances which were explained by the gener- ally accepted theory that the beaver had migrated. The remains of nine 'deer kille by mountain lions were found by these hunters along the creeks in Mineral county. It has been suggested that the mountain lions, which were thought to be very scarce in Mineral county during the last few years, ow- ing to the good work of other coop- erative hunters, had taken refuge in the Little St. Joe game preserve where they have multiplied unmolested. Ben Vogler with "Lead" and "Spot" and the mountain lion caught on Trout Creek while eating a beaver which it had just caught. The beaver, which had its head eaten off, is also shown. BIG TIMBER CLUB PLEASED WITH PROGRESS BEING MADE Under date of March 29th, E. L. Frang, president of the prize-winning Big Timber Rod and Gun club, writes as follows, not for publication, but as a matter of encouragement to the state secretary; but he won't know what we are going to do with his let- ter until he discovers we have done it, and so we will take a chance on "get- ting ours" from this "cocky" president of the club that always cops the big money in the state-wide common enemy control contest: "Dear Friend Carp: "Just a few lines to let you know we are still functioning, as far as con- servation, propagation and protection of fish and game is concerned. "Since the organization of the state association and the state fish and game commission we have bettered both hunting and fishing in our coun- ty, thanks to cooperation and helping each other. While we are blessed with more favorable conditions for good fishing than many other com- munities, having ten separate and dis- tinct trout streams emptying into the Yellowstone river within ten miles of Big Timber, with the Boulder at the head of the list, we find that keeping them stocked is no simple task. "When it comes to bettering bird hunting we find that it also takes much time and energy. But we feel that other communities could, if they used a little effort, have much better supply of birds than they have. We believe that the local rod and gun club, with the cooperation of nearly every man, woman and child in the community, have MADE our chicken hunting, by the destruction of an enormous number of predatory ani- mals each year, as your records will prove. We are sorry, however, that other clubs are not taking stronger to this. We can not clean our county unless our neighbors clean their coun- ty, too, as the pests will overflow from the sidelines into our county. S IN MINERAL NTY ooperative hunter
0 yr B ~ C V 3. Find a profitable way of utilizing the surplus. We are not so sure that it is a matter of choice of one or the other of these projects; rather it is the inclusion of all three projects plus several others. All three projects are worthwhile. It seems more reasonable that we should have a few big game animals saved to look at. Visitors to national parks usually gain a greater thrill from the sight of a wild deer or bear than from the scenery that surrounds them. At the same time there are certain areas that should be employed as propagation grounds for animals with the direct view to utilizing the surplus. In attempting the third project we might very well look to the first one, the actual restoration in certain areas of former numbers. This might mean restriction of grazing, furnishing of better food sup- ply and other useful means looking toward an increase. Game management is an inclusive term. No one yet has given us a definite outline of the main lines of attack to be used by anyone who might call himself a game manager. The term will continue to be rather intangible until something con- crete is suggested. Within the next few years there will be forthcoming the aims, the methods and the means which will make this new term, "game management," more understandable. HATCHERIES TO SERVE FULL TIME. One of the plans for the coming year includes the continual use of a number of the state's hatcheries. The importation of European trout and others from the eastern United States brought to Cali- fornia species which deposit their eggs in the fall rather than in the spring, as do the native trouts. It seems a feasible plan, instead of closing some of the smaller hatcheries for several months each winter, to have shipped to them eggs of fall spawning trout. The resultant fish will be of size sufficient to place in holding tanks by the time shipments of rainbow and other spring spawners are obtained. Some of the hatcheries are so situated that they can not be operated in midwinter, but in other instances this plan seems feasible and will be tried out. This is the plan projected for the Yo- semite Hatchery and, accordingly, winter visitors to Yosemite will have an oppor- tunity to see the hatchery in full opera- tion. MOUNTAIN LION CONTROL State lion hunter, Jay Bruce, has now a total of 315 mountain lion scalps to his credit. Last year he bettered his average by taking 36, the largest number yet secured in a single year. By September 1st of this year he had secured 31. He accounts for the better record this year as being due to a camp helper who has enabled him to spend more time actually on the hunt. The past spring was spent in San Diego and Ventura counties. In San Diego County four were secured, whereas six fell to his prowess in Ventura County. All of this was accomplished in spite of trouble with sick and injured dogs. At the present time his dogs are in fine working condition and several younger animals are being trained. Mr. Bruce is considering an enticing offer to try his prowess in securing man- eating tigers and other large cats in the Orient. Such an expedition as is planned would take Mr. Bruce from his work temporarily, but would increase his knowl- edge and ability at trailing and killing the most noted among predatory species. SUMMER RESORT EDUCATIONAL WORK. As in past years the Division of Fish and Game has cooperated with the National Park Service in a nature edu- cational program in Yosemite National Park. There are three outstanding features of the work: Lectures are given nightly at various resorts, a school designed to train nature guides and teachers of natural history, holds a seven- weeks' session and thousands are led afield on field trips to study nature first hand. The final reports show a trebl- ing in attendance on the field trips, which is the more unique and important feature of the work, and are as follows: YOSEMITE NATURE GUIDE SERVICE, EIGHTH SEASON, 1927. Lectures- Number Attendance Camp Curry -------------34 48,200 Yosemite Lodge ----------- 23 11,050 Museum Campfire- ------ 6 543 Special lectures --------- 11 2,560 Geology at Museum- -- 254 11,300 Glacier Point ----------- 88 8,258 Yosemite Hatchery ---- 128 18,000 Totals -------------- 544 99,911 Field Trips- Camp Curry (adults)...- 149 Camp Curry (children)-- 55 Yosemite Lodge ------- 104 All day. -- - 23 Glacier Point 48 Special ----------------45 High country -------------7 Totals ---------------431 3,586 735 1,727 837 522 1,301 221 8,929 SA staff of eight men was employed by the National Park Service to give aid along the lines indicated. A special fea- CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. (9 Jd 1-/ 17 273
No. 28-145 DD V.f BULLT vIE U. S. Forest Service Southwostorn District December 20, 1927 Mountain Lion In Sandins: Road Superintendent Kisstun's roaed crew ran onto Sfresh lion tracks nea atulin Spring~s and on following them they found a fiv point buck freshly killed, reports the Mazaho Ranger. We haven't so mrny door in this refuge that w can afford to feed them to the lions, Now, if the Gila Forest craves this beast to hold their deer herd in check, please submit a requisition and well try to do our best. In the mentime, he Biological Zurvey is going to put a trapper on the rofige. 0hristmas Tree Business Brisk: The demand for Christmas trees is very active, states the Thsayan News Letter. Rsrir:or Rice will spent today and tomorrow, as well as the day before Christmas, on the Williass Christmas tree area so the local people may secure the necessary trees to mike the children happy on Christmas day. Two trucks came up from Phoenix a few days ago and secured fifty trees from the Sitgreaves commercial area for sale in Phoenix. 9now conditions are making the securing of trees except- ionally difficult this. year. Cost Of Trasportation: The total charge for primary and secondary haul of all domestic and imported lumber by all carriers is $408,500,000 or 012.00 per M ft. The length of the average primnry rail hal is 700 miles accord- ing to Statistical Bulletin #21. .rizona and New Mexico pay 04.77 per M ft. transportation charge for lumber produced within their boundaries and $15.78 and $14.26 per IA ft. respectivcly for lumber imported. The total transportation costs of the two states for the year 1924 was $1,078,569.00. (Ed: The nuch greater transportation charge for lumber shipped into the ep froother states as compared to that for the home grown product .- +- - ,"VI A 1% ",-e A P. '6, It-niPr vn-u)4 ownt.)
Mountain Lion folder From "California Fish and. Game" OUNTAIN LION tONTROL Bounties have been paid On mount ions by the state since 1907. The yearly average during these 21 years has been 1246 claims paid each year. R rds from the Thirtieth Biennial Report disclose that during the past biennium the number of lions killed bordered on this yearly average. The claims of lion killers over the entire state for 1926 amounted to 249 lions and for 1927, 241 lions. It is believed that the total lion popu- lation in California is not greater than 500. This population is probably able to reproduce yearly not more than the num- ber slain every year by hunters. In other words, control measures have been effect- ive in that they have kept these large predators from increasing. The lion popu- lation has remained stationary. Further. aggressiveness, making possible a greater yearly toll, would soon find the death rate; in excess of the birth rate.
Mountain Lion Puts up Fight.--M. E. Musgrave, leader of predatory- animal control in the Arizona district, states that Hunte r A. L. Jones re- ports his first instance of a mountain lion actually putting up a fight. Jones had been after this lion during the entire winter, but the animal was apparently trap-wise and would get into the bluffs and keep away from the kogs. 'Finally, however', Jones forced the lion out into the open, and in a, letter he says briefly: "I just got him before he got me."
28-311 July 6, 1928 Walnut Canyon Popular: Ranger Hackleman says, in the Coconino Bulletin, that te Walnut Uayon visitors are swarming again, sometimes a hundred a day. Ranch Tool Boxes: The Coronado has installed six ranch tool boxes containing five man fire fighting outfits. It is understood that these are located at ranches of per diem guards from which fire fighters would naturally start for fires. Details of the ranch box design have been supplied forests. Gives Them A Target: Senior Forest Ranger Oldham has solved the "sign shooting" problem, according to the Coconino Bulletin. To accommodate the boys who have the killer instinct, and who like to test their skill with fire-arms on our neat and attractive signs, Oldham places a pasteboard target below the sign, so that they may have their fun and still leave the sign, with its O's and D's intact. Perhaps an enlargement of this idea, in the way of a more durable target would be worth consideration. New Measure of a Man's Greatness: The district has orders placed for about eight new Fords. Probably a number of individuals on the force likewise are waiting. Read this and cvwmb your impatience: "J. R. Nealon (a contractor's superintendent on a big N. Y. Central job) is one of the busiest men in the State of Ohio. He has 180 men scattered over four miles and keeps every detail moving smoothly. His greatest achievement, however,.was when he obtained a new Ford car when he wanted it, a thing few men have been able to approach, let alone equal". (The Earth Mover) This Lion Earned His Salt: On the morning of June 7, Maurice Jones, Biological Survey hunter, found the tracks of a lion at a salt log on the Peavine Grazing Unit of the -'ldorado National Forest, states the California News Letter. He followed these tracks with the aid hf his canine friend and after an hour or so, the tracks led to a coyote den where he found the evidence of an early morning tragedy. The evidence showed that two nearly one-third grown coyote pups had been killed and eaten by the lion. Jones dug into th"e aen f'rom wnhThe extracted and killed three more of the same species. a S(ot Ruined: During the present 10-day period only two fires have been reported, one in each State, says the Apache Bulletin. We can only thank our lucky stars for this fact since it has been the most serious period of the season, if they just get started. The fire at Elderberry Spring on the Greer District last Sunday was in one of the beauty spots of the White Mountains, and had it not been jumped on immediately would have resulted disastrously. As it was, 3 acres of as pretty a picnic ground in the little pines as you want to see, was charred and blackened, leaving a nmonument to some careless smoker, whom all efforts to run down proved futile. Field: Vi sitor: Acting:, Peeler (Coconino); Jones (Gila); Hussey (Tusayan), Shipp (Gila). Calkins. DAILY BULLETIN U. S. Forest Service Southwestern District 1
Making Collection of Utah Rodents.--For .one time R :, S. Zimmerman, leader of rodent control in the Utah district, nd his assistant, A. 7. Moore, have been making a collection of Utah rodents, and IlMr. Zimmerman reports that at the present time they have a fine assortment. Their cata- logue indicates that 170 specimens complete with skalls and data have been prepared, The collection comprises 18 genera of rodents and one of insecti- vores. One genus of Zapus constitutes a new record for Utah. The entire collectiqn of nine specimens of Zapus comes from localities on the Manti National Forest in Sanpete Countyat an elevation of more than 5,500 feet. The extent of the range within the :State has not been definitely determined, A newly recorded species for Utah is to be found in the series of pocket gophers that have been collected. This collecting has been done mainly by Mr. Moore in about eight monthst time in connection with his regular field work in the district, Identifications wore made by tho Division of Biolog- ical Investigations. Breaks Le .--Hunter Bradshaw, of ohe California district, met with a serious accident the last of January that resulted in the breaking of his leg near the hi-o f rt IAp- Vvz H; VEY Februar Follows Lion Track Four Days, --G. Holman, luader of animal control in the Utah district, reoort' that Hunter Taft lion track on January 23 and followed it for four days, The d treed the animal near the place ,'here they first struck its ti after it had killed and eaten a bobcat caught in one of Lir. Ta
SERVICE BULLETIN ADDS: LOOK, ine immense pulp-wooa ricKs, That is for "Six Twenty-Six". And the balm on yonder knoll That's the "Santiam Patrol". On all that drainage put the ban- That is for our Working Plan! E SE Last fall a party of cow men with two dogs killed three lions a few miles above California Hot Springs on the Sequoia Forest. Two were adults, a male and a female, and one was about a year old. In rounding up and bringing these lions to tree they covered an area of about five square miles and found the carcasses of 15 deer which had been killed by lions during the late summer and fall. The hunters probably covered 60 per cent of the area; therefore probably 25 carcasses would have been found if the entire area of five square miles had been covered in hunting for the lions. These lions ranged over an area of approximately 60 square miles, all fairly good deer country, and if the five / square miles represent their average kill it may be safe to assume that the summer and fall kill on the entire range covered by these lions would be 300 deer. The cow men who killed the lions are close observers of Stracks and signs of the woods and are fairly certain that the lions covered the 60 square Smiles of territory in making their regular rounds and were the only lions in that area during the past season. On the other hand, some hunters fol- lowed a lion for eight days along the Kern River, finally caught up and killed him, and during that time they did not find where he had killed a single deer, although he was in a good deer country. He did, however, ac- cording to signs, make a run at a door which he apparently missed. He killed some smaller animals such as rabbits, squirrels, etc. Another cow man reports a case where an old lion, apparently too old to catch deer, started killing calves and in two weeks killed three calves. Possibly a discussion of occurrences of this nature may give us a better under- standing of this question. -T.W., D.5 News Letter. I DEATH OF J. B, (JACK) CAMMANN On Sunday, April 15, death removed Jack Cammann from his labors as a Forest of- ficer and left a vacancy in the organization and in the hearts of his fellow Forest of- ficers that probably never can be filled. Jack lacked just eighteen days of hav- ing been in the Forest Service for a period of twenty years. He began his career on the Gunnison National Forest on May 5, 1908, as a Guard and served there for a little over six years as Guard, Ranger, and Deputy Super- visor. On June 16, 1914, he was transferred to the District Office where he has been em- ployed ever since, largely in the capacity of a mineral examiner, but working on many other activities. His loss will not only be felt in the Forest Service, but he had established confidence on the part of Land Office offi- cials in his integrity and ability to an ex- tent that Jack Cammann's word in mineral claim hearings was accepted without question. Most of all will Jack be missed by those of us who were intimately associated with him and had come to appreciate his very human traits, his humor, generosity, and willingness to accept any job assigned to him without question. He will be long remembered as the highest type of Forest Officer.- District 2. A WIRE Cleveland, Ohio, April 26, 1928. Forest Week films showing in our sub- urban theatres this week. Downtown theatres could not arrange programs. If we can have films another week, Loews downtown theatres will show all week. Museum of Education can use May 7th, 8th, and 9th in high schools. Advise immediately. Cleveland Film Board of Trade.
Rodent Control Sujervision-Popular in New Mexico.--A. E. Gray, leader of rodent and predatory-animal control in the New Mexico district, reports that the demands for assistance in rodent control are heavier than ever before, and that in nearly every instance the people are asking for super- vision of the work, remarking that "there must be something in the way the stuff is put out." More than two-tons of poisoned grain were sold cooperative- Iy diroct fromh the New Mexico headquarters to 82 farmers and stockmen throughout the State during May. Mountain Lion Caught in Texas.--C. R. Landon, leader of predatory- animal control in the'Te~aa clitvit r -'t - 1 wnl , LW T~rn caught a mopntain lion in Uvalde County under rather unusual circumstances: while riding his trap line on May 22 he found that a trapped coyote had been dragged away into a clump of bushes and hidden, after being partly eaten by a mountain lion; iiaking several sets around the carcass, he found the mountain lion in the trap the following morning. June, 1928
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VAAT SY? .- Ye ro i ' . Yes, the mountain lion does scream, or to mo" ihiiss eam has always sounded more like the clear qleancut 'cai, of a $oman. With the exception of the months December to February inousie, , ihve heard hei call in every month of the year, usualiy~in the een nd, early night. Ihis call can be heard for a distance of sever4lmiles who'n'a'osphorioCOnd"Itions are favor- able, and is particularly Clear and penetrating when heatd d close range. One who has ever heard this calI and-know its source will never tell you that a mountain lion does '6f it Au tomatically quickens your pulse and advances the spark of alertyou$..-tephernsn. WhitepuRivers' Mountain lions do not scream. For j orty years: I haveled an out-of- doors life in the foothills and mountains of . olorado;" always in localities where lions were more or less plentlf~l. IId hlaveahunatd;: . od lions, have seen them captured alive and'. packed, on horses,. bu t halveiocvpr hoard a lion scream. I have talked with' famous huntors, r mo whohav , hunted, captured, ai killed lions throughout the mountains bf theb w, estr Stat s; d none of those men claim that they ever heard *.. 1ion. scr . Lhe high-pitcho 'Pz nrliag squall, sometimes heard in the woods, or in wil eut,.of, thejwy places, is made by the red fox. It is his :hrsh piercing 'squall" of the fox, that nature-fakers and tenderfeet hear and believe to be the scream of a lion.-- Loring- San Juan,
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ARIZONA WILD LIFE t7 A ? 1 Game Warden I. V. Lee and a yellow killer of the Chiracahuas Some Habits of Arizona Mountain Lion By M. E. Musgrave Leader of Predatory Animal Control Although from childhood I have been more or less familiar with the mountain lion, or cougar, as it is known in the northwest, I did not become intimately acquainted with this animal until I took up predatory-animal work in the southwest, which afforded me an excellent opportunity for a close study of its habits on the range. Since 1918 our force of men has killed more than 600 mountain lions in Arizona, and from all the data we have gathered concerning this large number, I believe that some questions which have long puzzled us may at last be solved. Let us consider, for instance, the time of breeding. It has been the firm belief of some that the young of this tribe are born only in the spring, but evidence now proves conclusively that this is not necessarily the case, for we have found kittens during every month of the calendar, and at alti- tudes ranging from three thousand to seven thous- and feet. A favorable temperature, therefore, is not a factor in the birth of the lion's young. These cubs, ranging in number from one to four, are usually born in a sort of nest under a projecting cliff shrouded in front by dense brush. Sometimes they are born in a cave, not in deep re- cesses nor in caves with small openings, but in a shallow, wide-mouthed cavity from which the mother can easily scent danger and make her es- cape. Twice we have found them under the thick, low-hanging branches of a tree and partly covered with leaves. With their leopar(I-like spots of very dark brown which they wear for the first four months or more, they Weje baJy *-4nttnth casual eye. Young lions remain with the mother long after they are weaned, in fact they usually stay until run off by a male who wishes to mate with the female. Before the coming of the male the family usually confines itself to a given locality unless disturbed by hunters. Except in a few cases we have known, the mother lion deserts her young when the dogs draw near, though she rarely travels any great distance from them. After her first dash for safety she takes to a nearby tree and if chased out of that, circles about in the vicinity but does not approach the lair where the kittens are hidden. It is upon its wits rather than its legs that the mountain lion must largely depend for escape, for despite its amazing speed for the first hundred yards, it is no runner. Within that distance it can outrun any dog I have ever seen, especially on a downward slope; but after the first exertion its wind fails and it runs a losing race. As an artful dodger, however, it is unsur- passed. Leaping from rock to rock across deep crevices, climbing to a treetop from which it can jump to an overhanging ledge, or springing from a ledge into a tree below, it is a most difficult crea- ture for dogs to follow. I have seen the lion spring from the earth and land twelve or fifteen feet above in a tree; I have also seen it jump from a branch to the earth fifty or sixty feet below and light on its feet apparently unhurt. Contrary to the habits of the female and the A* G. P. A. A* G. P. A.
ARIZONA WILD LIFE young ones, the old males travel great distances. On several occasions I have known an old "tom" to cover more than twenty miles in a single night, traveling along the top of a high ridge and crossing over the peaks or highest spots as it reached them. Though the distance traversed may be sixty or seventy miles the animal will invariably return by the same route. In their wandering from one range of mountains to another, these lions often cross the desert in forty or fifty mile stretches, traveling usually by night and lying by day in the shade of a low mesquite or a palo verde. It is very easy to dis- cover the runway of a male lion, for it makes scratches under practically every large tree along the route, although the habit of scratching up piles of leaves is not restricted to the males, for the female too does this. We have learned much about the lion's method of securing its prey: Although it is often accused of hiding on a rocky ledge or in a tree and springing upon some unsuspecting animal below, we find from careful observation of many of its kills that it rarely does this. The usual method is to stalk silently its prey until it is within a few feet of it, when the lion bounds upon its back, gripping the shoulders with the front claws and often fastening the hind claws in the flanks. It then kills by hiting the animal through the back of the neck. So swift and sure are its movements that more than one leap is rarely necessary, althotnh we have found traces of two or three leaps and even of its pursuing its prey for some distance; and we have found a few iistances where cattle, horses, and large deer have succeeded in shaking the ani- mal off their backs. This, however, is unusual. Having captured its prey, the lion usually drags it under a bush or tree before eating any part, displaying amazing power in handling an animal. I have seen a horse weighing eight or nine hundred pounds which a mountain lion has dragged twenty-five or thirty feet, as proved by tracks in the snow. Even more surprising is the fact that it sometimes carries off what is has killed. I have seen both deer and big calves some distance from where the kill had been made, with no evidence of dragging. To do this the lion first turns the ani- mal on its back, picks it up by the -brisket, all four feet sticking up in the air, and Walks off with its own head held high. After the lion has gorged itself on the meat, it covers the carcass with leaves, sticks, and rocks, and retires to some nearby spot to "sleep it off." We have found places where rocks weighing as much as fifteen pounds have been piled up against the carcass of a lion kill, and often sticks as large as a man's arm are placed crisscross on top of it. The lion may never return to eat a second time; on the other hand, the animal may come back for a second meal within a few (lays, or may eat from this carcass at various times during several weeks, some- times returning to the scene of its crime long after the meat fails to appeal to him. While the lion prefers untainted meat, we have, in a few instances, found it eating carrion. The lion's liking for the meat of the porcu- pine sometimes leads it into painful experiences, as quills found in the paws testify. No one knows just how it kills porcupines, but signs in the snow seem to show that it hooks them under the chin with its strong claws, turns them over, bites them in the breast, and proceeds to eat all the meat, leaving the skin of the back, quills down, and the intestines rolled aside. Though exceedingly fond of burro meat, the lion is rarely able to indulge this appetite, for al- though the Supply is plentiful, numbering about fifty thousand of the wild species in Arizona, and although found on the same range as the lion, the sturdy little jackass roams scot-free. From bitter experience the lion knows what a fiend the little creature can be in combat, fighting with terrible teeth, damaging hoofs, and mighty kicks. Perhaps the least courageous of the larger wild animals, the mountain lion rarely shows fight unless wounded.. When captured on the ground, if unhurt, its first impulse is to escape from the dogs. It makes for a tree where it stays until a hunter approaches; then it jumps to the ground and runs for another. After being run out of two or three trees, it is reluctant to leave, for it can not do much running on account of being short- winded. Hanging on with all claws set in the bark of the tree, it refuses to jump even though punched at with a long stick. I have climbed out on a big branch of a tree and sat within six feet of a lion while I took a snapshot of it, yet apart from hissing and growling it showed no signs of fight. Although the reactions of mountain lions are generally those I have down sometimes they do exactly the opposite thing. Byar the greater number will run for their lives, yet once they know the dogs are after them, there have been a few that showed no such inclination, but fought to their death, and in one case an old male lion deli- berately lay in wait for the dogs and killed one This little dog is credited with 50 lions and badly wounded another. It must be conceded, therefore, that there is marked individuality among mountain lions. For instance, note our observations of the young ones. We have taken several litters of them and raised them by hand. There was perhaps one in a litter (Continued on page 25)
ARIZONA WILD LIFE The author looking over some typical blacktail coun- try in Sonora, Mexico. Desert Blacktail (Continued from page 4) in the season the sun is warm and the bucks will lie New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; Oregon in the shade of these cacti and rub the v.elvet off their (protected in three counties) ; Pennsylvania; Tennes- antlers. Antonio and I had just dismounted and were see; Texas; Utah; Virginia; Washington (subject to going to eat a bite of lunch, when I noticed the tracks regulation by county game commissions). of three bucks leading toward a group of pithayas, There is a long list of states, however, that give just a few yards away. Motioning to the Indian, we no protection to bear whatever; although some of slipped off our boots and, walking up behind one of them have at certain times in the past. These states the cacti, saw a buck stretched out in the shade. I include: Arizona, part of California, Colorado, Idaho, went back and picked up the rib of a sahuaro about 6 Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hamp- feet long and, crawling up behind the cacti again, shire, Oklahoma, parts of Oregon, South Carolina, laid the rifle down and jabbed the buck on the rump. Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. He leaped straight up, and whistled shrilly as he It may be that some of these states do not contain any plunged thru the chapparral. His inqusitiveness, bear but they all should if the animal had the proper however, overcame his fear, and he suddenly wheeled sort of recognition and protection. around and stood facing us. I had the rifle ready During the next legislative session in the com- and rolled him over. The Papago was very much ing winter, efforts will be made ina number of states amused at the incident, and as he and Francisco sat now affording bear no protection to secure for them around the fire that night, he rehearsed the whole suitable recognition. The bear is not a dangerous performance. animal to human life; it is not a predatory animal The sportsman that has hunted these deer except as to certain individuals and these should be among the tree-lined barrancas and over the lava- dealt with as outlaws. The species generally is harm- strewn cerros will count these golden days as they less and affords good sport in hunting as well as hand- pass over his head, and while his luck might not bring some tro him the coveted record head, after many miles of -* , , toilsome tracking, it will broaden his thoughts and bring him closer to the true hidden spirit of the SOME HABITS OF ARIZONA wilderness. MOUNTAIN LIONS * * * (Continued from page 3) LIST BLACK BEAR AS GAME ANIMA that was quite amenable and even affectionate.- I Should No Longer be Classed as Predatory Species recall one that was as gentle and docile as any Sixteen States Should Give Bear More house cat, even after he was grown, yet the others Legal Protection of the same litter were cross, vicious, and never Colonel J. A. McQuire, publisher of "Outdoo trustworthy. One can never say, therefore, that a Life" began years ago to advocate recognition of the mountain lionwill do a certain thing; it is a vari- bear as a game animal rather than a predatory one. able creature. He succeeded in securing such recognition in some I have yet to see a lion that will measure states, although there was more or less backsliding more than 9 feet from tip of tail to tip of nose. The from time to time. It has taken a long time to secure largest one taken in this state actually measured this recognition of a fine species of game, a trophy 8 feet 7 2 inches. The average adult male lion, I worth any sportsman's effort and there is yet much should say, would measure 7 feet, 8,inches, and the to be done before the bear is everywhere on a average adult female 7 feet. The heaviest lion proper footing as a recognized game animal. taken in this state weighed 276 pounds. The aver- The following states now recognize that the age weight'of adult male lions would be about 176 bear is entitled to some protection: Arkansas (entirely pounds, while the average weight of female lions closed) ; California (closed in certain districts) ; would be about 125 pounds. Florida; Georgia; Louisiana; Michigan, -Mississippi; . -U. S. Biological Survey, Phoenix, Arizona.
GAME SURVEY CONDUCTED FOR THE SPORTING ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS' INSTITUTE SY ALDO LEOPOLD 421 CHEMISTRY BLDG. MADISON, WISCONSIN LQ-- tq Ct~L Dear AeiA I am preparing a book on "Game Management," and also a report on the "Game Survey of the North Oentral States." I am lacking the information specified below and would appreciate your filling in the reply blank in so far as you are able. Please return to me in the enclosed envelope. Thanks for your cooper- at ion. Yours sincerely, ALDO IEOPOLD In Charge, Game Survey Subject? r -t , Question: t- of. I~ A~ I~~ CAA, 1AA . VJ Reply: Lay 29, 1930 I am taking the liberty of replying to your inquiry concerning the breeding age of the cougar. The first voung may be born the second year, bu t it would more probbly be the third year before thir would take -piece- Curator of Msmmals & Reptiles New York Zoological Park, New York kAI- IiC-A r
Mother Mountain Lion Deserts Youi.-Hunter Ed. Steele, of the New Mexico District, reports an unusual recent experience during a mountain-lion chase. He had located a female lion and her two kittens under a rook ledge. One of the dogs rushed in and killed a kitten, and the mother, instead of attempting to defend her young, merely trotted up the mountain- side. She was killed, however, by Hunter Steele. - 20 -
WLbratv ot 30 Ebo leopolb Outdoor Life I Outdoor Recreation ougar Characteristics By M. E. Hatcher HE cougar when full grown has strength estimated at fifty times that of a man. If this is true, a half- grown cougar could kill a man with the greatest ease. Physically, the lion is man's superior in strength, endurance, activity, sight, smell and hearing, yet, a man such as Boyd Hildebrand, of the state of Washington, famous throughout the Northwest as a big game killer and noted dead shot with revolver or rifle, makes playthings of them. Hildebrand is a made hunter. Time takes us back to a cold, dull and dreary day in December, 1924, with the thermometer hovering around zero in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains of Okanogan County, when a cougar killed and devoured Jimmy Fehlhaber, thirteen years of age. The boy had been sent on an errand by his foster parent, R. B. Nash, to a neighbor's ranch a mile away on a well-traveled road. A gerous canyon cut off a quarter of a mile. But Jimmy had been warned not to take this cut-off, owing to the perpendicular wall of the west side which, when wet or snow covered, would loosen the earth, allowing great boulders to come crashing down with- out warning. Yet, Jimmy chose to take this cut-off, whistling, as was his usual happy-go-lucky way, as he passed along the great shadowy walls, and through the thickets. He stopped now and then under some stunted pines to listen, but nothing could be heard, not even the chatter of a pine squirrel. With cap well pulled down and little gloved hands inside his mackinaw, he continued to push on through the deepening shadows of the canyon. T RACKS in the snow afterward disclosed the fact that the lad had suddenly stopped. Ahead some 200 feet on the edge of a ledge stood a cougar. He had been enjoying a little warmth on the south side of a large boulder. Jimmy, being used to the habits of cougars, at first (the little tracks in the snow indicated this) had swung a little to the right and then continued on his course. The cougar at the same time left his place of rest. Jimmy, on coming out at the mouth or bottom of the canyon, met the cougar unexpectedly in a thicket, face to face. The big cat perhaps intended to head the lad off. Be that as it may, here the lad became frightened and did exactly the wrong thing-turned his back and started to run. The animal immediately started after him, bounding along the left side and a short way behind. Thus the tracks in the snow showed that they raced along for 50 yards when the cougar sprang fully 15 feet, landing on the boy's back, with its cruel claws ripping and tearing through the heavy mackinaw and into the tender flesh from shoulder to waist. The boy, somehow, regained his feet and again ran on. His brown jersey gloves found pressed close together showed they had been removed, without a doubt in order that he could get out his pocket knife, which was found unopened a few feet farther on. The big cat spring- ing the second time crumpled its victim to the ground with a blow from its paw; a quick bite at the base of the skull and the unequal fight was ended. A spray of bright blood on the right, a larger one on the left in the pure white snow, gave ample proof of what oc- curred, yet no pen can describe the thoughts and anguish, or the heart-rending screams for help by little Jimmy in that lonely canyon, as the great brute, with blood-shot eyes, deep-sounding growls, ripping claws, cruel fangs, and foam- ing mouth, bore him to the ground. The brute dragged the body back into the shelter and tore off the entire scalp and devoured it. From here it carried the body over to the mountain side into a darker and more secluded thicket where the prized portions were eaten at leisure. Suddenly the air grew colder. Down through the canyon came the biting storm king. The branches of the forest stirred and bent their backs to the wintry blast. The sky grew black and closed in on the mountain summit and the sleet and snow swept down the slopes. Now and then the wind, whistling through the uppermost branches of the tree tops, swelled almost into shrieks. A northwest blizzard was on, and in a short time the thermometer dropped to 20 below zero. Hours later, by lantern light, searchers over the back trail found what was left of little orphan Jimmy, 150 feet off the orig- inal trail. THAT stormy night of Dec. 17, 1924, on receiving the report that his little friend, Jimmy Fehlhaber, had been killed by a cougar, Boyd Hildebrand solemnly swore he would kill every cougar in Okanogan County. That night, he, with other hunters and a faithful young bloodhound, started out to be gone for weeks in the wil- derness, over solid crusted snow. The bitter cold twice froze the nose of the dog, rendering him helpless. Four weeks later a farmer living within 8 miles of the scene killed a cougar. On examination by the Smith- sonian Institute, at Washington, a tight mass of human hair and a piece of overalls were found within the stomach, thereby proclaiming it the cougar that had killed the lad. Today this animal is mounted as a permanent historical exhibit in the Washington State Historical Society building at Tacoma, Wash. I I. -A si. had, as4 continued to hunt on. His fame is growing continually throughout the Northwest. He is tall and muscular, and his movements are as graceful as those of a tiger. His dogs are trained to the minute and know just what is expected of them. The big cats, says Hildebrand, don't give you much fight; they are so big they seem to feel they don't need to be afraid. Consequently they make no effort to get out of the way. The smaller ones, however, are fierce and full of fight and their capture isn't always an easy matter. At night the lion steals forth toward deer or other game, located during the watching hours of the day. Keeping well to the lower ravines and thickets, he slowly creeps upon his prey. His cunning and ferocity are keener and more savage in proportion to the length of time he has been without food. As he grows thinner, his skill and strategy will increase. A well-fed cougar has shown that at times he may only secure one deer in about seven that he creeps upon. A starving cougar is another animal. He creeps like a snake, and, noiseless as a shadow, he springs with terrific force, seldom failing to reach his victim. Once let those cruel claws of ( . 1, _
~- ~ ~- ~.- Outdoor Life G Outdoor 4Recreation a hungry cougar come in contact wi food, and they never let loose. Bu misjudge his leap, he seldom contin sue his quarry. Elk is his easiest prey. The dee fortunate, as he gets about one out o1 at. Once the cougar sinks his cla victim, the struggles of his prey help claws deeper and deeper. The cou fastens his teeth in the throat with never is released until the death st over. After he has become gorged, is dragged into a ravine or thicket, t( with leaves, dirt, sticks, etc. If fre not to be had easily, he will return second night, and after that the visit on the supply of fresh meat he n He is known to guard his cache aga during a storm. IN SEX among matured lions tha forest, there is an average of five one male. This is explained throul ousy of the older males. The old delight in slaying the young of both members of the whole litter suffer the weaning time; then only the m a litter is destroyed, mating time around regardless of the season of cunning of the old lioness is She is wise and faithful, seldom lea, tens. At the age of six weeks, the ti ing for life's existence begins. Sh them out to engage in the battles of struggles must continue for them uni may here be said that a cougar seldom dies a natural death. On approach of night the mother and cubs stealthily stalk forth into the night, regardless of the weather. Because of the babies, the mother takes short steps. When she crouches for fear or game, each little lion crouches also, and like little statues, they remain until the mother makes her spring-then she signals them to come. Again the mother displays her shrewdness of why those short steps were taken, by slowly and carefully stepping in the tracks she made coming down the mountain side, and each little cub carefully follow- ing suit. This habit is practiced to keep deadly enemies ignorant. The hunter that knows the habits of the coyotes may easily tell when a cougar is near by the alarm yelps given by the coyotes close by. The story of the do- ing of a cougar as told in the snow is tasclnating and as easy A wounded lion turnblin to read for the experienced as mountain side if told in print-how they stalk their prey, crouch flat to spring, and how the kill is made. Does and fawns run more in bunches. The cougars that hunt'in groups have very little difficulty in getting their prey. Bucks run singly to a greater extent and are not killed or stalked so often. Hildebiand, a year ago, spent two months in the wilds of the Adams Lake country, 100 miles northwest of Kamloops, B. C., ; here he found evidence of over 100 deer killed by the big cats. Here he bagged twelve cougars, but with better snow conditions he felt his kill would have totaled twenty or more. British Columbia game enthusiasts were greatly interested and started an agitation to raise the bounty from $50 to $100. "Each year since I attempted to follow the trail-of the cougar that killed little Jimmy Fehlhaber, I have spent a large part of each winter hunting cougars," says Hildebrand. "Often I am asked what sort of a sound they When he is stretched out like this the size of a mountain lion becomes impressive down a - - not come from the throat of a common house cat or a human voice. However, this story starts further back. A few days before this I had come upon the tracks of four cougars that gave me reason to believe they were hunting together. The trail led across a mountain, far from headquarters. After stalking the beasts for two days, without food, I returned to camp. I tarried only a short time, then returned on the trail and found a deer had been killed. Then they had crossed another mountain range, probably 5,000 feet high, and descended to a low valley some 20 miles distant, where deer were winter- ing. Just before dark I came onto a spot where a cougar had been bedded down. Later I found three deer had been killed. I made camp in a thick clump of timber and built a bed of fir boughs. A noise awakened me. I sat up and listened. An unmistakably clear 'meow' came to me. It was a quick, sharp and loud cry. I at once realized it was one of those big cats I had been trailing. (Continued on page 58) 9g
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IFNATZOXAL of chargo on receipt of only IPOR2S[ AN $1.00 for a whole year's ub- scription t o NATIONAL SlIORTSMAN. a 68-p a g e monthly magazine crammed full of hunting, fishing, camp- lng and trapping stories and pictures, valuable information about guns. rifles, fishing tackle, game law changes, best places to get fish and game, etc. Biggest value ever offered In a rporting magazine, Clip thin adv. and mnail toda ,eith $1.00 bill. NATIONAL SPORTSMAN 113 Transit Bidg. Boston, Mass. I The author's daughter seems proud t'UIi ISC U45ea15ce oS at sCaoI, a1UU of Cliff's fontinalis. Photo by Clif- last season as well, Cliff and I have made ford White, Banff many visits to that trout-filled little water, sometimes spending a leisurely day on its delay. Twice in rapid succession he struck surface, but more often, just slipping out flashing rises too forcibly and left flies for an hour or so of sport in the evening, firmly implanted in the jaws of two hungry and occasionally in the early morning. As d brookies who were probably as surprised yet we have not been disappointed. Not as he was-but I doubt it-and when a always have we got fish, but never have miserable little 6-inch Rocky Mountain we failed to find enjoyment, and on every whitefish, locally misnamed "grayling," expedition we have learned something more - stole his fly from the very jaws of a mighty of these transplanted easterners and their brook trout, even as he turned to strike, ways, something that some day will be of honestly, I thought Cliff would blow up! help in this or other waters. But nevertheless, tenderly and carefully, So far there does not seem to be any I he turned the silvery, sucker-mouthed noticeable decrease in the numbers of trout creature loose with the good-natured ad- the lake holds, and there is no reason why monition not to do anything like that again the numbers should lessen or the average or he might get knocked on the head, size decrease for many years to come. All despite the Park's 8-inch minimum regu- that is required is a fair measure of pro- lation. Probably it was justice, call it what tection during the spawning season, and you will, but on his next cast he rose, good sportsmanship on the part of those hooked, and subsequently landed another who angle for them. With this, the brook trout as large, or larger, than the one the trout of the Vermilion should provide good grayling had caused him to miss. fishing for the wielders of the fly-rod al- most indefinitely. AS FOR myself? Well, I was having the At any rat f and I 1 1 time of my life ! Admittedly, the mor- Sol tality rate on flies and leader points was high, for with my long and powerful rod it was all too easy to strike too severely Cougar Charact for the strength of fine drawn gut, and * my excitement it was difficult to cont ol (Continued from page 31) myself well enough to hit easily; but stll, Then for the first time in all of my ex- despite my awkwardness, luck was with perience of hunting and wholesale slaughter me, and before the rise was over I man- of the cougar family, could I now speak aged to basket three beauties, all within with authority on the cougar language. an ounce or so of the 2-pound mark. Later I heard the sound more often. The With these I was mighty well content, as 'meow' would carry for a half mile in the who in this day and age wouldn't be? forest. As I became accustomed to finding Incidentally, at one time I even had a tracks of the cats in bunches, I realized double on, both big fellows; but as is that they hunt in that manner where they invariably the case, with two big trout are plentiful, and are real cronies in time fighting against each other, as well as of need. They may start a hunt alone or against the naturally over-anxious wielder as individuals and then locate each other of the fly-rod, the old, old story repeated by their call. itself and "they both got away," taking "My largest kill in one winter of coyotes, with them a badly-used leader in two sec- with a rifle, is 111. My total kill during tions. And again, just as the number of chance cast directly against the reedy shore, and hooked the largest cutthroat trout I have ever seen, before or since. She was a big hen fish, of at least 5 pounds weight, but for some reason or other had never spawned during the spring, and as a consequence was so logy and so- full of long-overripe eggs which deluged the boat as Cliff lifted her in the net, that we re- leased her, as being unfit for eating or for any other purpose. With the frantic stimulation of the height of the rise over, at last Cliff and I started breathing normally again and took stock of what Vermilion's bounty had brought us. One by one, Cliff lifted his Papa and mamma cougar, little Willie own trout from the creel and we checked and two sisters, bagged by Hildebrand. Kittens usually come in pairs, male and their weights on the spring balance. Cliff female. If triplets, one male and two had landed five in all, but his first was still females. Never two males the biggest brook trout of the day, none of his others exceeding 22 pounds, but one of his smaller ones was the most beau- tifully conditioned trout we had ever seen. Only a scant 14 inches in length, it was as fat as any butterball and weighed 2 ounces over 2 pounds-proving still further that the little water of the Vermilion is capable of providing almost unlimited food resources for its finny denizens. W HILE the afternon was still young, Cliff and I agreed that it was right to pack up and call it a day. True, we might have managed to pick up a few more trout had we so wished, but we had ample for our needs, and to keep on fishing after such a phenomenal rise would probably have been a disappointing anticlimax at best. We preferred to leave the Vermilion with the memory of the fishing as it had been during that hectic but enjoyable hour.
Outdoor Life * Outdoor P1ecreation the years of coyote hunting, is 1,700, be- sides my annual toll of cats. The forest census of the Chelan National Forest lists over 4,000 deer within its boundary. Deer are now on the increase, 650 being listed as killed by hunters during the three days open season in Okanogan County in 1930." Hildebrand has helped the game commis- Hildebrand and his famous DAu- hound, kneeling behind two recently killed cougars in the hills of Okanogan County, Wash. sioners to build up the game until it is known as the wonder country of the Northwest. To Hildebrand goes the credit for his untiring efforts and vigilance over the great Chelan and Okanogan forests, because slaying the cougar means increase in the deer. Editorial Note.-Our correspondent's version of a cougar attack (which was described in Outdoor Life at the time it happened) brings uv the subject of one trait that isaimest pro- verbial in the habits of the cougar-its abject cowardice. There are some rare instances on record to show that the cougar might attack man unprovoked-the incident of the attack on Jimmy Fehlhaber being one of the only two authentic cases we know of, and both attacks having been made on boys. (We never knew of an unprovoked attack by a cougar on a man.) The other case of the attack on a boy occurred in California many years ago, probably ten or twelve. A boy was playing on a stream not far from his school when a cougar attacked. While the beast was mauling the lad the school- teacher (a woman) ran to his assistance, broom- stick in hand. The animal turned on her and killed her. Scott Teague the old Colorado big game hunter and guide, with whom we have been on many bear and lion hunts, once came upon a cougar that was eating the remains of a deer. Scott noticed that the cat showed an extra- ordinary menacing attitude as he came up, and, being armed with only a small .22 rifle, he stood for #while, undecided as to what was best to do. In relating the incident, Scott said this was the first time he was ever held at bay by a couglar The attitude of the animal was so bold that Teague decided to retreat, which he did-re- turning iater with hs dogs and treeing t tF proved to be an exceptionally old animal, witt teeth either badly broken or worn down to the gums. Battles of the African Jungle (Continued from page 27) of the brutes watching him. He made fo the camp, with the native's help, but hi was confident that, but for the scare th boy gave them, they would have attacked and probably finished the lion's work. H, said that since then he has every sympathy with the native's terror of the hyena. Coming to the crocodile, I doub whether the reptile has any more redeeming traits than the other member of the broth erhood. Yet I once saw an example o what may have been maternal affectior cannibalistic as the species undoubtedly is On the banks of the Quando, one after noon, I found under a clump of trees crocodile's nest. 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Ask y;our :deae the Riv, r.Wol can't supply you, send us his r and a dollar bill and we'll s you one of each pattern. Be a, to ask for our Assortment N B-54. MARATHON CATALOG of Flies, Lures and Tackle, & GUIDE TO FLY FISHING FREE with your order! Assorte Patterns for *1I MARATHON BAIT CO., WAUSAU, WISCONSIN "-World's best history of those famous scouts. dress OUTDOOR LIFE BOOK SHOP, Denver, I 1 -1 4AAn -------- American _7 ; 2teTs
STATE GAME COMMISSION
DATES OF REGULAR
COLIN NEBLETT, CHAIRMAN
SANTA Fi, N. M.
J. B. MCGHEE,
ROSWELL., N. M.
GILBERTO ESPINOSA,
COMMISSION MEETING
LAST SATURDAY IN FEB.
LAST SATURDAY IN MAY
LAST SATURDAY IN AUG.
LAST SATURDAY IN NOV.
ALBUQUERQUE. N. M.
ELLIOTT S. BARKER,
STATE GAME WARDEN ple-atrinemt ofl 105ant atnb 'Y154
April 1~4, 19,32 C~
11r. Aldo Leopold
905 University Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin
Dear Mr. Leopold:
It is very difficult indeed to keep all news articles written for
the Nev! Mexico magazine confined to exact or technical facts. In the
case of the mountain lion rangingsreferred to by you I will state
that Mr. Shuart secured his information from me and quite a number of
other persons, but I believe that the statement he makes is somewhat
misleading. Probably this statement was based on information given
out several yrears ago by Mr. B. V. Lily about trailing a lion over an
excessively large area. I would not, hoever, want to go on record
Fas stating that a lion actually uses an area with a 100 mile radius.
However, I personally know that a lion will travel over a route ;00
miles or more in length, often making wide circles, sometimes-
miles in diameter. I have followed such trails for days without coming
up with the lion. While it is iy belief that these animals do travel
over a auuch wider area I have no actual proof of it. I have on several
occasions hunted out rather large areas to -h-ere for months no sign
of lion would be seen end then sulldenly there would appear one or
several lions within the area, indicating clearly a migration of these
animals. I followed one male lion from Tusas Moutain thru the Jarita
Mesa, across to Comache Canyon and across the Black Mesa to just
below Embudo, where he crossed the Rio Grande. This was a distance of
about m miles and he was L-oing strong when I left the track.
Also, I have followed a track from 10 miles north of the Colorado
line at the head of Vermejo Creek southward thru the mountains to
Cimarron Baldy, and he was still headed straight south and had -ade
the trip without making or visiting a kill of any sort. It is my
opinion that we get numbers of lions from Mexico which irigrate far into
the northern part of the state. The occasional finding of the thorns
of desert cactus in the feet of lions killed in our northern mountains,
both in New Mexico and Arizona, is indichtive of extensive traveling.
Mr. Musgrave, of the Forest Service, at Albuquerque, I believe has
considerable data as to lion migration and distances that they travel,
which probably would be of some interest or value to you in connection
'with your game mn,-agement book.
11r. A2Ao Leopold If I can be of further service to you in anVo way I shall be more than Eoad to serve you. With idndest personal regards to yourself and family, I am Sincerely esb-p State Game 'Warden 4//14/32
AprIl 5, 1932 Mr. Elliott S. Barker State Gae WSarden Santa Fe, New 77exieo Dear v.1iotti In th last Iss" of *New7Uexio" on states: A mountain lion has been Inown to within a radius of at least 100 miles." page 9, Mr. Sn art travel over an area If he 7ot this information from you Aid he state your meaning correctly? If so, it would be rather an extreme case of mobility in a non-migratory animals I am shortly7 goirv- to presq with my book on gtme mn 9 mant and wold lMe to cite this if it comes from you. Yours sincerely* ALDO LOPLf
NEW MEXICO Hunting Pursuit of the Elusive and Wily Predatory Animals is Trouble With a Big "T99 for Hunters and Trappers of State and Federal Game Protection Forces Trouble Coyote, Lion,Bobcat and Other Killers of Livestock, Animals, Birds not Decreasing in Numbers-Turn to Rough Country as New Habitat. DON COYOTE IN A TRAP ByHarry E. Shuart (Photos by Author and Game Dept. Staff Members) O PTIMISM expressed by the young Chinese servant in San Francisco who, after being advised each day for a week that ten thousand Chinese soldiers and only one hundred Japanese had been killed in the conflict raging around Shanghai, remarked, "Pletty soon be no more Japa- nese," cannot be felt by game conservationists in New Mexico, when the war that is being waged between man- kind and predatory animals is being considered. Despite the ever-increasing kill of predators, even the most optimistic game conservationist cannot foresee the time when these enemies of game birds and animals will be under control. It is the conservative opinion of the majority of those who may be classed as experts in game affairs that the predatory animal is holding his own inso- far as total population is concerned. Each year, it seems, the successful destruction of the predators, of which the coyote, the bobcat or wildcat and the mountain lion are the most formidable, becomes in- creasingly more difficult. Each year, according to the most authentic reports that can be obtained, the kill of game birds and animals and of livestock by the predatory beasts holds to about the same figure. True, there is a slight increase shown in the number of predators killed by hunters and trappers of the U. S. Bureau of Biologi- cal Survey and of the State Department of Game and Fish, but this increase is taken by some to indicate that there is a greater number to be killed. Others feel that the constantly increased effort on the part of those two official agencies is responsible for the increasing bag of predators. But none there is who is willing to assert that the predatory population is on the wane. The report of the Biological Survey for New Mexico shows that the total number of predatory animals killed in the fiscal year of 1928 was 2151. In 1929 the total bag was 2250; in 1930 it dropped back to 2029, and in 1931 reached the top figure of 2810. In the latter year the predators killed were as follows: Bobcats, 364; coyotes, STATE GAME WARDEN BARKER AND HIS SEASON'S BAG OF LIONS. COYOTES AND OTHER PREDATORS Page 6 March, 1932
NEW MEXICO 2336; lions, 70; wolves, 4; wild dogs, 6; hybrids-a cross between a wolf and a dog,-2, and stock-killing bears, 2. During the four last fiscal years the total bag of predatory animals, according to the Biological Survey report for the Now Mt'yr,- di.trh't hnws 1290 bobcats, 7701 coyotes, 164 lions, 13 wolves, 33 wild dogs, 3 hybrids, and 2 bears, making the kill for the four-year period of all types of predators 9240. Until recently, the State Department o f Game and Fish has not engaged active- ly in hunting predatory ani- mals. At present, however, 7 men are partially engaged in that work, five of whom are trapping and two who are hunting lions with dogs. Among the predators the coyote offers the greatest problem for game conserva- tionists. This cunning cous- in of Fido or Towser-our DEPUTY WARDEN BERT B faithful canine friends-is the most prolific and versatile of all of the game killers. Coyotes rear large families yearly, eat anything whether fresh or carrion, whether meat or vegetable or fruit, breed under almost every condition and adapt themselves to any 0 -4 1.UL~ , 4, .-"' type o co tUU y, w e eI plains or mountains, wheth- er wilderness or inhabited by man. Trappers and hunters are agreed that the coyote is the most difficult of all of the predators to catch or kill. His cunning has increased in the same ratio that the pursuit of him has in- creased, until today human ingenuity is taxed to the ut- most to trap Don Coyote. In the plain s country which has been his natural habitat for years, the coy- ote is a killer of sheep, small calves, rabbits and birds. So long as he confines his dietetic choice to jackrab- bits and other rodents, no objection is voiced by the sportsmen or the conserva- tionist, b u t Senor Coyote apparently seeks a diversi- THE "TRAIL SET" COMPLE fled menu and plays havoc with the sheep flocks during lambing season. He has been hunted with more success in the plains country than elsewhere. Poison baits have accounted for many thousands. It is on the plains that the only type of coyote hunting that can be considered sport is found. With greyhounds and wolfhounds, those slender high-speed members of the canine species, hunters on horseback or in motor cars if the country is level, often engage in the sport of coyote coursing but it is an extremely fast-mov- ing and fast-thinking dog that can master the coyote. It is a hard-fighting dog, too, which can whip a coyote after the chase is ended. The coyote, adaptable rascal that he is, has added the rough country in the hills to his original plains habitat. Apparently he has followed civilization into the mountains and has found the change to A4 .T his canine liking. Don Coy- ote, because of his appetite for mutton has followed the sheep bands from the plains into the mountains and there has added venison to his diet. Especially in the win- ter has the mountain coyote become a pronounced deer killer. Undoubtedly the con- tinuous pursuit and trap- ping of the coyote on the plains has caused many of the wiser ones to desert that original habitat and to adopt the mountains as their home. These mountain prowlers have become what may be CA MAKES A "TRAIL SET" termea super - animals . They seemingly have found the venison diet not only to their liking but to their benefit for the mountain coyote has become a larger, stronger and more vicious animal than his cousin who remained on the plains. In the rough country the confirmed deer-killing coyote, according' t n esti- mates of game experts, will account for twenty deer a year. Of course, the great- er bulk of his kill consists of fawns and does, although many instances are known where bucks have been the victims of an attack where two or three coyotes have banded together for the kill. And this slaughter of deer would be even greater were it not for the fact that the coyote is a carrion eater and does not demand fresh meat but is willing to return to his kill until it has been completely devoured. The only successful meth- ods of keeping down the mountain coyote population is through trapping or pois- oning, which latter method is undesirable because it en- ED--WHERE IS THE TRAP? dangers game animals and hunting dogs. It is no mean accomplishment on the part of man to be able to outwit and trap this wily killer. Trappers for the Biological Survey and the game department are constantly on the hunt for new "baits," "scents" or "lures" that will attract Senor Coyote into their traps. The trapper who possesses a "scent" which is successful guards the formula as jeal- ously as does Uncle Sam his military secrets. The aver- age scent with which we have come in contact, however, may remain a secret as far as we are concerned. It ap- pears to be a combination of all the known malodorous substances in the world and certainly, if it is attractive March, 1932 Page 7
NEW MEXICO tors, and real- ly catches them - car- ries a s little equipment a s possible. The game depart- ment trapper, f o r instance, carries in his kit in addition to the traps, a piece of can- vas about three feet square, a stout little shovel six or e i g h t inches long and four THIS WILDCAT "GOT IS FOOT IN IT" to a coyote, it does not convince us that the coyote is the possessor of any of the finer sensibilities. In addition to the constant companionship of this olfactory disturbance, the successful trapper of a coyote must remember that he is a human being and that the slightest trace of a mis- placed human scent will send his quarry scurrying and skulking from the vicinity of any trap no matter how well it maiv ern- cealed. As the coyote has become in- creasingly cun- ning the careless trapper has been eliminated from the picture, so far as successful catches are con- cerned. His op- erations s e r v e only to educate t he animals to beware of traps. T he amateur trapper who hies himself forth in the quest of predatory a n i- mals with an as- sortment of equipment t h a t would make the average ear, eye, nose and throat specialist ashamed of his lack of tools, finds no place in the present order of things. The successful trapper - t h e chap who makes - 11 4 THE DOGS GOT TOO CLOSE SO THIS - _% U L WILDCAT TOOK TO THE THEE catching preda- inches wide, a BRER GRAY FOX IS NOT A HAPPY CAPTIVE small bottle of the aforementioned "scent", and some trap canvasses. Having selected a proper place for a set-and this selection must be right or there will be no catch, regard- less of how well the set is made-the trapper spreads the canvas to the edge of the location of the trap. On this he stands or kneels so that no "man scent" will be left on the ground. Then he proceeds to dig a hole just big enough to contain the trap and the "clog" or "drag". The drag usually consists of a double steel hook to which the trap chain is attached and which will catch in brush or( trees as the trapped animal attempts to escape. The cog is usually a small wooden block to which the trap chain has been securely fastened. As the trapper excavates he places all dirt removed on his working canvas and disturbs the earth as little as possible outide of the actual excavation. After the trap has been spread and the trigger set so that the trap will spring when the animal steps on the little metal pan in the center, it is placed in the excavation so that it is about one-half inch below the natural surface of the dirt. The A YOUNG MOUNTAIN LION TREED--HE LOOKS CUTE BUT HE'S A TOUGH HOMBRE Page 8 March, 1932
NEW MEXICO
trap chain is placed in the hole as smoothly as possible
"efore the trap is set in place. The clog to which the
nain is fastened has been laid-flat in the bottom of a
deeper aperture and has been worked firmly down into
miles in length. A portion of these he visits each day and
usually visits the entire line within a two-day period or
within three days at the most. In the plains country
where travel by automobile is possible the trapper's line
~will extend from
even the most f ran-
tic efforts of a trap-
ped animal are un-
likely to pull it
loose.
When t he trap
has been put into
the proper position
and dirt has been
carefully placed
about it - always
with the shovel and
never with the hu-
man hands so as to
leave a scent trace
-it is covered with
a small piece o f
canvas just the size
of the trap jaws
when they are open.
A 11o l h o
C oilactn O1. 0 C SAME DEPARTMENT HUNTERS AND TI
been cut in one side
of the canvas to permit the trigger to function properly.
After the canvas has been spread over the trap, dirt is
carefully placed in the excavation to bring it up to the
original ground level. The entire set is then covered with
thin layer of dry dirt, twigs, or leaves so that it will
conform as nearly as possible to the original appearance
of the spot before the trap was set. There should not
be and usually is not the slightest evidence that man has
been in the vicinity.
After this reproduction of Nature which would stir
envy in the heart of any artist, the trapper proceeds to
IN
100 to 150 miles.
T h e mountain
lion, the largest and
most vicious of the
predators in New
Mexico, now that
the wolf has been
virtually eliminated
from the state, of-
f e r s a different
problem for the
hunter. Lions are,
as a rule, not trap-
p e d successfully.
True, some h a v e
been trapped b u t
the great majority
of those bagged by
the predatory hunt-
ers are taken by the
. r'f -lno which
]H{ IAJUN IN A BAUK UUUJNTkUX UADIr -b '- -'-' .
trail the lions and
tree them. In New Mexico there are several packs of
dogs which have been trained for this work and which
will disregard any other trail than that of a lion, except
perhaps the trail of a bobcat.
The lion population is much smaller than that of the
coyote. Estimates of the number of lions in New Mexico
vary but it is the consensus of game experts that there
probably are not in excess of 300 lions in the state. This
giant member of the cat family maintains a habitat almost
exclusively in the rough country. A mountain lion has
been known to travel over an area within a radius of at
near his set or on
nearby shrubbery
that weird clash of
odors that we have
characterized here-
tofore as "scent".
Yet with all of
these precautions, it
is an even bet that
Don Coyo.e will
not step into t h e
trap. Time and
again t h e trapper
returns to find
where h i s quarry
has circled the set
cautiously, p o s -
sibly two or three
times and then has
The lion differs
from the coyote in
the fact that he
usually i s a lone
traveler. T h i s is
especially true o f
the male lion. Fol-
lowing the mating
season the m a I e
strikes out to patrol
h i s range which
may carry him over
long distances
daily. The female
remains in one gen-
eral locality until
her young are born,
and reared t o the
self-supporting age.
departed, seeming- DEPUTY 13ACA (LEFT) AND "PO
, in a hurry. RECONNAI
mething wa s
'ong. It may have been just the slightest trace of mis-
placed odor or an unnatural bait, but it was a warning as
loud as a fire siren so far as Senor Coyote was concerned.
In the trapping of coyotes and bobcats, which are also
known as wildcats and big lynx, the trapper who works
on horseback maintains a line of traps from ten to twenty
P
" FISHER, LION HUNTER, ON A The you n g will
ANCE TRIP travel with the fe-
male lion until they
are eight to twelve months old when she leaves them to
shift for themselves and goes again in quest of her mate.
She may find him many miles away but that is her job.
He does not return to her, but he has made it easy to be
found.
The egotistical confidence of the male of the species
March, 1932
Page 9
_r W-4)v kA is shown by the fact that he has left dur- ing all of his travels certain signs and marks that the female recognizes. Here and there along his trail will be found claw marks, known as a "scrape", left in such a way that they cannot escape his mate's notice, and which in lion language tells her not only which way he has gone but that he will be back. And unless either he or she has run afoul of a hunter she will find him or wait for him on his regular patrol route no matter how far he has traveled or how rough the travel- ing may be. The average adult lion, according to estimates by game experts will account for one deer a week where the lion is ranging in a fairly well populated deer country. The lion, contrary to popular hele .i nt h".p p ,'-,n:, h ,-h ;-: A cow, a steer or a calf is perhaps one of the last victims which the lion seeks. Preferred delicacies on the lion's menu are venison and mutton, or horseflesh-with deer meat preferred. The mountain lion is one of the few animals that suc- cessfully kills and eats the porcu- pine. In certain areas of the state lion hunters are virtually certain to strike a fresh trail eventually. There are other portions where a lion has not been seen for many years, but the lion hunter is reasonably certain to find his quarry if he confines his activities to the rough country where the deer population is comparatively heavy. Lion hunting, although it is a business with the predatory ani- mal control men enters into the cat- agory of sport with others. There are, in the state, several packs of lion dogs which are maintained for HUNTER ST. JOHN FINDS "BUSINESS GOOD" BACA "HOLDS THE KIT lish the dual purpose of hunting one type of big game and protecting another by killing lions. Dogs trained to hunt lions are able to pick up a trail many hours old and under favorable weather condi- tions they may be able to follow a scent that has been left as much as three or four days before. If they strike the trail of a male lion the hunters may travel many miles be- fore the chase is ended with the an * mal treed. In the case of a femaL lion the hunt probably will not cover as much territory especially if she still is caring for her young. The lion is capable of traveling at a fairly high rate of speed for short distances but eventually dogs will close in on the animal until it is forced to seek refuge in a tree. Even then the chase may not be ended. A lone dog, or even two, often fail to hold their quarry which may decide 4- +4 . . . J" l+.I. T .. . . ..r_ TY" LO PUL up a lg. rI. in1 sucn cases the odds are against the dog or dogs but it is seldom that a lion has the temerity to leap from its treetop shelter into a battle with three or more pursuers. If the lion hunter is a good shot the story is ended, but if his shot fails to kill and the wounded lion comes toppling out of the tree he may account for one or two dogs before he finally is killed. There probably is no more vicious animal than a wounded lion brought to bay. One sweep of the claws may mean the death of a good hunting dog. The wounded lion has an attack that the average dog cannot fathom. It catches the dog with its claws, pulls the animal in closely and breaks its neck with one bite of its powerful jaws. It is seldom that a dog survives in such a battt, During the recent winter months the lion ko in New Mexico has been unusually heavy. Sev- eral reports of kills of four or five animals within a period of two days having been made. In all cases these have been female lions accompanied by their young. MAMMA /IdtVh AND FOUR OF THE FAMILY "PASS OUT" Page 10 March, 1982 the+ use o :,, - ..,. vvs en u 1, .l~ (Continued on page 32) NEW MEXICO
7ile: California Deer Mountain Lbn __ CROSS RE7FEENCE See "Factors Influencing Wild Life in California, Past and Present,* by Tracy I. Storer. Ecology, Vol. XIII, No. 4., October 1932, Pp. 315-327.
Reprinted from JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY Vol. 14, No. 3, August, 1933, pp. 221-240 NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS 221 REVISION OF THE JAGUARS By E. W. NELSON and E. A. GOLDMAN The jaguars, the largest of American cats, are leopard-like in general appearance, but the larger size, more massive head and generally more robust form are distinguishing features. They inhabit the warmer parts of North and South America. There are records from California, northern New Mexico and well north in Texas, but the present range is from Arizona, southern New Mexico, and the Rio Grande Valley south to about 400 south in south-central Argentina. The common name, jaguar, now very generally applied to the animal, is derived from the South American Indian name "jaguara." The meaning of the name, according to Liais (Chm. G6ol., Faune du Br6sil, 1872, p. 450), is "car- nivore that overcomes its prey at a single bound." In Brazil the jaguar was distinguished by the Portuguese as "onga verdadeira" (true ounce) or "onga pintada" (spotted ounce), from the puma, known as "onga parda" or "onga vermelha" (red ounce). In much of Latin America, however, these animals are now referred to, respectively, as the "tigre" and the "leon." While the larger jaguars exceed the larger leopards in size and physi- cal power and are very destructive to large animal life they are completely lacking in the ferocious aggressiveness sometimes shown by leopards in their encounters with man. In fact, the jaguars, although feared by natives in their tropical habitat, so rarely attack man that reports of such occurrences are very difficult to verify. In both North and South America they appear to have much the same shyness and dread of man as is shown by the puma or mountain lion, although they are claimed to be more dangerous in parts of South America. It is doubtful whether any wild or domestic animal is safe from their onslaughts. Cattle, horses, and hogs are included in known jaguar depredations and many accounts indicate their special fondness for the flesh of peccaries. The large herds of white-lipped peccaries that roam tropical American forests are systematically followed and preyed upon by them. The great power and ferocity of their attacks are indicated by the fact that in 6 out of 92 skulls examined one or more of the canine teeth had been broken. In one instance all of the canines had been broken off short, and yet the animal, an adult male, had been able to subsist in spite of this handicap, as shown by the smoothly worn stubs. The broken canines suggest that these teeth, while fairly large, may be relatively weak for an animal with such powerful masseter muscles. In
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY the puma, on the other hand, the canines are rarely broken, but nasal and frontal contusions exhibited by a considerable number are evidently the result of mishaps in bringing down their prey. Since the time of Azara (Apunt. Hist. Nat. Quad. del Paragiay, vol. 1, pp. 89-91, 1802) the question of the number of species of jaguars has been discussed. Azara referred to a belief of some of the people that two normally colored kinds of jaguar occur in the region. One of these was called the "yagilaret6" and the other, the "yagiiaret&popd," was thought to be of heavier proportions, and to differ in general color and arrangement of spots. The latter was also regarded by same as a fiercer animal and more dangerous to man. Azara, however, with his usual accurate appraisal of evidence discredited this belief and recognized only one kind, aside from the black phase of the jaguar, or "yagdaret6 negro," and his conclusions have been supported by more recent information. The concept of two kinds, based apparently upon individual variation, led to the naming of Feli8 onca major and Felis onca minor by Fischer. The present brief outline of the relationships of the jaguars is the result of a study of material available in the principal North American mu- seums, including the types of most of the described forms. Probably for the first time specimens of the jaguar have been assembled in suffi- cient series to give a clear concept of the ranges of individual, sexual, age and geographic variations. A total of 101 specimens have been ex- amined, as follows: 35 skins and skulls, 57 skulls without skins and 9 skins without skulls. This is, however, far too small a number for an exhaustive revision, and some of the forms remain very imperfectly known. The geographic ranges of the forms are given as definitely as possible, but are of course very incomplete. A remarkable uniformity in the more essential characters of jaguars, regardless of locality, forces the conclusion that all are assignable to a single species. The ground color, and the size and arrangement of spots are so variable that little dependence can be placed upon them as characters, although slight average differences of subspecific value are presented in some cases. Changes in size and minor cranial details from region to region are fairly constant, however, and serve to differentiate the various closely allied and obviously intergrading geographic races. Regional modi- fications, especially in size, are more irregular than in the puma, in which they are quite uniformly progressive from the largest subspecies in the northern Rocky Mountains through small tropical representatives to another large subspecies in southern Argentina. In the jaguars small subspecies may occur in close proximity to larger ones. An example is
NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS Felis onca goldmani of Campeche, Mexico, the smallest of jaguars, which is replaced in the neighboring states of Tabasco and Vera Cruz by a much larger animal. For the loan of specimens we are greatly indebted to Mr. H. E. Anthony, American Museum of Natural History, New York City; Dr. W. H. Osgood, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois; Mr. F. W. Miller, Colorado Museum of Natural History, Denver, Colo- rado; Dr. G. M. Allen, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass.; Mr. J. Kenneth Doutt, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania; Mr. John M. Phillips of Pittsburgh, and to Mr. Charles M. B. Cadwalader and Mr. James A. G. Rehn, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, for especially valuable material obtained by the Matto Grosso Expedition in Southern Brazil. Specimens examined, unless otherwise indicated, are in the United States National Museum. Felis onca Linn6 [References under subspecies] Distribution.-Nearly transcontinental; found at the lower altitudes from the Grand Canyon, Arizona, southern New Mexico, and central Texas south at least to the Parana Valley, central Argentina. Mainly tropical in dispersal; not usually ascending into the colder belts at high altitudes. General characters.-Size large-the largest of American cats. Form robust. Tail relatively short and tapering. Ears small, short and rounded, without elongated terminal tufts. Pelage short and rather bristly. Upper parts pro- fusely spotted at all ages. Similar in general appearance to Felis pardus of the Old World, but differing notably as follows: Form more robust; skull presenting differential details, especially the relatively shorter canines; lower canines scarcely reaching plane of lower border of anterior nares (in pardus reaching well above this plane); canine longitudinal grooves absent or obsolescent; tail shorter and tapering; large pads, especially on soles of front feet, more evenly rounded; black rings outlining spots or rosettes similar to those of F. pardus, those on sides tending to enclose one or more small black spots (usually absent in pardus). Color.-Ground color of upper parts varying from light ochraceous buff or pale straw color to light golden tawny or tan color, nearly uniform over median dorsal area from top of head to base of tail, becoming gradually paler to near cinnamon buff or light buff on checks, sides of neck, lower part of flanks and outer surfaces of legs; body in general heavily spotted with black; dorsum, except median line on posterior part of back and sides, marked by irregularly circular or crescentic or broken spots that tend to form rosettes or enclose smaller spots in a darker field than the general ground color; median line on posterior part of back bearing elongated, solid black spots that tend to present an irregular lateral paired arrangement or to become confluent; top and sides of head, neck, and feet marked by smaller black spots; under parts and inner surfaces of legs white,
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY heavily spotted with black; throat, under side of neck and inner sides of forelegs marked with more or less confluent black spots that tend to form transverse bars; upper surface of muzzle varying from pinkish buff to clay color, unspotted; cheeks, forehead, and feet with small, rounded black spots; upper and lower lips white near middle, becoming abruptly black toward angles of mouth; outer sides of ears deep black, with small buffy median spots; inner sides of ears thinly clothed with whitish hairs; tail with crowded, irregular black markings, separated on basal half above by narrow pinkish huffy or cinnamon buffy interspaces, be- coming white below and toward tip, which is usually black. Some of the sub- species average darker than others; in some individuals the ground color is darker and richer than in others from the same locality. Average differences in the size and form of rosettes may be of subspecific value, but individual variation is ex- traordinary. No two animals are exactly alike and the spots may differ even on the right and left sides of the same individual. Remarks.-Felis onca is subdivisible into very closely allied subspecies or geographic races. The males are larger than the females but males of a small form may be exceeded in size by females of a large form. In addition to larger sizes, as compared with females, the skulls of males are usually recognizable by their angularity, especially the greater development of the sagittal and lambdoid crests. Individual variation covers a wide range and adds to the difficulty of making accurate identifications. The most reliable distinguishing characters for the various subspecies are the differing combinations of size and cranial de- tails as presented by average individuals. The following features are subject to important modifications: Form of the skull in upper outline; height and inflation of frontal region; width of rostrum; form of nasals; development of lambdoid crest; width and depth of interpterygoid fossa; form of audital bullae (with allowance for great individual variation); and size of teeth, especially the canines. Felis onca onca Linn6 East Brazilian Jaguar [Felis] onca Linn6, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 42. Type locality.-Pernambuco (now Rlcife), Brazil (fixed by Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1910, p. 136, Mar., 1911). Di8tribution.-Extreme eastern Brazil west and north to the lower Amazon. General characters.-A large subspecies approaching paraguensis, but skull smaller; frontal region less elevated behind postorbital processes; temporal ridges tending to unite to form the sagittal crest farther anteriorly; sagittal and lamb- doid crests strongly developed, much as in paraguensis; audital bullae more fully inflated; dentition heavy. Compared with major of Surinam the skull is de- cidedly larger, with relatively much more prominent sagittal and lambdoid crests. The original description of mexianae indicates that the skull of typical onca differs from it in larger size and probably in other details. For cranial measurements see table, p. 232. Remarks.-F. oncea was based by Linn6 upon early accounts of the jaguar in Brazil. Of the species he merely says, "Habitat in America Meridionali." Unfortunately no specimens from near the type locality of onca, as fixed by Thomas, are available for our study. In the absence of such material we have
NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS regarded skulls from the valley of the Rio Tocantins as the most likely, among those at hand, to represent this form, and have used them as a basis for comparisons. Measurements.-No external measurements available. Skull (see table, p. 232). Specimens examined.-Three, from Brazil, as follows: PARA: Lower Amazon, 1 (skull only'); Tocantins River Valley, 2 (skulls only). Felis onca coxi, subsp. nov. Espiritu Santo Jaguar Type.-From north of Rio Doce, Espiritu Santo, Brazil. No. 256388 [9 ad.], skull only, U. S. National Museum, collected by W. T. Cox, 1931. Distribution.-Eastern Minas Geraes and Espiritu Santo, Brazil; limits of range unknown. General characters.-A small, light buffy or straw-colored subspecies. Much smaller than its geographic neighbors, typical onca or the Matto Grosso animal, described beyond, resembling the latter in color but differing from both in cranial details. Color.-Skin from upper Rio Doce, Minas Geraes: Ground color of upper parts in general light ochraceous buff or yellowish straw color, slightly darker within the rosettes than in the interspaces, becoming still paler, less yellowish, and near light buff on sides of neck, flanks, and outer surfaces of legs; black spots and rosettes rather large and heavy, some enclosing smaller spots as in the other forms; black spots large, irregular, and partly confluent along median line on posterior part of back; under parts and inner surfaces of legs white, heavily spotted with black; tail with irregular heavy black markings throughout its length, separated by narrow interspaces, light buffy near base above, becoming white thinly mixed with black toward tip and white below. Skull.--Cranium small, with a low sagittal crest and well-developed lambdoid crest. Compared with that of subspecies onca the skull is much smaller; frontal region more constricted immediately behind postorbital processes; bullae rela- tively broader, somewhat flatter posteriorly near line of contact with exoccipitals. Very much smaller, less angular than that of F. o. milleri, the Matto Grosso jaguar; frontal region much less highly arched, the sides most deeply constricted immediately behind postorbital processes (sides of frontals inflated behind postorbital processes in Matto Grosso form); fronto-parietal suture more evenly transverse instead of forming a narrow V pointing forward on the median line. Measurements.-Flat tanned skin from upper Rio Doce, Minas Geraes: Total length, 2190 mm.; tail, 565. Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-F. o. coxi contrasts strongly in size with its much larger geo- graphic neighbors in the Parana and Paraguay river valleys. Two skulls re- ceived many years ago from Herman von Ihering, and probably taken in the general vicinity of S~o Paulo, were at first assigned here but seem referable to the form described on p. 228. This new subspecies is named for the collector of the type, Mr. W. T. Cox, in recognition of his extensive studies of wild life. Specimens examined.-Total number, 4, as follows: I Collection Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY MINAs GERAES: Near Rio Doce, near eastern part of state, 1 (skull only); upper Rio Doce, 1 (skin only). EsPIRITU SANTO: North of Rio Doce (type locality), 2. Fells onca milleri, subsp. nov. Matto Grosso Jaguar Type.-From Descalvados, Matto Grosso, Brazil. No. 26552, 9 adult, skin and skull, Field Museum of Natural History, collected by Mrs. Marshall Field, August 4, 1926. Distribution.-Upper part of Paraguay River Valley, in southwestern Brazil and southeastern Bolivia. General characters.-One of the largest of the jaguars-about equalling para- guensis. Ground color of upper parts pale-near light ochraceous buff. Skull larger than in onca, and differing in detail. Much larger than coxi of southeastern Brazil. Color.-Type: Ground color of upper parts in general, including outer surfaces of forelegs and thighs, light ochraceous buff, slightly darker in tone within the rosettes than in the interspaces, paling to near light buff on sides of neck, flanks, and feet; black rings of rosettes large and most of them broken, enclosing one to four or five small black spots; black spots narrow and elongated along median line of back posteriorly; black spots on head and outer sides of legs large; under parts and inner surfaces of legs white, interrupted by large irregular black spots; tail with irregular heavy black markings, separated by narrow interspaces, ground color light oehraceous buff near base above, becoming white thinly mixed with black toward tip, and white below. In a very young individual from Co- rumbA, Brazil, the spots on the upper parts are angular and closely crowded leaving uniformly narrow interspaces and forming a well defined, reticulated pattern. Skull.-Closely resembling that of paraguensi3 in large size, massiveness and angularity, but upper outline more arched, rising higher behind postorbital processes; frontal region broader and higher, the sides more expanded below temporal ridges; posterior nares and interpterygoid fossa narrower and deeper, the interpterygoid space more deeply concave as viewed from below; nasals broader, the anterior ends usually more divergent, narrowing more abruptly posteriorly; parietals developed forward and encroaching farther on frontals along sagittal crest than in most subspecies; dentition similar to paraguensis but molariform teeth rather light. Compared with onca the skull is larger; frontal region more elevated behind postorbital processes, the sides 'distended and bulging more prominently below temporal ridges; temporal ridges tending to unite to form the sagittal crest farther posteriorly; sagittal and lambdoid crests strongly developed, as in onca; audital bullae less fully inflated; dentition similar. Compared with that of coxi, the skull is much larger; frontal region more highly arched, the sides constricted farther posteriorly near fronto-parietal suture. Measurements.-Type (tanned skin): Total length, 1880 mm.; tail, 475. Skull (see table, p. 232). An adult male topotype (in flesh): Total length, 2419 mm.; tail vertebrae, 665; hind foot, 302. Another adult male topotype: Weight (on platform scale), 290 lbs. An adult female topotype (in flesh): Total length, 2116 mm.; tail vertebrae, 604; hind foot, 255.
NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS Remarks.-As the geographic range of the present form closely adjoins that of paraguensis the cranial peculiarities noted are remarkable. This case is paral- lelled, however, by similarly abrupt modification of characters along geographic lines elsewhere. The new subspecies is named for Mr. F. W. Miller who, in con- nection with his work for the Colorado Museum of Natural History, has made an important contribution to knowledge of the mammals of southern Matto Grosso. Mr. Miller referred specimens from Descalvados to F. ramsayi, which he proposed as a substitute name for F. paraguensis as indicated in our remarks under that form. Specimens examined.-Total number, 19, all from Matto Grosso, Brazil as follows: Corumbb, 5 (2, skulls only); sDescalvados, 13; $Lake Uberaba (on boundary between Brazil and Bolivia), 1 (skull only). Felis onca paraguensis Hollister Paraguay Jaguar Felis paraguensis Hollister, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 48, p. 169, Dec. 16, 1914 (1915). Type No. 4128, [0] adult, U. S. National Museum, collected by Capt. T. J. Page, about 1860. Felis notialis Hollister, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 48, p. 170, Dec. 16, 1914 (1915). Type from San Jos6, Entre Rios, Argentina, No. 4361, J 9 ] adult, U. S. National Museum, collected by Capt. T. J. Page, August, 1860. Felis ramsayi F. W. Miller, Journ. Mamm., vol. 11, no. 1, p. 14, Feb. 11, 1930. Substitute name for F. paraguensis. Felis o[nca] paraguen.sis Barbour, Records North Amer. Big Game, Dec., 1932, p. 155. Type locality.-Paraguay. Distribution.-Paraguay, adjoining part of Parana River Valley, Brazil, and northeastern Argentina. General characters.-One of the largest of the jaguars. Color undetermined but probably similar to milleri. Skull about like that of milleri in size and angularity, but frontals less elevated behind postorbital processes, the sides less expanded below temporal ridges; posterior nares and interpterygoid fossa wider and shallower, the interpterygoid space less deeply concave; nasals narrower, tapering more gradually to posterior ends; dentition similar but molariform teeth rather heavy. Measurements.-No external measurements'available. Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-No skins of paraguesis have been examined by us and the color, therefore, has not been determined. F. notialis was based upon a skull regarded by the describer as that of a male, but which, with the advantage of more material for comparison appears to us to be that of a female. It agrees closely in essential characters with the type of paraguensis. Feli8 ramsayi, was proposed by F. W. Miller as a substitute name for Felis paraguensis on the ground that the latter Collection Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 3 One in Field Mus. Nat. Hist.; 3 in Colorado Mus. Nat. Hist.; 9 in Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY was preoccupied by Panthera paragayensis. This name, however, was applied to an ocelot by Oken in 1816. A substitute name takes the same type specimen as that of the name replaced and therefore F. ramsayi has the same type as F. paraguensi8. Oken consistently wrote "Paragay" for Paraguay and the differ- ently-formed derivatives from such different names are not regarded by us as synonymous. F. ramsayi is therefore a synonym of F. paraguensi8. Specimens ezamined.-Total number, 4, as follows: ARGENTINA: San Jos6, Entre Rios, 1 (skull only-type of notialis). BRAZIL: Campo Grande, Matto Grosso, 1 (skull only). PARAGUAY: Puerto Pinasco, 170 kilometers west of Riacho Salado (in dis- puted territory), 1 (skull only); without definite locality, 1 (skull only- type). Fells onca paulensis, subsp. nov. Southeast Brazilian Jaguar Type.-SAo Paulo region, southeastern Brazil (exact locality undetermined). No. 100123, [ 91 adult, skull only, U. S. National Museum (Biological Survey collection), received from Herman von Ihering, June, 1900. Distribution.-So Paulo region; probably widely distributed in southeastern Brazil. General characters.-Size very large-about as in milleri and paraguerwis, but differing in cranial details from both. Differing from cozi most notably in much larger size. Color.-Undetermined. Skull.--Closely approaching that of coxi in general form, but much larger, more massive and angular; sagittal crest much more strongly developed; tem- poral ridges more abruptly curved inward, uniting to form the sagittal crest farther forward. Similar in size and angularity to milleri and paraguensis, in- cluding the prominent sagittal and lambdoid crests, and dentition about the same. Distinguished from milleri by much narrower, less distended frontal region imme- diately behind postorbital processes; temporal ridges more abruptly curved in- ward, uniting to form the sagittal crest farther forward; interpterygoid fossa similarly narrow, but shallower. Differing from paraguensis in broader frontal region behind postorbital processes; bony palate decidedly narrower in front of interpterygoid fossa, interpterygoid fossa narrower, but deeper. Measurement,.-No external measurements available. Skull (type): Greatest length, 266.2; condylobasal length, 235.5; zygomatic breadth, 175.4; width of rostrum (behind canines), 70.5; interorbital constriction, 47.7; width across mastoid processes, 111.5; width of interpterygoid fossa, 23.8; upper canine-pre- molar series (alveoli), 76.3; crown length upper carnassial, 26.6; diameter upper canine (antero-posterior), 20.8. Remarks.-Felis onca paulensis is based upon three skulls-one of an adult male in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, labelled S~o Paulo, and received from E. D. Cope many years ago, and two adult females in the U. S. National Museum, from the general region, received in June, 1900, from Herman von Ihering. This material is unsatisfactory, owing to the lack of more exact locality data, but the three skulls agree so closely among themselves, and differ
NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS collectively so uniformly in important details from the neighboring forms that subspecific recognition seems warranted. Unfortunately no skins are available and the color must be left for later determination. Felis onca boliviensis, subsp. nov. Bolivian Jaguar Type.-From Buena Vista, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. No. 34344, [d1 adult, skin and skull, Field Museum of Natural History, collected by J. Steinbach in 1924. Original number 1462. Dt8tribution.-Lower eastern slopes of Andes in central Bolivia, limits of range unknown. General characters.-Similar in general to milleri but smaller and ground color of upper parts darker and richer in tone; cranial characters distinctive. Appar- ently differing from the little known form peruviana, of the coast region of Peru, in cranial details, especially the more oblique position of the paroccipital and mastoid processes. Color.-Type: Ground color of upper parts in general, including outer surfaces of forelegs and thighs, near cinnamon buff, slightly darker in tone within the rosettes than in the interspaces, becoming paler buff on sides of neck, flanks, and on feet, the ground color along sides of body fading gradually into white of under parts; rosettes large and forming numerous complete circles or rings, but narrowly outlined, most of them enclosing one to four or five smaller spots; black spots on head and outer sides of legs of medium size; under parts and inner surfaces of legs white, with the large black spots or irregular blotches usual in the group; tail with irregular black markings, separated by narrow interspaces, light cinnamon buff near base above, becoming white thinly mixed with black toward tip, and white below. In a topotype the ground color above is of a brighter, richer cinnamon buff than in the type. Skull.-Similar in general to that of millen, but smaller, with upper outline more evenly arched; frontal region narrower, higher, more convex in front of postorbital processes, less elevated and less bulging laterally as well as upward behind postorbital processes; postorbital constriction near postorbital processes instead of farther posteriorly near fronto-parietal suture as in milleri; crown of carnassials, above and below, actually longer, therefore relatively decidedly longer, measured antero-posteriorly; canines about the same. Apparently differ- ing from peruviana in the flatter, less highly arched upper outline; postorbital constriction nearer postorbital processes; paroccipital and mastoid processes more oblique in relation to axis of skull (paroccipital and mastoid processes in more nearly the same transverse plane in peruviana as shown in Blainville's plate illustration of the type); nasals broader. Measurements.-Type (tanned skin): Total length, 2055 mm.; tail, 610. Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-In view of geographical contiguity boliviensis exhibits a surprising departure from milleri in cranial details and the more vivid color of the upper parts seems to be distinctive. No specimens of peruviana are available, and the exact relationship of boliviensis to that form remains to be determined. F. boliviensis differs, however, from Blainville's figures of the skull of the type of
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY peruviana, and the great range of geographic variation in the species would argue against the occurrence of the same forms east and west of the great wall of the Andes. Specimens examined.-Three' (3 skins and 2 skulls), from the type locality. Fells onca peruviana Blainville Peruvian Jaguar Felis onca peruviana Blainville, Ost6og. Icon. Mamm. R6c. et Foss., vol. 2, fasc. 12, genre Felis, p. 186; ibid., atlas, pl. 8, 1843. Type locality.-Peru (probably from the coast region). Distribution.-Believed to be the coastal region of Peru; limits of range unknown. General characters.-Apparently a rather large subspecies with paroccipital and mastoid processes in more nearly the same transverse plane in relation to longitudinal axis of skull than in the other forms; frontal region broad, constricted posteriorly; nasals narrow, evenly tapering to an acute point posteriorly. Remark.-Blainville (L.c.) in explanation of the plate illustrations of the skull of the jaguar accompanying his work used the name F. onca, without description, for several figures, including the profile and upper and lower views of the cranium of a female from Peru. Under the Peruvian figures on the plate, however, is the legend "F. onca peruviana 9," which seems to provide a valid name for a Peruvian subspecies. The animal was given alive to the menagerie by Rear Admiral d'Urville and, therefore, probably came from the coast region. In view of the general principles that govern geographic distribution of species it is unlikely that the same subspecies occurs to the east and west of the Andes, which, rising like a great wall, probably bars the easy passage of these great cats from one side to the other. Blainville's figures indicate cranial peculiarities, but were drawn from a menagerie animal and may not be entirely trustworthy. As no specimens of peruviana are available its exact relationship to the other subspecies remains to be determined. Fels onca ucayalae, subsp. nov. Upper Amazon Valley Jaguar Type.-From Sarayacu, Rio Ucayali, Peru. No. 76451, cI adult, skin and skull, American Museum of Natural History; collected by the Olalla brothers, May 1, 1927. Distribution.-Ucayali and Marafion river valleys, northeastern Peru, and probably beyond in neighboring parts of the upper Amazon drainage. General characters.-Similar to boliviensis, but larger; rosettes heavily outlined and black spots on head, limbs, and under parts larger than usual in the species; skull differing from those of onca and bolivienais in detail, especially the narrowly spreading zygomata. Apparently differing from peruviana in cranial features. Color.-Type: Ground color of upper parts in general near cinnamon buff; rosettes large and heavy, several of those in the mid-dorsal region with unbroken ' Collection Field Mus. Nat. Hist.
NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS outlines, enclosing one or two small black spots; black spots on head, legs and under parts very large. SkuU.-Similar to that of boliviensis, but larger, more elongated; zygomata relatively less widely spreading; squamosal arm of zygoma more strongly de- veloped; rostrum broader; temporal ridges more abruptly curved inward, and uniting to form a sagittal crest farther anteriorly; dentition similar. Apparently differing from peruviana in broader nasals, more abruptly narrowing near pos- terior ends, and in more oblique mastoid and paroccipital processes in relation to axis of skull. Compared wfth that of major the skull is larger; zygomata rela- tively less widely spreading; frontal region narrower; lambdoid crest much broader, more strongly developed; dentition heavier. Measurements.-Type (tanned skin): Total length, 1982 mm.; tail, 523. Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-F. o. ucayalae is based mainly on a fine male specimen which we have been unable to refer to any other form. The skull differs from Blainville's plate illustration of peruviana which presumably came from west of the great wall of the Andes, but the exact relationship of ucayalae to that subspecies must be left for later determination. A skull from Moyobamba is very doubtfully in- cluded here, as it exhibits a departure especially in the shallow depth of the interpterygoid fossa, a character similar to that of the geographically distant form paraguensis. In a skin from Rio Napo the rosettes are more broken and the small enclosed black spots are more numerous than in the type. Specimens ezamined.-Three, all from Peru,5 as follows: Rio Napo (near Iquitos), 1 (skin only); Moyobamba, 1 (skull only); Sarayacu, Rio Ucayali, 1 (type). Felis onca major Fischer Surinam Jaguar [Felis onca] major Fischer, Syn. Mamm., Addenda, 1830, p. 366 (= 566). Type locality.-Surinam. Distribution.-Northern South America from Surinam west through British Guiana and extreme northern Brazil to western Venezuela. General characters.-A medium sized cinnamon buffy subspecies, with outer rings of rosettes usually broken, but irregularly encircling one to four or five small black spots; skull with a narrow, weakly developed lambdoid crest combined with rather heavy dentition. Skull smaller than that of onca, with much less promi- nent sagittal and lambdoid crests. Ground color of upper parts about as in ucaya- lae, but rosettes more broken than in the type of the latter; skull smaller, with relatively reduced lambdoid crest and more widely spreading zygomata. Similar in color to centralis; skull larger with decidedly heavier dentition and less strongly developed lambdoid crest. Measurements.-An adult male from Serra da Lua, Amazonas, Brazil: Total length, 1775 mm.; tail vertebrae, 583; hind foot, 240, Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-The name major was based by Fischer on the "Jaguar, great var." of Hamilton Smith (Griffith, in Cuvier's Anim. King., vol. 2, p. 455, and colored Coll. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.
TABLE 1
Cranial measurements of jaguars (all measurements in millimeters)
P4 0
Z 04 E. Z~~~
SUBSPECIES LOCALITY NUMBER .
4 B 0 C z.
.4 0, t4 Z4
ki < M0 w , 4r
Adult males
Felis onca onca Brazil: Tocantins Valley, Para 256385
296.3253.5 204.8 76.6 57.5125.8 28.1 81.828.5 22
Felis onca milleri Brazil: CorumbA, Matto Grosso 37503,
302 277 207 80.5 57 22 86.428.2 22.8
Felis onca paraguensis Paraguay 4128b
295.5264 195 77.5 55.5 122.229.2 83.529 21
Felis onca boliviensis Bolivia: Buena Vista, Santa Cruz 34344b,c
266 236.5 175.5 68.2 47 112.5 21.1 81.528.5 21
Felis onca ucayalae Peru: Sarayacu, Rio Ucayali 76451,,b
274.9245.5 173.8 73.9 49.4112.222.1 78 29.2 20.8
Felis onca major Surinam 9505d
264 241.9 182.3 73.9 54.4111 24.2 82 28.7 20.7
Felis onca mexianae Brazil: Mexiana Island
180 28
Felis onca centralis Costa Rica: Talamanca 14177b
250.5219.5 169.5 63.8 41.5 101 22.3 72.525.5 20
Felis onca goldmani Guatemala: Laguna El Sotz, Peten 249823
237.5217.8 166.5 64.9 44 100.5 21.3 72 23.5 19
Felis onca hernandesii Mexico: Agua Brava, Sinaloa 25008
177.5 72 53.5 107.5 21.6 74.226.8 18.4
Felis onca veraecrucis Mexico: San Andres Tuxtla, Vera Cruz 67403b
279 247.4 180 72.3 50 111.723 77.528 21.3
Felis onca arizonensis Arizona: Cibecue 244507b
273 237.5 187 74.5 51 111.520 81 28 20.4
Adult females
Felis onca coxi Brazil: North of Rio Doce, Espiritu Santo 256388b
219.5 198.4 149.4 58.5 43 91 20 67.3 24.1 16.1
Felis onca milleri Brazil: Descalvados, Matto Grosso 26552b.'
267.8 238 175.4 70.3 51.5 110.9 23.9 77.527.8 20
Felis onca paraguensis Argentina: San Jos6, Entre Rios 4361
261 232.3 175.5 72.3 43.8 107.8 27.8 79 30.8 20.8
Felis onca boliviensis Bolivia: Buena Vista Santa Cruz 21378,
242.4 212 160 65.8 47 97.3 24.6 74.5 28.5 18.8
Felis onca major Venezuela: Caura Vailey 137039
239 214.3 163.3 65.5 47 101.4 24.1 71 27.7 18.1
Felis onca mexianae Brazil: Mexiana Island
160 25.8
Felis onca madeirae Brazil: Auari Igarap6, Rio Madeira 91702,,b
224 203 150.5 62 44.7 95.719.5 70.325.7 17.4
Felis onca centralis Salvador: Conchagua Volcano 8003
231.5207.7156.2 63.5 43.8 99 21.9 71.3125.9 17
Felis onca goldmani Campeche La Tuxpefla, Champoton 179171
204 187.8 143.8 55 38.8 85.5 20 64.924.4 16.7
Felis onca hernandesii Mexico: Near Colima, Colima 6480
218.8199.5154.8 62.6 44.8 93.1120.8 70125.8 18
Felis onca arizonensis Arizona: Greaterville 231961
217.5 192.4 155.3 64.6 44.3 96 21.3 68.825.1 16.4
Coll. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.
b Type.
Col . Field Mus. Nat. Nist.
d Coll. Mus. Comp. Zool.
NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS text fig., 1827). While in America Hamilton Smith, according to Griffith, "satis- fied himself there were two distinct varieties of the Jaguar, differing principally in dimensions." One of his two figures, drawn from an animal from Surinam, bears the legend "The Jaguar, Great var? F. onca L." The other (L.c., colored text fig. opposite p. 456) representing a smaller, paler animal from America, but without definite locality, is inscribed "The Jaguar. Small or common var. F. onca L." On the latter Fischer founded [Felis oncal minor. As the name major was clearly applied to Smith's figure of an animal from Surinam it may be ac- cepted as valid for the form inhabiting that country. The name minor of Fischer, however, without locality is unidentifiable. Specimens examined.-Total number, 12, as follows: BRAZIL: Frechal, Rio Surumu, 1;6 Serra da Lua (near B6a Vista), 3 (skulls only). 7 BRITISH GUIANA: Georgetown, 1 (skull only);7 Kartabo, 1.6 SURINAM: Without definite locality, 1 (skull only).S VENEZUELA: Caura Valley, 1; Maracaibo (market), 2 (1 skin only; 1 skull only) ;7 Maripa, 1 ;1 Rio Orinoco (mouth of Rio Ocamo), 1 (skull only).8 Felis onca mexianae Hagmann Mexiana Island Jaguar Felis onca var. mexianae Hagmann, Archiv. Rassen- und Gesellsch.-Biologie, vol. 5, p. 10, Jan.-Mar., 1908. Type in Strassburg Museum. Type locality.-Mexiana Island, estuary of Amazon River, Brazil. Distribution.-Known only from Mexiana Island. General characters.-Described as smaller than mainland animals from the vicinity of the Rio Tapajoz and southern Brazil. Skull measurements of largest adult male and female, respectively (from original description): Basilar length, 210 and 186 mm.; zygomatic breadth, 180 and 160; width across maxillae over ca- nines, 70 and 64; length of upper carnassial, 28 and 25.8. Remarks.-F. o. mexianae was based upon seven skulls from Mexiana Island. The measurements indicate a smaller animal than that of the adjacent mainland, but no specimens have been examined by us and the exact relationship to the other forms remains to be determined. As Mexiana is one of the outer islands in the estuary of the Amazon the occurrence of a small jaguar there suggests that the same or a similar form may inhabit other islands in the delta of the river. Felis onca madeirae, subsp. nov. Rio Madeira Jaguar Type.-From Auard Igarap6 (above Borba), Rio Madeira, Amazonas, Brazil, No. 91702, 9 adult, skin and skull, American Museum of Natural History; col- lected by Olalla brothers, March 15, 1930. Original number 1991. Distribution.-Valley of the Rio Madeira; limits of range unknown. 6 Coll. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. I Coll. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 8 Coll. Mus. Comp. Zool.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY General characters.-A small, rather rich cinnamon buff subspecies; black rings of rosettes heavily outlined in the type, and enclosing a few small black spots. Similar in general to onca, but decidedly smaller. Not very unlike coxi but larger, darker, and richer in general color, and cranial characters distinctive. Differing from major in smaller size and cranial details, especially in the rela- tively greater development of the lambdoid crest. Color.-Type: Ground color of upper parts in general near cinnamon buff, very slightly darker within the rosettes than in the interspaces; rosettes of medium size, heavily outlined, a few near mid-dorsal area irregular in form, completely closed, others consisting of nearly closed rings; three or four only containing each a single small black central spot; black spots on head, legs, and under parts of medium size. Skull.-Similar to that of onca but decidedly smaller, less arched in upper outline; frontal region flatter; interpterygoid fossa very narrow; dentition light. Much smaller than that of major, with relatively broader, more strongly pro- jecting lambdoid crest; interpterygoid fossa relatively narrower; dentition relatively lighter. Similar in general to that of coxi, but larger; interpterygoid fossa actually as well as relatively narrower; dentition much heavier. Measurements.-Type (tanned skin): Total length, 1610 mm.; tail, 465. Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-The present form is based on a single specimen from near the center of the great valley of the Amazon. While close relationship to neighboring forms is indicated the characters pointed out seem to warrant subspecific recognition. Felis onca centralis Mearns Central American Jaguar Felis centralis Mearns, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 14, p. 139, Aug. 9, 1901. Type No. 14177, [e] adult, skull only, U. S. National Museum, collected by W. M. Gabb. Felis onca centralis Goldman, Smiths., Misc. Coll., vol. 69, no. 5, p. 166, 1920. Type locality.-Talamanca, Costa Rica (probably near Sipurio, in the valley of the Rio Sicsola). Distribution.-Central America north to Salvador and along the Pacific coast probably to near the Isthmus of Tehuantepec; south to Guaduas, Cundinamarca, Colombia. General characters.-A rather small form. closely resembling hernandesii but apparently averaging slightly darker; ground color of upper parts cinnamon buff instead of light ochraceous buff, the prevailing tone in the latter; black rosette rings considerably broken; skull very similar to that of hernandesii, but nasals less depressed anteriorly, more highly arched as viewed from the front. Similar in color to major, but skull smaller with decidedly lighter dentition and more strongly developed lambdoid crest. Differing from goldmani mainly in decidedly larger size. Measurements.-No external measurements in the flesh available. Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-The close agreement of centralis and hernandesii in general charac- ters is rather remarkable, in view of their geographically widely separated ranges.
NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS Some specimens of both forms are practically indistinguishable but the combina- tion of slight characters pointed out is usually distinctive. Specimens examined.-Total number, 10, as follows: COLOMBIA: Guaduas, Cundinamarca, 1 (skull only). COSTA RICA: Pozo Azul, 1 (skull only); without definite locality, 1 (skull only). NICARAGUA: Province of Zelaya, 1 (skull only); San Rafael del Norte, 1., PANAMA: Atlantic side, 1 (skull only);" Boca de Cupe, 1;1 Rio Peluca, 1 (skull only);10 Tapalisa, 1.' SALVADOR: Conchagua Volcano, La Union, 1 (skull only). Felis onca goldmani Mearns Yucatan Peninsula Jaguar Felis hernandesii goldmani Mearns, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 14, p. 142, Aug. 9, 1901. Type No. 105930, skin only, U. S. National Museum, collected by E. A. Goldman, Jan. 5, 1901. Felis onca goldmani Goldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 45, p. 144, Sept. 9,1932. Type locality.-Yohaltun, Campeche, Mexico. Distribution.-The peninsula of Yucatan, south to northern Guatemala and probably British Honduras. General characters.-Size smallest of the jaguars. Black markings small, in keeping with diminutive body dimensions. Most closely resembling centralis, but smaller; ground color of upper parts about the same in cinnamon buffy tone, and rosettes similarly broken; skull smaller, less angular, the sagittal and lamb- doid crests less developed. Measurements.-No external measurements in the flesh available. Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-The diminutive size of this jaguar at once distinguishes it from all of the other subspecies. It presents a remarkable contrast with the large jaguar of Vera Cruz, described beyond, although there is only a short distance between the ranges of the two, and intergradation may confidently be assumed. Specimens examined.-Total number, 10, as follows: CAMPECHE: La Tuxpefia, Champoton, 3 (2 skulls only, 1 skin only); Yohaltun, 1 (type-skin only). GUATEMALA: Laguna El Sotz, Peten, 2 (skulls only); Lake Peten, 2 (skulls only); La Libertad, 1; Remote, Peten, 1 (skull only). Felis onca hemandesii (Gray) West Mexican Jaguar Leopardus hernandesii Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1857, p. 278, pl. 58. De- scribed from an individual in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London. Felis hernandesii Mearns, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 14, p. 141, Aug. 9, 1901. 9 Coll. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 10 Coll. Mus. Comp. Zool.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY Felis onca hernandesii Goldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 45, p. 144, Sept. 9, 1932. Type locality.-Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Distribution.-Western Mexico from Sinaloa south to the Isthmus of Tehuan- tepee. General characters.-A rather small subspecies, closely resembling centralis, but apparently averaging slightly paler, the ground color of upper parts variable but near light ochraceous buff, instead of cinnamon buff; black rings of rosettes usually rather small and considerably broken, the number of small enclosed spots varying to as many as nine; skull very similar to that of centralis, but nasals more depressed anteriorly, less highly arched as viewed from the front. Ap- proaching arizonensis in color and depressed condition of nasals, but smaller and the nasal character less extreme in development; interpterygoid fossa opening more widely, the lateral margins usually less strongly turned inward. Differing from goldmani in decidedly larger size, and in about the same cranial details as from centralis. Remarks.-The range of hernandesii is separated from that of the jaguar of eastern Mexico, described later, by the southward thrust of the central highlands that form an effective, wedge-shaped barrier broadly separating the two northern forms of the species. The extensively broken rings of the rosettes, described and depicted by Gray and varying widely in all forms, seem to be fairly constant as an average character. Specimens examined.-Total number, 16, as follows: COLIMA: Coast Range (below Colima City), 1 (skull only);11 Colima, 1 (skull only). GUERRERO: Acapulco, 1 (skull only), 3 (skins only); Papayo, 1. NAYARIT: San Blas, 1 (skull only). OAXACA: Chivela, 1 (skull only); Tehuantepec, 2 (skulls only). SINALOA: Agua Brava, 1;11 Escuinapa (about 40 miles south of type locality and regarded as typical), 4.11 Felis onca veraecrucis, subsp. nov. Northeastern Jaguar Type.-From San Andres Tuxtla, Vera Cruz, Mexico. No. 67403, d' adult, skull only, U. S. National Museum (Biological Survey collection), collected by Nelson and Goldman, April 24, 1894. Original number 6090. Distribution.-Gulf slope of eastern and southeastern Mexico from the coast region of Tabasco north through Vera Cruz and Tamaulipas to central Texas. General characters.-Size largest of the North American subspecies. Color about as in the other North American forms but rosettes rather large; skull differ- ing in size and combination of details. Color.-Female from Perez, Vera Cruz: Ground color of upper parts in general pale cinnamon buff, slightly darker within the black rings of the rosettes as usual in the species, and paling gradually to light ochraceous buff on cheeks, sides of neck, flanks, and outer surfaces of legs; black spots and crescentic black rings of 1 Coll. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.
NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS rosettes enclosing small black spots rather large and heavy; black spots irregularly confluent along median line on posterior part of back; under parts and inner sur- face of legs white, heavily spotted with black; outer sides of ears black with cinnamon buff central spots; tail with large irregular black markings, separated by narrow, light interspaces buffy on basal half above, becoming white toward ip and below. A specimen from between Aldama and Soto la Marina, Tamauli- pas, is similarly marked, but the ground color is slightly lighter in tone. One from Goldthwaite, Texas, is somewhat paler, the rosettes are larger, the black rings are more broken, and the posterior median dorsal spots are irregularly paired instead of confluent. Skull.-Somewhat larger and more elongated than that of F. o. arizonensis, an- terior nares much higher, the nasals more highly arched, less depressed anteriorly; interpterygoid fossa wider, the lateral margins less strongly turned inward; audital bullae usually larger; dentition similar but canines usually larger. Simi- lar to that of hernandesii but decidedly larger, more massive; anterior nares higher, the nasals more highly arched anteriorly; canines larger. Differing from those of goldmani and centralis mainly in much larger size, the contrast greatest with goldmani. Measurements.-An adult male and female, respectively, from between Aldama and Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas: Total length, 1,993, 1,574 mm.; tail vertebrae, 533, 432. Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-The northeastern jaguar is probably more closely allied to centralis than to any of the other subspecies. In view of the geographic nearness of the small form, goldmani, which inhabits the Yucatan Peninsula, the disparity in size is remarkable; but intergradation of the two may safely be assumed. Specimens examined.-Total number, 8, as follows: CHIAPAS: Palenque, 1 (skull only). TABASCO: Frontera, 1 (skull only)." TAMAULIPAS: Between Aldama and Soto la Marina, 2 (1 skull only).13 VERA CRUZ: Orizaba, 1 (skull only);4 Perez, 1; San Andres Tuxtla (type locality), 1 (skull only). TEXAS: Goldthwaite, Mills County, 1. Felis onca arizonensis Goldman Arizona Jaguar Felis onca arizonensis Goldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 45, p. 144, Sept. 9, 1932. Type No. 244507, d adult, skin and skull, U. S. National Museum (Biological Survey collection), collected by Jack Funk, April 12, 1924. Distribution.-Mountainous parts of eastern Arizona north to the Grand Canyon, southern half of western New Mexico, and northeastern Sonora. General characters.-A large northern subspecies, distinguished from all the other races by the flatter, more depressed nasals. Most closely allied to hernan- 12 Collection Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 13 Collection Carnegie Mus. 14 Collection Mus. Comp. Zool.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY desii, general colors and markings much the same, but size larger and cranial characters distinctive; skull more massive; rostrum broader; nasals much flatter, more depressed anteriorly; anterior nares wider but not as high; interpterygoid fossa opening narrower. Measurements.-Type (tanned skin): Total length, 2145; tail, 660; hind foot, 230. Skull (see table, p. 232). Remarks.-F. o. arizonensis reaches the extreme northern limit of the range of the species at the present time. Formerly it reached, according to the records, to southeastern California. While not very abundant it appears to be a regular resident of southeastern Arizona. Specimens examined.-Total number, 5, as follows: ARIZONA: Cibecue (type locality), 1; Greaterville, 2; Nogales (20 miles west), 1 (skull only). SONORA: West foothills of Sierra Madre, due west of Casas Grandes, Chi- huaha, 1 (skull only). INAPPLICABLE OR UNIDENTIFIABLE NAMES The nomenclature of the cats is much involved, many names being so vaguely used, or the accompanying descriptions being so inadequate that correct applica- tion is very uncertain if not impossible. The following list is believed to include the more important names requiring consideration in relation to the jaguar, but which for various reasons are not regarded as assignable to any particular form. No attempt is made to complete the synonymy which would be voluminous. A. NAMES PROPOSED BY NON-BINOMIAL AUTHORS 1756. Tigris americana Brisson, R~gne Anim., 1756, p. 270. Pre-Linnaean use of this name for the jaguar, based on the accounts of earlier authors. Habitat in America. 1756. Tigris nigra Brisson, R~gne Anim., 1756, p. 271. Applied to the black phase of the jaguar in Guiana and Brazil. 1762. Tigris americana Brisson, Regnum Anim., 1762, p. 196. Name repeated from his R~gne Animal, 1756, p. 270, for the jaguar. Habitat in America. 1762. Tigris nigra Brisson, Regnum Anim., 1762, p. 196. Name repeated from his R~gne Animal, 1756, p. 271 for the black phase of the jaguar in Guiana and Brazil. 1769. Tigris americana Fermin, Descrip. Grn., Hist., G6og. et Phys. Colon. de Surinam, vol. 2, p. 97, 1769. Vaguely used in referring to several kinds of spotted cats said to be widely distributed in America and found in Surinam. The jaguar probably was included in the general discussion, but binomial names are not consist- ently used by the author, and the name is regarded as unidentifiable. Fermin gives no references, but the name had been used by pre-Linnaean authors (Brisson, R~gue Anim., 1756, p. 270, and others) for the jaguar of Brazil and the general range of the animal. B. NAMES PROPOSED BY BINOMIAL AUTHORS 1775. Felis panthera Schreber, Die Sdug., pl. 99, 1775; text, theil 3, p. 384, 1777. The name F. panthera, is somewhat involved. In Schreber's work the name appears only on the plate as "Felis Panthera Buff" which is a repro-
NELSON AND GOLDMAN-REVISION OF JAGUARS duction of the "La Panth~re Femelle" of Buffon (Hist. Nat., vol. 9, pl. 12, 1761). Buffon's plate is of an individual that had been kept a long time in the menagerie of Versailles. Buffon, p. 151 (op. cit.) assigns the animal to the Old World, but the drawing, showing enclosed spots in a number of the rosettes, suggests a jaguar. The tail, however, is too long and like that of a leopard. In describing the markings on the sides of the body Buffon says there is a small black spot in the center of the "pluspart de ces an- neaux." While enclosed spots are much more characteristic in the jaguar they are sometimes present in a few of the rosettes on the leopard. The measurements of Buffon's "panth~re femelle" indicate a proportional length of tail about as in the jaguar. Buffon evidently was not familiar with the jaguar and his illustration of the animal (plate 18, op. cit.) almost certainly represents an ocelot, as shown by the nuchal stripes, body mark- ings and general proportions, including length of tail. His "Jaguar de la Nouvelle Espagne," described 15 years later (Hist. Nat., Suppl., vol. 3, p. 218, pl. 39, 1776), appears also to have been an ocelot. Felis panthera Schreber was, therefore, based upon a confused concept. The bulk of the somewhat conflicting evidence seems to favor reference of the name to the general synonymy of Felis onca rather than to that of F. pardus of the Old World. 1777. Felis nigra Erxleben, Syst. Regni Anim., 1777, p. 512. Based upon Tigris nigra Brisson (R~gne Anim., 1756, p. 271) and the black jaguar of other authors. Habitat given as Brazil and Guiana. Evi- dently refers to the black or melanistic phase of the jaguar, although Erxleben remarked that he was inclined to believe it represented a dark variety of Felis concolor. 1777. Felis discolor Schreber, Die Sdug., theil 3, p. 393, pl. 104 B, 1777. The name appears only on the plate. The text refers to the "black Tiger" of Pennant (Syn. Quad., 1771, p. 180, pl. 18, fig. 2). Comparison of Schreber's plate with that of Pennant shows that the former was redrawn from the latter. Pennant assigned the animal to a habitat in Brazil and Guiana. This is one of the names used for the black phase of the jaguar, without definite locality. 1795. Felis jaguar Link, Beytriige Zur Naturgesch., Zweytes stuck, p. 90, 1795. A renaming of Felis onca. Felis jaguar was used by Temminck (Monog. Mamm., vol. 1, 1827, pp. 136, 256) as a common appellation in French for Felis onca, and was listed by Elliot (Monog. Felidae, 1883, p. unnumbered) in the synonymy of the species. 1816. P[anthera] americana Oken, Lehrb. der Naturgesch., theil 3, abt. 2, 1816, pp. 1054, 1061. The jaguar is here involved in the use of the name but the description and references are very loosely drawn. The name is antedated by Tigris americana Brisson, 1762, and preoccupied by Tigris americana Fermin, 1769. 1816. P[anthera] mexicana Oken, Lehrb. der Naturgesch., theil 3, abt. 2, 1816, p. 1054. Under this name Oken listed the "Tlaco-Ozelotl, Tlal-Ocelotl, Catus- Pardus mexicanus, Panthera americana" and "F. pardalis." Apparently associated with the last mentioned he says "Die alten Konige von Mexico
240 JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY hatten dieses Thier um den Thron liegen." The next paragraph under the same heading, however, begins with "Jaguar (ist Tlaco-Ocelotl)." Aside from this confused application the name is preoccupied by Felis mexicana Desmarest (Nouv. Dict., vol. 6, p. 112, 1816 edition [original date of publication about Feb. 4, 1803-see Osgood, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 27, p. 3, Feb. 2, 1914]) which was based upon the "Chat Sauvage de la Nouvelle Espagne" of Buffon (Hist. Nat., Suppl., vol. 3, p. 227, pl. 43, 1776). Buffon himself (I.c. p. 228) regarded this as the same as the Serval, described and figured in his earlier work (Hist. Nat., vol. 13, p. 236, pl. 34, 1765). 1830. [Felis onca] minor Fischer, Syn. Mamm., Addenda, 1830, p. 366 (= p. 566). Based on "The Jaguar. Small or common var. F. onca, L." of Hamilton Smith (Griffith, in Cuvier's Anim. King., vol. 2, p. 456 and colored text fig., 1827). No locality was given and the name is unidentifiable (See remarks under Felis onca major, p. 233). 1841. Felis onca nigra Wagner, in Schreber's S~iug., Suppl., band 2, abth., 2, 1841, p. 475. Reference under Felis onca to Felis nigra Erxleben. 1869. Panthera onca minor Fitzinger, Sitzungsber. Math.-Naturwissensch. Cl. Kais. Akad. Wissensch., band 59, abth. 2, p. 216, 1869. Obviously equal to Felis onca minor Fischer (1830) to which reference is made by Fitzinger. The name is here ascribed to the animal of Mexico and the southern part of the United States, but is inapplicable as it was based upon an unidentifiable form. 1869. Panthera onca alba Fitzinger, Sitzungsber. Math.-Naturwissensch. Cl. Kais. Akad. Wissensch., band 59, abth. 2, p. 218, 1869. Applied to an apparently albinistic color phase of the jaguar in Paraguay and in "Peru oder in Venezuela." Preoccupied by Felis alba Fischer (Syn. Mamm., Addenda, 1830, p. 366 [= 566]), based on the "white Tiger" of Griffith (Cuvier's Anim. King., vol. 2, p. 444 and text fig., 1827). 1869. Felis onca poliopardus Fitzinger, Sitzungsber. Math.-Naturwissensch, Cl. Kais. Akad. Wissensch., band 59, abth. 2, p. 220, 1869. Name first proposed as Felis poliopardus Fitzinger (op. cit. band 17, pp. 295-297, 1 pl., 1855). Regarded by Fitzinger as a hybrid between Felis onca of Brazil and Felis pardus of west Africa. 1872. Felis jaguarete Liais and Felis jaguapara Liais, Clim. G6ol., Faune du Br6sil, 1872, p. 451. In protest against the use of the name onga, introduced in Brazil by the Portuguese colonists, for an American animal, Liais proposed that Felis onca be transferred to the Asiatic species bearing the name Felis uncia which he ridiculed. Accepting the belief of some authors in the existence of two distinct species and having thus disposed of F. onca he proceeded to name the "grand jaguar" Felis jaguaret6 and the "petit" Felis jaguapara. By inference both of these are from Brazil, but without definite localities and are therefore unidentifiable. 1872. Felis jaguatyrica Liais, Clim. Gbol. Faune du Brbsil, 1872, p. 459. Name proposed for a form of the black jaguar of Brazil. U. S. Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.
GAME DoartJLd Atclope On The JornadA Rlht' RoserVe: Director Campbell esti- mates th(a thb "c- 'are, apprroximatleil .7O de- -and 150 antelope on, the Re- serve. The total acreage of the Reserve&,s l92;,)O0 'acres. 'Pooer For, Chiribahuas: Bids arib being," ot.. n ..utlb' tVi. CorQneda_,Fdoiest for trepLig tUelve beavers 6td traebiplainting them in some of the streams on tho Chiri~ahuaso ThIs0 ifn thee ,F'sh tram Improvement program under Nira' sorn to be underotxtkn.*' - . Pl&fht; Three Million Trout I'Year:- By tha end of the currenf fisal year the state game d, partment will have planted about 3,000,00,'fish iA the va- rious'streams and lakes of the state, State Gee Warden Elliott Barker re- ,ports. DuY'to the WarM wi'tter, plantilig has bbniijg n:almoatgontinu- ously The sttte has bout 400,000 native trout in the Pbrkview hatchery rody for*n-Dlenting, They ra'ngo,from Ithree to five inches long. * Large Xaguao Cunuht: Rmnger'Wingo of the Coronado reports thot oh'March 31, I5 -the govermont~hunbr Frank Colcord,"in the Tumaeacori Rogib succeeded in 't&ipping a large malejaguar nearthe head of Pcna';Blanca Canyon. Colcord t6ok the animal about fifteen miles'west of Nogealb on the Mexidcn 5order after a nine hour ride. This ia the largest of the' American cat family and sometimes weighs as much as 300 pounds. In coloring he is the most gorgeous of "the 'Am 5ricnm catS, ...ts. " ..'"- Throe Wildcats Get Deer For Needy: Thli 'wildcats went witlout their'din- n r i ecently, but Prescott's needy fo Sted on venison. The ,cats,,stdlking the-forest in the Walnut Creek 6txntry, :surpised a generl' lnd,'cf fide -sMirV'y party at lunch by pouncing ujon a yearling deer withi.n sight' of the damp,; The surveyorsI 14st no itime. Before the cats had tfstd th6ir ieal ,hdlmn resNi6d the rize ahd turned ove' a ,dressed animal t' Ranger loss 'T, Feears who' n turi turned over a week s su.Jply of venisconW tdthe Salva- tficor.xiny.. A .Ar flefuge: 'AA- mnoting of th 6 Flc.gsteff Game Protective Association, Forest Suervisor E. G. Miller of the Coconino, recorniended to the associa- t'en, the astablisment of a bea r efuge t.,b6 located at tho head of:eFos- silCreek, 60 miles south of Flas4 taff', the refuges to be for a five year peri6d. The ,roposed refuge 3 -in rough country where very' fw livestock graze. It .s estimtted th'at not over one beac, in ten becomes a stock, kil- ler ' If the bear refuge i's es.tablishad'by the krizona State Gome .Commission it would be the fiirst in the statx =nd als6 in the southwest. - Hoe-To Cap.ture Bighorn He3rd-Fc This.Lrea Shortly; State, gamev'department _hiinters have nct yet tra- y !exiCa bighurn sheep for tranoplanting to:'the Sandia 1ountains, but hope to before8 long, State Warden Elliott Barker said recently. The sheep ate frequenting the area where a trap has been, eiYstruc'ted in the- Big Hatchet Mountains of Hi'dalgo County and some , al- likely to.bto 'eaught4 bdfcre many weks, Mr. Barker believes. The sheep probably will be released on -the northwestern slope of the .Sadias above the te of the Juan, Tabb-CCCCamp, he said. This is' in the area where a new winter playground is being developed by the CCC. *1
Lion Bear From mimeographed news letter put out from Regional Forester's office, Albuquerque, New Mexico. f/34 Mountain Lion Goes in for Bear Diet: It may be the depression, but mountain lions have started eating bear meat. So reports Fred Winn, Su pervisor of the Coronado Forest. Yesterday, upon returning from a trip in the Chiricahua Mountains, Winn reported that an eight foot mountain lion, killed by the Lee Brothers of Paradise, government hunters, had yielded a foot from a bear cub. The contents of the big cat's stomach were examined, Winn said, and there mas the foot. The hanters and others in the connunity reported that it was an unheard-of thing for a lion to attack a bear or a bear cub.
File: Coyote Mt. Lionv' Predation From General Notes, Jour. ualogy, Vol. 16, No. 3, JAtust, 1935, P. 229 .oMM and Con'j My friend. 1yeart Rues, hose ranch is on Canyon Creek, Middle Fork of the Gila River, New Mexico, writes me about an experience of his father in December while on his trap line. I will tell the story in Pyeart'3 words: "My Dad had a strange experience with a lion last month. He was out on Canyon Creek Mountain setting some traps when he came right on to a lion and a kitten. and was within a few feet of them before either saw the other. The lion made awas at once and Jumped into the thick brmsh, pre- venting a shot. The lion had killed a deer and on looking it over Dad found a dea coyote a few feet from the kill. The ground was soft from a rain of the previous dav awl the tracks eaq to trae. On looking closely he saw where the coyote had come up to the kill, and there it was that the lion made for the coyote and caxght it in a couple of bounds. 7h. coyote's head was badly crashed and showed where the tuaks had gone through the skull into the brain, killing the beast at once. Dad sot some traps at the deer carcass but the lion did not return. He skinned the coyote." Evidently these predators were not on such friendly terms as it is supposed they sometimes are.-Charles A. Gianini, Poland, Now York.
Puma Gestation Period - 3 and one-third months (C. Emerson Brown, Jour. Mammal., 1936)
Jaguar Geetation period - 3 and one-third months (C. Emerson Brown, Jour. Mammalogy, 1936)
Nature Magazine The Real Cougar By W. B. CONGE] NE REASON, among I several, that the cougar is feared by the uninformed is that it is misnamed a lion. The real lion is a cat. The cougar is a cat, but the cougar is not a lion. Another reason is its size. A third cause is the effect of the yarns of those who desire to give the im- pression that this creature is a four-footed fury, and thereby enhance their own reputations as hunters. Finally, there is the mis- representation of this ani- mal to the public by organ- izations that profit by its destruction. Of the large animals of this country, the cougar is undoubtedly the most ma- ligned. Those who have ,studied it tell us it is natur- ally of a mild and playful disposition when not goad- ed by hunger, fear or dan- ger to its young. They tell us, too, that the cougar is al- ways at heart a kitten, and that, with the exception of some monkeys, it is one of the most playful animals in the world. Grown cougars placed in captivity pine and die, but the young make affectionate and playful pets, purring with pleasure at the approach of a human be- ing, stranger or friend, and begging to be caressed. Those who have raised them as pets testify to this mildness of disposition, affection, and lack of temper. In the early history of this country, when cougars were plentiful, children went to school through fields and forests unharmed and unalarmed. Those who have come in contact with this animal in its natural home, minus the desire to shed its blood, have found it not ferocious but friendly. Through all the centuries the cougar was untroubled by the North American Indian. It had no fear of squaw or brave; it harmed no papoose, nor did the I r r.(.,AAL _M& isinformation and manyj false tales Indian, in turn, have any dread of it. The Gauchos of the Pampas called it "Amigo del cristiano" man's friend. It has always lived in peace. It does not naturally run from mem- bers of the human race, but learns to do so when con- tinuously persecuted. It has learned it has no chance against the man armed with a high-powered gun, who can shoot from a safe distance. It hates and dreads the yap of the small dog, or the uncanny wail of the hound, the fore- runner of its doom, the heralds of a band of armed men. No protection has ever been given the cougar, although its young remain more or less helpless for from six months to a year. It is not a prolific animal, and the years of none of 0k the members of the feline tribe are many, so its survival is none too certain. A hunter, thrown from his horse early in a hunt, had his leg broken. As he lay helpless he saw a cougar mov- ing about, in fact, the animal sat down near him, yet showed signs of restlessness, going and returning as if he feared the approach of an enemy. This man appears to have been unafraid of the cougar, although he felt some concern when he heard the roar of a jaguar, and became aware that the two great cats were fighting. The fight was renewed from time to time during the night; in the morning both animals had disappeared. On occa- sion another hunter who had a cherished reputation be- came, through a misadventure during a hunt, the butt of his friends' jests. Chagrined, he went in search of something to kill. He tried to knife a cougar sitting quiet- ly by the wayside. The animal avoided him by a quick movement, gave his assailant one tap with his paw, then FOR OCTOBER, 1938 ca's great wild cat been the victim of
looking for a few sec- onds at his discomfited enemy, trotted quietly away. It appears that the cougar does not attack a fallen man, a chivalry never shown him in his extremity. No form of life was placed here to be snuff- ed out through indiffer- ence, or because of any whim or form of vanity, whether masculine or feminine, or from greed. The cougar's natural and legitimate food is the flesh of the large and wild mammals, but it cats also many small creatures, even down to frogs and grasshoppers. As a pet it will eat any- thing offered it. Its fav- orite prey is some form of the deer tribe, in fact the original continental A COUGAR SURVEYS THE SCENE ranges of cougar and Because of its size n dangerous deer were practically the same. But the beauty so apparent to the conserva- tionist-to-kill in the closed season becomes dull to his eyes during the open, and the cougar's natural food is be- grudged him. When the animal's natural food supply has been thinned out by that unlovely trilogy-gunners, trappers and poisoners-it may attack unprotected cattle, sheep and colts, and thereby come into collision with the bank account. The cougar is a good sportsman, killing only what he needs, usually hunting alone or with his mate, returning to his cache for a second, sometimes for a third visit. What remains falls to the smaller carnivores of the woods. Of course, there are rogue cougars, just as there are rogue coyotes, rogue elephants, rogue sports- men and rogue politicians. The rogue of any species en- joys only slaughter and persecution of the weaker, wast- ing large numbers by unbridled callousness and deliber- ately destroying what he cannot replace. There are less than a dozen authentic accounts of at- tacks on human beings by our great cat, and of these sev- eral cannot be truthfully termed attacks. These few in- stances occurred in the West, from British Columbia to California. In one instance, termed an "attack," two young cougars asleep near a log in Idaho were seized by a cubnapper. Abruptly awakened, they cried aloud. Both parents came hurrying to the rescue. In the ensuing fight, the thief, although assisted by a companion, was badly hurt, and both parents of the kittens were killed. The pair of cougar youngsters thus captured probably spent the re- mainder of their unfortunate lives in captivity in a zoo. The following in- stance, which occurred in 1933, illustrates the friendly instinct of this quadruped: "Lydia Ann Atkins, then about eight years old, had been sent to drive up the cows. Lydia was accompanied and assisted by a big yellow dog. The cattle were not unduly frightened, and if a cow loitered, the 'big dog' trotted out toward her and she join- ed the herd in a hurry. 'Panther,' shouted Father Atkins. 'Run.' The panther stopped and sat down on his haunches, looking at them benevolently. He turned and walked slow- ly away." According to Lydia BELOW Ann this was not the any regard the cougar as a most first time the "big dog" animal, which" its record disproves had assisted her in driv- ing up the stock, always stopping when he came to the bars. In January, 1936, a cougar, somewhat out of his home boundaries, had full opportunity to kill a policeman on his beat in the suburb of a western city, but true to his friendly nature, the wild animal did not harm the guard- ian of the peace. The last known instance occurred in September of the same year. A California deer hunter in camp states that his slumbers were disturbed throughout the night, the first time by something blowing in his face. "I br~ished that off. Then something nudged me as if trying to share my blankets. I cuffed that off." In the morning he saw his tent floor decorated with paw prints "as big as hams." This man resigned his new position in the Forest Service as he said he could find gentler playmates than moun- tain lions. We wonder if he could. It would be interesting to know the percentage of domestic stock killed each year by the cougar; from freezing; from starvation. It would be interesting to know why American ingenuity, which has heretofore not ac- knowledged defeat, has fallen flat in the protection of domestic animals. It seems proper to suggest that the stock owner be not allowed to overbuy; that he should pay for the protec- tion and provision of his own livestock and not expect the United States Government to do it for him; that he should not be allowed the "privilege" of using poison or traps; that no animal should be killed unless it is ac- tually attacking livestock, and, thus, a known offender. NATURE MAGAZINE 'n
May, 1940 AMERICAN FORESTS Cougar vs. Elk BY WALTER C. THORNTON THAT cougars sometimes prey on elk is a matter of common knowledge. Accord- ing to popular conception, the killing of herbivorous animals by carnivores occurs without retaliation. Nature did not entire- ly overlook the herbivores, however, in regard to matters of defense against their natural enemies. The flailing front hoofs of elk and other members of the deer fam- ily are dangerous weapons of defense. I have made two observations on the range of the Roosevelt elk on the Olympic Na- tional Forest, in Washington, during the past ten years, which indicate that under some conditions the elk can effectively pro- tect itself and its young against the cou- gar. The first observation was made on a ridge between Tunnel Creek and the Dose- wallips River in July, 1929. I was then en route to a nearby fire camp. While passing through a small opening in the timber, I was attracted by the torn-up condition of the ground which appeared to be the result of a brief elk fight. This did not seem reasonable, however, as it was not the elk rutting season. Then, enter- ing a thicket at the far edge of the open- ing, I came upon the carcass of a cougar. A cursory examination disclosed that it was a young animal, perhaps two years old, and that apparently it had been in good health up to the time of its death. Its carcass and teeth were in good condi- tion, and the pelt was perfect. The cougar looked as if it had been dead about three days. I first thought that someone must have wounded the animal and it had trav- eled to that point, crawled into the thick- et, and died. However, I abandoned that idea when I failed to find a bullet wound. Time did not permit further examina- tion of the carcass, but two days later I returned to the scene to satisfy my curios- ity. On this occasion I dragged the car- cass out into a small opening and in the bright sunlight made a very careful ex- amination. No evidence of violence was found other than what had the outward appearance of being a slight bruise on the head just over the eye, and slightly towards the center of the forehead. I scalped the cougar and found he had suf- fered a fractured skull. The wound had the appearance of having been made with a sharp semi-hard instrument. The area adjacent to the point where I found the dead cougar was at that season frequented by elk cows and calves. Their tracks were numerous. The second observation was made in August, 1931, at a point just south of the forks of the Bogachiel River. At the time I was cruising timber with Jim Carson, now a Union Oil Company salesman of Portland, Oregon. Carson was running compass for me and was the first to see the carcass of a cougar lying twenty feet from the heavily used elk trail which fol- lows the south bank of the river at this point. This cougar had the appearance of having been beaten to death with a club. The area surrounding the cougar's car- cass was well cut up with tracks of adult elk and calves. We figured the cougar had been dead about three weeks and that the elk tracks were about that old. We were unable to find definite evidence of a struggle of any kind. I passed the point wltere the cougar's carcass was lying on several consecutive days and on each day made further search for the scene of a struggle, but could find nothing which gave conclusive proof of the cause of the cougar's death. Finally my curiosity overcame my dislike for han- dling such an odiferous subject, and I dragged the cougar's carcass out on the gravel bar and made a quick examination. Apparently no bones were broken, and I could see no evidence of any injury seri- ous enough to have caused death. I no- ticed what appeared to be a head injury so I removed the cougar's scalp and found a badly fractured skull. The fracture was just above the cougar's eye and had the appearance of having been made with an instrument similar to that which caused the death of the first cougar observed. The finding of two cougar carcasses, both of which had received fractured skulls in an area frequented by cow elk and calves, leads me to believe the cou- gars' deaths resulted from an encounter with the elk. I have seen cow elk go after dogs in defense of their calves. They are lightning fast with their front feet and strike a terrific blow. I do not know that elk ever kill cougars, but after watching them use their front feet in battle I be- lieve such an incident entirely probable. It is reasonable to assume that a well directed blow would cause a skull fracture in the relatively fragile skull of a cougar. Increased relative humidity after sunset re- tards fire spread and favors control opera- tions. Employ these advantages by equipping each man with a FORESTER Headlamp and mop up fires at night. Western Fire Equipment Co. Motnufacturers and Distrbutorsr FOREST FIRE EQUIPMENT 69 Main St. San Francisco, Calif. Wildlife Stamps BEAUTIFUL, NEW, 1% x 2 inch four-color Wildlife Stamps, each picturing a wild American animal, 25c per 100, POSTPAID. Regular price, $1.00 per 100. Approval. NATA, Charleston, W. Va. Please Mention AMERICAN FORESTS When Writing Advertisers FIGHT FIRES AT NIGHT "FORESTER" Twin-Circuit Electric Headlamp Complies with U. S. Forest Service Spec. MSF-178 Price--$3.00 each 00 Forged Steel Swivels Single and Double-Bit Axes-all patterns and weights. Buy from your dealer, but if he cannot supply you, write us. r * wIlr1'qT A U7W A t31jsIw ISA1 ~T? 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File Cougar folder (January A 1942) Roy Komarek tells me that the cougars in southern Florida prey heavily on feral hogs and on raccoons. This may enable them to persist despite the elimination of deer for tick control.
IN REPLY REFER TO
UNITED STATES
/DEPARTMENT OF THE INT
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
201 New Post Office Bldg.
Phoenix, Arizona
August 8, 1942
Dr. Charles T. Vorhies, Library
University of Arizona, Department of Wild"'f,
Managemenf
Tucson Aizona. University of Wisconsin
Dear Dr. Vorhies:
About two years ago we purchased a few scales to be used by
some of our personnel engaged in predatory animal control so that
acocrate weights on mountain lions could be secured. Prior to that
time some of our fieldmen who had been engaged in mountain lion control
for as long as 20 or 25 years felt sure that the average big torn
mountain lion weighed from 150 to as much as 200 or 220 lbs.
Frank Colcord, formerly employed by this Service, was of
this impression, and was instructed several years ago to weigh some
of the lions he was taking. He caught a very large tom lion near
Lakeside, Arizona, weighed the animal and found it weighed 120 lbs.
instead of 175 lbs. he had estimated that it would weigh. A few months
later he took an unusually large ton lion in the Rimoon mountains, out
of Tucson, Arizona. Since this specimen was to be sent to the National
Museum in Washington, he skinned the lion, out away the flank meat, and
took out everything except the bare carcass. The carcass was placed in
cold storage in Tucson, but was brought to Phoenix ten days later. We
expressed ourselves to Frank, believing this was the largest mountain
lion we had ever seen, and we weighed the carcass without the skin or
without the Clank meat or viscera, and it weighed 136 lbs.
You will find enclosed herewith weights and measurements on
23 mountain lions. A few of the weights are estimated, and where this
is the case, we have so indicated. On occasions where the lions were
actually weighed, following the weight, we have inserted the word
"actual". Of the 23 mountain lions weighed of both sexes it
be
noted that the hind foot measument is fairly uniform for the sexes. It
appears that-the average measurement of the hind foot for adult females
is lOins, and no female lion taken to date has weighed more than 78 lbs.
The average weight is around 72 to 74 lbs. for females. The largest adult
male lion taken and actually weighed, weighed 143 lbs. It is readily
determined that this was an unusually large lion as the hind foot measured
111 ins, while measurements for all the adult male lions taken probably
average 11 ins. for the hind foot. There is considerable variation in
the measurements of lions tails. We do not know whether this variation
actually occurs or whether errors were made in taking the tail measurement.
Pa ge--& George Carpenter indicated that the tail measurement of a female mountain lion taken in the Baboquivari Mountains was 4,s.,- while Giles Goswick indicates that on one occasion the tail of a fully adult male lion measured 35 ins. The hind foot measurements of the sexes are fairly uniform, and we thought that perhaps that you would be interested in such information as we have been able to obtain to date. Very truly yours, E. M. Mercer, District Agent, Division of Predator and Rodent Control EWI/c
Speie XMutains Limn Date Takeas Au-eut 10, 1940 Norh o et he ;rand ext Male dibab Hati.e.. Forest son^ W~i~t; 0 lb., (aeta4) Lenet*t 76 inches Tails 28 inche Fstimte Ages 2 years Col1~tor -w. I- Blanchard Spcis Montain Lion Date Tak~a Agut 13, 1941 Lottn Ktib~b Nationl Foret, LEAst Rim, Snt of V. Tf. Park. Ariz. Length% 67 iuek.# Tail 27 inces Shouldort 27 Inche (Helgkt) 3e1tiated Ages Less tha 2 year, Co1lectori CM.a S. Blanchard Speces Hint~in Lion Date Taken. Auut 28,, 1941 Locationt Oak Canyon Wst side af' Kaibab Natima1 Forest,, near Ryan, Arisem.a
Szuht 78 b1Atul Eindfoot 10 inch** Shoulders 27 Inchon (Height) BEstmt. Ages two or thre year# 0.leootws Chas, So Blaoh.ar4 Dte Takms Wove So 1941 Looattamt 3 miles North of uge XUe&, We~st side of Bl~oody Bas1x Y.awspai Couny, Mxixwi. Sext ?emle Wights 70 lbs. (Actu~al) Longths 73 inchesR maila 25 ina*.. Shoulders 24 inche (Height) tZtimatod Ages 3 ye fc'l2*aorws Giles Goswiok Dates P.bruary 17, 1942 Looa.ttus Granite Bain, Jwrthw.t of Skull Valley in Ya~apai County, Arizona Sex Mle
JA~tht 59 inchs T~al 24 Inches Shouldert 22 inaho (Hel1,ht) IEtimated tr-e 6 months Collectrs Gis Guwt*k (Wight and mrareauts by Buehler) Date 'Uken February 20, 142 Sex, Fwmi weithtl 'T0 lbs. (Motisl) Shouldersa 25 inches Natimit.4 Ages Very old, 10 yers Co.11.twu: Giles Gosvek, weight mad measrmesu take by MitmJH Buehler Jr, SpooIss Mounta ~iamn Date ?akms Febray 24, 1942. Loatiom 1-rmte Basin, Northwt of Skull Valiey, Yavapai County, Arisa. SeS ?ela0 boights 76 lb.. (Akiuaa1) 1ArW~b 72 Inches Tails 27T inches
Shoulders 23 Inohes (Heigh) Fs1timt4 As% 2 to 3 yoare. Had neve rai sed young* Collectors 011,, Dswtak, (Woigbt and asuoub by Buehle.r*) Looatien Granite Basin, Northwst of~ Skull Valley, Yavapal ounty. Berizona. 'Wghti 103 ibe. (Aetual) Lengths 78 tehos Shoulers 27 iuehb (Hight~) Etimatd Age 5 $ sr Cllectors Giles 3ewik Vtel-h and ra~e eto by Bueler, Sp..*., Mouat$a Lion Date Takew Uarch 5, 1941 Locations Bloody Basi, Ywapai County Arisona, SOXI Wie Weightt 81 lbso (Ratimated) Lowgth 60 iuneo Tail 12 inob* HinkMto 8 Inch#* Shouers 21 hee (11ght) Estimted K-e; I year -40.
4.- Q.U.@otorts vwrtt 40 West Species Moutai Lio Lengths 74 Indhes Ta.ils 29 inches Shoiuers 30 inches fB.1rht) Estimted Ages 4 yoqrs Spoeel. Moutain Lion Date ?akeui Whae 21, 194* Location S mt Cree, Pete Bartw. Xwii,, 25 miles Norheat of Wieki.up, Arisa, H)havv Gowty, Arizona* Sox 711610 Tals 29 nce shoulder 27 inches Istimto Ages 3 or 4 yews Coloaet Niton H, euhlr Jr#
Date, Tan March 26, 1942 Lcations. Blooy Basin Yaapai Guty, Aloio~ Legh 80e Inhs Toll,s 27 noet 0 W Hip.a4. 11jat i14em Estimted 136s l. years Collsotrs Eveet 0.~ Weth) Species. Honage Lion~ "to Takens Marih 26, 1942 Locations.Rid Mounai . near hpWoo, *5 maile Cout,t eioa Wieemp ia.%Kw .*mo
Lencta 78 inhe ?Tal1. 29 inches ' stlma A-et 4 to 5 years Coleatws Richard Brook in trap set by Milton H1. Buhler Jr. Spcies Minmtia Lion Date Taess April 20, 1942 Locations Hore Muntain In Bradslaw Mountains, Yaiapai C~outy, Aria* bight; 115 The. (ietimatod) Lengths 74 inake Tailt 27 inohee Leiao Age: 4 ye 5j-.i*e Mutain Lion Date !akent Nay4, 1942 Locations Pin Uoti, Southeast of Mayor, krizona, Yawapai County, ArI oa Wigbhtu 61 lbe. (Actual) LWnght 73 Inces 440
-800 Tals 28 ce Shozulde 28 inchies (Height) 7Rstte Ag ,e Syears Spcioi Mountain Lion Date Takont WAy 20, 1942 Arizona Tals 28 inch** &stimate4 Ages 2 years (Toi lion) Collecors Gila* GwIok Sp.ees Mountai Lion Dlate fbm~i Nay Z2, 1942 Aeixht 69 . (ctal Lthse 72 Inces. Tals 27 inche~s HiInf..*, 8 inche Shulder: 26 inches (Height)
4*0 3stimato Area 2 years (Young Lion) Co.U..tgrs Giles a3oxviok spoies Muntain Lim Dte Taken May 10, 1942 L~tn Cabin Draw, 30 mie S.out~hwst of ffinslow, Arizona, Cooonino Wights 140 lbs. (Est4vat.4) Very large lio.um Lengths 84 Ice Ta~i 30 i1xhos Shouldert 27j lices Estimate Area 4 year Colletors Evertt C. Net p*le: Mut1i Lion Dae Tan June 14, 1942 L~ations East Clear Gr*o, 10 mitles Northwst t v'h.wlo Butte in $.XI ?azle Weights 73 lbs. (Aoual) Lenigths 78 $.aob*e Tails 29 ia.hos Wido.4. 1* inahe Shoulder 24j s**.e (Height) Estated Ages 2 year* 011.*wior Sverott C, Wet
*10. Spcd.. ounbti Lion Date Mak Jtuly 9, 1942 Loations* gabin Draw, S0 miles. Southwt oft Wnslow* Arzona in C;oostno County. BSx FOM*l Aott 7S lbso (Actual) Tai 1Inh* Estimated Ages 2 years Collector% Evertt Us Wst Speeies Munain Lion Date Takent July 10, 1942 Loain Fast Gloer Crook, 10 miles Northwes t Ghv.a Butte, iz* Box$ Vale, Weights 143 lbs, (Actual) Tails 34 inch** 11indfts 111 inces W3timat.4 Ages 5 ycars Spies patain Lon Date Takes Jue 19, 1942
W~*iws 74 lb . (Actua ) 3Letiate4 Ag.s 4 yor Co.loetars fGerg, Gapentw
Wisconsin Conser-v itio- Department Madison 2, Wisconsin All Papers Madison, Wis.---Somewhere in northwestern Wisconsin near the junction of St. Croix, Dunn, Polk and Barron counties there may be one or more cougar or "mountain lions" feeging on deer and the remains of butchered animals, the conservation department said today. At least six people from the towns of Clear Lake, Bowning and Prairie Farm have reported seeing such animals recently. Norman H. Johnson, Clear Lake, says that he observed such an animal cross a road 100 feet aead )f him in the town of New Haven, Dunn county, on June 4. More recently, a farmer, William Krug, Downing, reoorted he saw two such animals feeding on the remains of butchered cattle 'n his pasture. The animal is de- scribed as being about five feet long, not counting a long tail, and weighing from 125 to 150 pounds. There are no authentic records of the cougar or mountain lion in Wisconsin since before 1880, but there have been reports from 1909 and eve-i more recently which never have been proved. PHF 12-19-46
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK
FREDERICTON. N.S.
DEPARTMENT OF UIOLOGY
April 17, 1947
Professor Aldo Leopold
Department of Wildlife Management
424 University Farm Place
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
U. So A.
Dear Froressor: /
Thank you for your letter of April h, and
your confirmation of my identification of the t racks. I
have not yet heard from Gus Swanson or Stanley Young, but
I consider their concurranoe a foregone conclusion now.
However it will be interesting to see what they have to
say, as they do not know the background of this study as
you do and will probably think I have just found this by
accident.
The thesis illustrations are about ready to
go on to you, and you should have them next week.
With best wishes,
Sincerely,
Bruce S. Wright
BSW/JGW
F0Ri ST E314MTES THE P ORCUPIRE ,alter J. Perry The accompanying illustrations are from photographs taken on the Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico. This animal is quite common in the forests of New Mexico from the Pinon stands of the lower country up through the Yellow Pine belt and into the Alpine type at 10,000 feet elevation and above, and the damage to growing timber from this source is, in the aggregate, very great. None of our conifers are safe from his attacks for he is a gross feeder and has little if any choice of species, and though the pines and firs suffer probably the heaviest damage he will, on occasion, even strip the bark from oak saplings. The chief damage by the porcupine consists in his eating the bark from the branches and upper stem of the tree, though some defoliation is also to be charged to him. When this gnawing occurs on large trees which have already attained their height growth the damage is not usually great, the work being usually confined to the branches, but when, as is more frequently the case, he chooses saplings on account of 1heir more tender bark, he is very destructive. In this case he frequently removes enough bark to effectually girdle the young tree somewhere on the upper stem, following which the tree dies in from two to four years from that point upward. Were it not for a strange provision of nature whereby when a thrifty young pine is so girdled and loses its leader one of the next lower branches may turn from it's horizontal position and grow perpendicularly, assuming all the functions of the true tree stem, the damage would be immensely greater than it is. (Illustration y1). However, this does not always occur, and many young trees are ruined outright, never making further upward growth. (Illustration 42). Even with this power of recovery from injury there is no inconsiderable damage from the fact that even if the tree does produce a second leader the bayonet, as the dead spike is called, remains for a great many years, constituting a menace to the tree as being a lodging place for spores of heart-rotting fungi, and is at last in part enveloped by the new growth which causes a faulty place in the tree. Also, of course, there must be more or less crook in the bole at that point. Again, such trees frequently put up not one but several such leaders, nature appear- ing to overdo the matter of trying to repair the damage. In this case the tree is frequently rendered of little or no value for lumber owing to the shortness of the undivided trunk, while the separate leaders may not attain individually to merchantable size and form. (Illustration #3). It is then known as a "wolf tree", taking up a great deal of room in the forest with it's abnormally large crown and producing no lumber.
Fortunately for the forest, while the porcupines have but few enemies capable of doing them serious injury, when men and mountain lions are excepted, neither are they very prolific. Mrs. Porcupine brings forth but once a year and but one at a birth. In taking these pictures great difficulty was had in per- suading Porky to face the camera and look pleasant (Illustration -f4). Though it was easy enough to obtain a rear view. (Illustra- tion #5). This was because Porky's tail is his "business end" which he always presents to his enemies. When cornered he will if pos- sible stick his head into a bunch of brush, or against a log or rock, with his nose well down between his front feet. Then, with his formidable armament of barbed quills all erected and his equal- ly armed and powerful tail free for action, he can defy anything but an armed man. Though possessed of enormous gnawing teeth capable of in- flicting a serious bite, he is so very slow in all his movements, except indeed his tail, that he does not depend upon them at all as a weapon, and only when thrown upon his back, and held there, will he even attempt to use them. These great teeth are four in number, two above and two below, and the latter may be as much as three inches long when removed from the jawbone. Also, these great gouge chisels are salf-sharpening, so that the older the animal the sharper his teeth. He has an excellent set of 16 deeply corrugated grinders, eight below and eight above. These grinders are so constructed that, while they have no roots proper, they cannot be removed without fracturing the bone, as that part of the tooth imbedded in the bone, and to which it appears to actually trow, rather than to merely occupy a socket as in most other animals, is larger than the portion that protrudes. There is no foundation whatever for the once popular notion that a porcupine can "shoot" his quills, or that they are poisonous, though the quickness and range of action of his tail enables him to plant quills in an enemy so as to almost make it appear to the victim that they were "shot" there' When well im- bedded in the flesh it is both difficult and painful to remove the quills from the fact that they are minutely barbed and lacerate the flesh as they are withdrawn. If broken off and left in the flesh, as usually happens with animals, the point works rapidly forward and may show up shortly at the opposite side of the leg or jaw, but I have never known of a case of "poisoning" or infection to follow. The illustrations show Porky in his proverbial fretful mood, which, in his wild state, is the only mood he is ever in when a man is close enough to photograph him! ahen not on the war-path, and with his "bristles" laid down, he presents quite a different appearance. 4ith all his apparent "fretfulness" however, if taken when young he tames very easily and makes an extremely affectionate and interesting pet, never raising his terrible quills except perhaps in the presence of a strange dog.
At first glance the porcupine would appear not adapted to climbing large trees. Although not furnished with sharp climbing claws like a squirrel, he has four powerful hooks on his thumb- less hand, and aided by the stiff bristles on the lower side of his strong tail he has not much difficulty in ascending even a smooth-boled pine. However, this is too slow and serious a matter with him to be practiced for mere pastime, and having climbed such a tree he may remain in it for a week or even several weeks if in winter, and the snow is deep. His short legs and slow and-clumsy waddling gait make it very difficult for him to get about in the snow. Of almost exclusively nocturnal habits, this animal is but seldom seen traveling on the ground, although he will sometimes venture to descend in late afternoon and vary his menu of bark with a feed of various herbs and grasses in season. He is also fond of oak acorns and will hunt for them even under the snow in early winter. It is remarkable the facility with which this anl-al that may occasionally reach a we-ight of 35 to 40 pounds can conceal himself in the crown of a tree, especially a pine. In this matter nature aids him greatly both in his conformation and color. Humped: up on a pine branch and with his long back hair erected, both his color and shape blend so perfectly with the tufts of pine needles as to be not at aIT conspicuous. In designing the porcupine nature sacrificed speed to power and while slow he is tremendously strong. lso, his skeleton is most rerkable from the strength and thickness of the bones which appear to be entirely out of proportion to the size of the animal. with the exception of some reptiles, I know of no animal so tenacious of life as the porcupine. ,,hen shot from a tree he may tumble 30 to 50 feet and, provided the spinal cord or the brain is not 'hattered by the bullet, get up and walk away. I have noted the heart pulsating strongly full fifteen minutes after the animal had been killed and drawn. Although the porcupine was formerly, and may still be in some States, protected by law on the ground that he would furnish an easily obtainable food for an unarmed person lost in the woods, undoubtedly his value in this respect, and at this tive, does not outweigh the actual damage he does in the forest. From the Forester's point of view there should rather be a bounty on him.
Mane anv IPorcupixe fem~ale, ,Ict Ov ing, a 36"~ whi~te fir wit sign of reeent suckli~ng. an lim ~b - rself. 0 20
Foret . nir e ta F* 19 applicaut fora
bloc1~ OfService timber, It 18 understood IV Members of tbge
Santa Pe force tht Scaler Tat tri fteH~ oadsl
opeasn. w 'ois bas~j Aut I is to' be a pe.trer in the lumbering
t~ the lpeast two orig s beer- ezploynd by thL- Falac &
Howard C m a o
th e la s tw or tb re e y e a rs .,, The n ew o p a t . i l
u e a ~ O 5 A e i
Samill driven by a 25 horse niirj. mo4 -Ars g an e1bngine. C
r Sitgreaveg). I n , on C ok ; M hl
Tusayn). Pe~ach (Oorouado)
Sitgreave) J; Preston, Washington (Carson).
\~Ai
of t~~ V' tt Bi 2 9 c 2 Bux- in P~1' Ynvest~gatio.,a by Dr* i e
. a vo
of t e ~~ l~ ica ~ th ~ O thW6ter Forest IDperlmatt Station
ae ~ody producing somne interest,f ~ 4.snl salpogp~
('7v t Sht 8 Pounds) In a cage tigwuTORf A~ 5sn.4e io s ma barcuapine
n4.Another porcupinie (wetg Ib3pu~)f~c~it nes.bt
9U feet square, disposed of 196 SqiArs i.cc fbr nsxdya
v er f a o t 3 square Inchr.s por 6 y. TU tj ,i tlime the porcupine
Son two large trees and 17 s=11t~ mie 9, 6 c- Whit~b irld
third porcup±nb (%~eigh~t 12 Pc~r-,) 'eiicid Into a o,!:b~t larger
iclOsUre,
was responsible for the removal 0:1 300) C~r tnh-U br na as
an averg of 50 qqaetn;e 're ttzy. of bark In thez ei
a r
on2 five blackjacks and 71 soeedal of thhe anie 3 rmal Worked
half, were gialle and klll.1,19,O Wihdate 9 r oat
V qar-/
DAILY BULLET N U. S. Forest Serv ce December 29, 1924. South estern D:strict ng Fee Report Due January 1- S>-pe'vi'or- are :eqvc5~e delinquents. Bjrnes to Speak at Livestock Convention: Lie program for the 28th Annual Cogvention of the American National Livestoc*k Association which will be held in Albuquerque, January 74. 16 P-3e 16, 79'2 cnrr5es the name of Assistant Forester W. C. Barn( , The ;ub, 'e hs address is "Problems of the Range Cattleman- How 7hall He 'fet :.i'' No Annual Propert-y Return Duet District , mit. ;Pe mnuitas No. 12 for Nov- ember 20 mentioned the approval of the Fo.'e6e: far erinm.nat ion of annual property returns by Forests due January 1 under thn now scheme of office check devised by this District. This note is t, repeat the good news since one unit vas about to prepare a return when halted. Another job eliminated at a season of heavy office work helps. Announcing the Arrival of, : The newest 'arrival among the inereas- iTg family of manuals, among mhich clan there seens to be as yet no signs of race suicide, is a ponderous volume just ushered into the district, Christmas week. The last page of this husky necomer is numbered 1230 so he's born full grown. Actually It is merely the rebirth in a single volume of three old well known manuals- the Department Fiscal, Property and Admin- istrative Regulations. %e new form will be vastly easier to amend and de- cidedly more usable than the little paper covered books that served so many years. A full supply vas not received but all units will receive at least tuo complete copies in the first distribution. [ Dann -y i Apparently the most serious damage by porcupines, under natural conditions, is done to two sioe and age classes, I. a., trees from 3 feet high to 4 inches diameter breast high and those from 4 inches to 10 inches diameter breast high., Each. one of these large growing trees represents the survivor of from one to ten thousand small seedlings, ac-. cordiUg to G. A. Pearson, Silviculturist, and damage to these trees is doubtless more serious, from the standpoint of forest maintenance, than damage to smaller seedlings, where the mortality is expected to be heavy, or larger trees, viich have more nearly made their growth. Th investiga- tiow show that porcupine work on the western yellow pine is of relatively little importance in virgin timber, but tends to increase in cut-over areas. While this result does not appear in the figures for the smaller seedlings, it seems to hold for all tks. other classes, ard is most marked in trees from 3 feet high to 10 inches diameter breast high. In virgin timber trees above 10 inches in diameter are little damaged, in cut-over sections trees of this size are very few in number, but those present are likely to be hard hit. (F xirgs by Dr. Taylor). A n Cheney.
e*^ Decerber 18, ?X&' The cooperation o0 ie jest Service on the lTIe' cn- ,c h ort ft~i f rm w~ll be used& for eIa the data for 1924* Requests will b _1e- out as sooii as rccelv 7 f m Washington. The usual clean-uc uwri will 1e done by the special agents on the several Forests. Swedish Forestr : Cutting has been going on in the forests of Sweden for at least 1,000 years. The forests of Sween ixvhich consist principal- ly Of spruce and pine, now cover 5E2 of ti? t, -'i land area. In 1923 the exports of forest products fran Sv:eden amo-nt to a value of about 183,000,000 and in the 12 months eni-ei last Jim- upwii.ds of $19,000,000 of wood pulp was shipped to paper mills in the Uxlkted States. (T!he Lumber- man). Comtv 2wIMIR Into Lie: A short time ago, states the Oorcrnado Balletin, there was a fire near the new Patagoia-Nog.lis vood which slarted in the grass adjacent to the forest boundary and wouild hvie been scme blaze had not the state road crew put it out. The fire ha& all th ear'marks of being Incendiary but nothing turned up after an Investga ;i n. About a week la- ter Ranger Mrndall noticed smoke outside the fores ii the same vicinity and went over and found a Mexican riding away from the area where the fire started. The Mexican was take back to help on thn fire and it developed that he had probably started it and possibly started the other fire which teached the forest. Tb* Deputy Sheriff happened along, and took the Iexi- CaO to towm where he received 30 days In the calaboose and at the end of ( the sentence is to be deported as an undesirable alien. The action was more or less On the Initiative of the county authorities and speaks volumes for the sentiment in that vicinity. Zr=21n Meut As s result of the experiments conducted last summer by Dr4 Taylor in northern Arizdna it has been ascertained that a single porcupine, which was maintained In a yard 51 days removed 1419.91 square inches of bark (9.86 square feet) from western yellow pine in the yard. The average ng t spi re In f art ' 2 Fi ub n eJ,%,.edl C;b% e dlinX ~ ~ per cenfy pms rorrnc a ranches or ±ar ee at- tacked, 31. A single porcupine maintained in another yard for 67 days re- moved 3575.72 square inches of bark (24.83 square feet) from western yellow pines. Average number of square Inches of bark being 53.36 per day. The nmlmber of seedlings and other trees worked on, 131-(practically all in yard). , Vmber of seedlings seriously injured, 115 (87 per cent). Number of seedlings missing altogether, 20 (15 per cent). Number of branches of six large trees worked on, 120. Frcm the economic standpoint It Is of in- terest that the principal danage In the porcupine yard was done to two classes of trees, namely seedlings from 6 inches to 3 feet high and from 3 feet blb1 to 4 inches diameter breast high. The bark peeling and dam- age recorded is not altogether adequate as indicating porcupine work on seedlings, for, especially toward the end of the summer, many of the small- er seedlings were practically cut to pieces and consumed. 7rezh (Apache); Scott (Qerson). Wins ircher. Aft t/ I!A F rZTTT2D U. S. i eet >e:x'~ce Southwz 1 ern ist ri c t
DAILY BULFT - No. 25-190 U. S. Forest Service February 17, 1925 Southwestern District Captain Ancona and Captain Jopns: The Denver Post states that Edward P. Ancona and John D. Jones, ,7hose addresses are given as U& S. Forest Service, Albuquerque, N. Mex., have been commissioned Captains of Engineers in the Officers' Reserve Corps. The announce- ment is made by Major David P. Wood of the 103d Division of the United States Aty. Former Governor Lowden ill Be Chairman: A conference of organ- izations that propose to boost American Forest Week, April 27-- May 3, has been held in ;ashington and a committee of five people chosen for handling the affair. Fx-governor Lowden of ll1.nol s has been selected as chairman with a strong corps of vice-cha-nren and committeemen behind him. The committee has established head- quarters and is already at work. Sudden Service- The Forest Service has chafed, in some instances, under delays in getting service of papers by United States Mar- shals. Here is a case, however, that so far as D-3 knows, is a record beater. It shows a burst of speed that offers a challenge to be equaled. Late one afternoon the United States Marshal at Santa Fe was given Complaint and Summons to serve involving a suit which was being filed for the recovery of grazing fees. Service was duly made upon defendant fifty miles northeast of Espanola, seventy five or eighty miles from Santa Fe, as shown by the Mar- shal's return, the following day9 Winter Not The Season for Porcupine Control: Although it is dasy to locate porcupines in the winter by the damage they do, they re- main continuously in tr6es., according to 21r. E. E. Horn of T- -ologic-a twvey antherefnxe, do not take poison. Mr. Horn, whose headquarters are in Denver has sient about three weeks this winter in company with Dr. Taylor in a porcupine control study at the Southwestern Forest Experiment Station near Flagstaff. He stopped for a day or two in Albuquerque on his way back to Denver. Tt uno~ -Pntvmnrl f.ha n±icin ' nv'1- Tj~111~~v~ deep because the porcupines do not often come down to the ground. They sometimes remain "up a tree" from two to three weeks The Biological Survey men, as a result of their observations, rcco- mend fall or spring for control work by poisoning because in those seasons the animals move about much more freely than in winter, It is not difficult, Yr. Horn states, to discover where the porcu- pines are in winter. Looking with field glasses from any high point or eminence, one can readily pick out porcupine trees by the peeled places 4ich show up prominently in the light. Nor is it hard to shoot them when once a hunter reaches a porcupine tree but shooting is expensive control. About thirty animals were shot and examined during the study and some valuable things learned. All but one of the !naales contained young but in no case was more than one found in a body. The stomachs were also examined and found to contain quan- tities of pine needles and mistletoe in addition to bark., Winter conditions were extremely severe for study. Travel was difficult abbount of deep snow am work very uncomfortable. Horm had both ears frosted and also suffered from snow blindness. Field: Kerr (Crook) Scott (Prescott) Jones, Randles (Santa Fe) Actiwz :Kirchler.
Some very interesting facts refarding porcupines were brought out at a meeting of the Central Rocky Mountain Section of the Society of American Foresters, held in the District Forester's office on December I. Since very little has been published on porcupines and the field men have displayed considerable interest in the subject, a brief summary Is given. A report prepared by Supervisor G. M. Hunter in 1918, while stationed on the Routt Forest, was read. Mr. Hunter's article empha- sized the damage to timber by porcupines. A twenty acre plantation of Engelmann spruce on Soda Creek was partially destroyed by porcupines. Tallies made in the lodgepole pine - spruce - fir type on Elk River and Mill creek show that 27% of the trees above 10" D.B.d. and 42% of the trees below 10" were injured by porcupines, or an average of 36% of the total number in the stand. The injury to the trees was classified as follows: slight damage 35%; bad damage, 31%; serious damage (some trees may die), 21%; trees dead 14%. It was also brought out that 94% of the injured trees were lodgepole pine, 5% spruce, and 1% fir. Hunter figured the loss due to porcupine injury on the basis of the difference in stumpage value between live and dead timber. For the Mill Creek area, where timber was appraised at $2.00 per M ft. B.M. in 1918, and dead timber at $.75, the damage due to porcupines amounted to $1.10 an acre. Since green swvtimber is now appraised at a consid- erably higher rate than in 1918, the present damage would be much greater. All of. the trees above 4- feet in height were tallied on six acres in the yellow pine type near Pagosa Springs by Bates and Johnson in 1924. Out of 624 trees tallied, 119 or 19% were damaged. Most of those were saplings and young poles. Hunter's article also showed the damage to livestock due to porcupines. In one herd of forty head on Snake River, an average of five head contracted quills each year. Only timely discovery prevent- ed losses. J. H. Dickens of Walden reported that quills are removed from 1% of his cattle each season and that two 2-year old steers died from this cause last fall. Undoubtedly porcupine quills in the mouths and tongues of many cattle and sheep are responsible for their failure to put on weight. Mr. E. E. Horn of the Biological Survey then gave a summary of the studies that he and Dr. Taylor have made at the Southwestern Experi- ment Station near Flagstaff, Arizona. The breeding season occurs during the fall. The young are born in May or June and there is seldom more than one to a litter. The young a u arge when born and have a set orqqillo that become hard and ready for action as soon as dry. Mr. Horn's studies lead him to believe that the porcupine is a fairly intelligent animal. There are indications that he has definite migrations instead of wandering aimlessly around. For instance, in the - Page Twelve - rA
fall, the gezieral movements of the animals are from the higher altitudes 9 to the pinon-juniper type, while in the spring the reverse is true. When there is much snow on the ground, they move very little and have been observed on the same tree from one to two months. This is the reason for the almost complete girdling of the upper branches and trunks of large pine trees. The control of the porcupine is difficult for he seldom pays any attention to poison baits. Moreover strychnine has f 5 on him. This, Mr. Horn believes, is due to the fact that the tannin in pine bark counteracts the strychnine. The tannin reacts with the strychnine to form a non-soluble that is passed off. However, strychnine salt has poisoned numerous porcupines where used adjacent to vegetable gardens. In the case cited the porcupines were undoubtedly living on a vegetable diet exclusively and the strychnine was effective. One effective chemical is still in the experimental stage and the results are not available. Mr. Horn found the best method of control to be a rifle. During the winter in the yellow pine type from a high point, one can detect the girdled trees with a pair of field glasses. These are then located and the porcupine are shot. Also, it is fairly easy during the winter to locate the animals by their seent. Considerable discussion followed regarding the reason for the destruction of ax and other implement handles, saddles and other leather- goods, porch and kitchen floors. Theories were advanced that the "porkies" gnswed such things on account of the salt or oil present, altho one member argued that this was done merely by reason of "pure cussedness,. Mr. Horn stated that the Biological Survey had received some help from the field men in District 3 in the way of observations given in response to a questionairre sent out to the field. This would make a good subject for a bulletin article for anyone who has some first hand knowledge of porcupines and their habits, the damage they do, the number on any definite area, method of control, etc. Anything on this subject that is sent in for the bulletin will be transmitted to the Biological Survey. It is hoped that the Biological Survey will extend its study to the l&dgopole pine type in Colorado or Wyoming. FRED R. JOHNSON - D.0. ## # ### Abe Martin says, "We used to call a feller a durned crank that devoted all his time an' attention t' one thing, but t'day he's a specialist." - Page Thirten -
DAILY 3ILLTIlT U. S. Forest Service -Southwesern District Doc Embo-9 1 927 Bears On Ramnae: Mr. Lee Rice sf Cliff reoorts that several head of cat- tle have been killed on his range by bears in the last few days, accord- ing to the Gila Bulletin. He i, requesting permission of the State Game Warden to trap for the killers. Joe CGamnbell Passes Away Suddonj: Old timers in the Service will be grieved to learn of the death of Joseph K. Campbell, brother rf former GovL-rnor Thomas B, Campbell of Arizona, on Noverber 20 at his ranch house north of Iroscott.' Mr, Campbell was Assistant District Forester in charge of the off.ice of Range M Lnag-mont from the time thl District was organized in Dodombnr, 1903 to July, 19119 being succeoded by Mr. Kerr. He resigned and wont intc the livestock business, later becoming a livestock inspector for Arizona. During the war he was Chief of Gov- ernment Stockyards. Death came suddnnly from heart trouble. Clearing The Hirhwayt January first has boon sot for the final reimoval of all advertising and other privato signs now in 3xistonce en state highway rights of way. General instructirns were issued by the Yighway Cormission early in thn year for the banishing of all such signs. No- ti ,e was given all sign owners in ths connection. In general the order has been carried but; however there are still some signs etisting con- trary to the Commission's action. Additional notice will be given, if necessary, and if all such signs are not taken down or removed to priv- ate property by January first, the State Fighwar Engineer has issued in- stractions for their completd removal at that time. Exterminating ?orcunines: The most interesting achievement in Forest Research in D-3 during the past three years has been the successful cul- minat ion of experiments in exterminating porcupines by Mr. B. E. Torn of the Biological Survey, according to the Monthly Reeort of the Brnch of Research. Daring the past three years the Biological Survey has had from one to three men working intermittently on this problem at the Experiment Station. Two years ago poisoning appeared hopeless. Horn, however, has been working persistently on baits and methods of placing them, based on observations of the ani al's habits. Salt and strych- nine were found to be an effective bait, but for a long time difficulty ias experienced in placing it where porcupines would be likely to find it. An important step in solving this problem was the disccery that )I thenimals-mxbak nd fortbeen the lowlands and nmminont moun- tain poaks along fairl definite routes of trav1. Th routes are me conspiuous by-the fact that nearly every tree is damagod, Generous baiting in the path of migration, which is usally about a mile wide, will get nearly all the porcupines in the vicinity. Last spring Horn estab- lisbad a series of tree stations in one of these strips, placing an im- poverished wooden cup containing salt '_nd strychnine in each marked tree. A recent examination revealed a dead ,,porky" under more than half of the baited trees and in one instance throe carcasses were found un- der a single tree. The present outlook is very favorablo for effective control of this nest at a reasonable cost. Field: Kerr, ITussey (Tonto); Horms (Phoenix, Ariz.) Leave: Chenoy (Georgetowrn, Ill) Act n- Calkins
REPORT ON PORCUPINE STUDY, 131 Py Ranger L. W. Rogers, Santa Fe. 1. The porcupines found in the foothills and at lower elevations seem to prefer young alfalfa. to the exclusion of most other, plants during thespring., In the late summer and fall they do not bother alfalfa but want corn in the milk; they will keep on eating corn: but most of, the damage is-done before the corn becomes hard. The porcupines I have found in the, higher elevations or around 10,000 f eQt seem to prefer strawberry .. plant, Spnecio, Sego Lily, June Grass and some Blue, Grass# Data on porcupines found in the lower elevations was secured from theresidents of Cundiyo. This community was given poison salt and b]hocks for tree stations. They claim they got no results from tree sta- -.tios, as they did not find any dead but claim they found two carcasses in a den where they had poison. They claim that the porcupinos. v! 1 eat alf alfa in the spring! when it is young, most damage done during the month of May, They then seem to disappear, but just as soon as the. cormbegins to silk out they return and stick around the fields. They claim to have killed eight porcupines during the heavy snow storm last March but that the usual number was on hand again in the latter part of September and ctober... One porcupine in the high country, at an elevation of 11,500 feet, vas found grazing along Ln an open park at the head of Puerto Nambe. This porcupine was watched for a period of ten minutes, t1P exact spot noted. and thp area. wao gone over carefully., I found that the straw- berry plant was taken omost but Senecio, June Grass &nd a few leaves of, *lue Grass and one plf- of, Sego Lily was, also eaten, This wLs during -the first part of Juiy- Porcupino will not feed when they knov' they are -being watched.:. Trie latter part of July ,another porcupine was seen at an elevation of 7,300 feet feeding along on yellow pea andosome 2un-. Grass and one plant of Sonecio was taken, bu1t! the pprcupine wap going, up grade and very steer and. it was hard to, distinguish just how. much was taken, They no doubt eat most of the more succulent weed ard grasses,. but I do know they eat The above species, and as the above spoc .es. ,:ra, be found at most all eleiat'ons it is thought that the area is too cK WUe-ivo to try ground po'.sonlng of ay sort on these, areas, but we should stay:.ith the tree method and in dens where they occur in that locclity. 2. Poison Stations: It is thought that October 15 to November,15 is the best time to establish tree stations, due to the fact that after November 15th we usually get a fairly heavy snow ad it iis believed that the porcupines will stay in trees at least during the first storm. If the stations are filled with poison just prior to this time the poison will renin most of the vinter due to the mbisture which will harden the salt and prevent same from being blown away. In the lower foothill coun- try where the areas are accessible in :the, early spring, say Mal3ch 1 to March',5. stations should be refilled to take care of porcupines during s tbrit. hich we usually have in or during the latter part of March and Apil,' Dens should have plenty. of poison at all timQs of the year,, at least every fall and spring, as the females inhabit dens while the young arc being born. -2-
3. Migrations: It is a known fact that the porcupines are in the foothills on January 1, at elevations ranging from 7000 to 8000 feet. This ,is provqn by the statement from -the people of Cundiyo that ;they see them, at the Ritos and around their- fields at Gundiyo, and% the fact- that they want a bounty, on them, as they say they can kill any number of them during, the winter if they could get enough mo aey, to buy the,, azmviti on. During the spring the porcupines work on alfalfa f rsm the latter part, of April'nd during May, then it. is. thought that they feed back into the high- er.fQothills three to fOur miles d-ring:June, July and-August, and during the month of September return to original locality for the: fall and winter, The porcupines. at the -higher elevatipns.no doubt !stay. in trees long- er in'the fall and then den up for the winter and do not .iigrate to the lower country. The reason for this conclusior is this: The fact that while. the porcupines are in the alfalfa in the lower,-country du ing May one will see more porcupines at the higher.elevations than at any other time. It was during.the early part of May,; 1931, that'Mr. -Appleton of the Aspen Ranch School, elevation 9,000 feety killed f Ive porcupines and at that time there were plenty of snowbanks to keep them in either the high country or the low; country. I can give one more reason for believing that the porcupines do not migrate from low to high elevations. I have seen porcupines at -an eleva- tign of 7,300 feet and the same day killed iwo porcupines at an elev'ation of 10,50G feet - and gone through two feet of snow on thq way.. Then again it eems as though the porcupines of' the higher elevati ons are somewhat larger and have a light brown color with a tinge of red, where the porcu- pines, of, the lower elevations are a dark brown and do not seem as large. ** There ia a possibility that we have two species in this motftainous" coun- try,! an!d this will be checked for verification at the first oppor~nnitT. My pbservations lead me to believe that porcupines on my district do noqt have any definite lines of travel,or migrations but lange. summer and winter more or less promiscuously depending on the supply of feed and water. ... 4. Rest Trees: During the past year I have found only one tree that answers the description of. the rest- trees given in Leaflet- No. 60, (:Porcupine Control In The Western States) and this tree has not bem used in the past two years. Approximately two miles south of this rest tree there is a series of so-called, winter trees, but this does not indicate any definite line of travel. There docs not seem to be any. definite width to travel lines. 5, 5 Winter Trees: I have on the Tesuque District an infested area in Sec. 10, Twp. 16 N. R. 10 E. within the Arroyo Hondo watershed. This area has possibly 15.trees in a direct north and south line for one-half mile which show heavy damage by porcupines, the upper branches have bem barke&d the main stem on most trees barked or girdled for two to ten feet. The tree most heavily damaged is a white fir, the. rest beingblackjack and scrubby ponderosa pine. From this area in any direction the damage is hard- ly-noticeable. This leads me to believe that they stopped in this series of.,trees 'for a period of one storm, then spread out and went to a lower elevation, or on to a higher one, lower I believe as this is only about one mile from the foothills,
I have checked very carefully'trees showing mistletoe and groups of tries within ri i letoe area "nd have found that: tho: 'do not eat iistletbe -r if they -do I have failed, Vo find- it. -I h v ''seen 'trees , with mistl6toe in. the 1dwer branches and have porcupine signs on th main st6m 'at thc top,'bu'* no :sig. o 'any brahches hating imfstletoe. ' I'! " have taled tO natives in ~#gard-otpdrcupinos eatIng 'is~Ietoe 'or ,how- ing* a' pre erencc t& treen Pith mistldtoe but' they are of th same opinion as myself that- thdydo' not eat mistlotoe. . Note: Ranger Johnson reports noticing a preference for bark fivm mistle- toed tre -:; proVably becaUse the cambium layer is thicker, *and perhaps more pa. "ti..bl.e. * 6, Dens. Diring- the past ,year I have* found only.t o places Where porcupines den u fob'i certain,: one with a.southwest-exposure on the boun- d, ry of the Aspen MoucitaihnPlantation, elevation 9,500 feet. 'This is -a blhff' of' quartz, and grahite, with A granite sl.ide, directly beneath,- This d6' :shoWs porcupine' sign and poison put 'in. den always diseppears in.n:- short time. The other den is along the Ritos just south. of Cundiyo and is of granite and limestone formation, elevation 7,300 feet. These are tho &nlY ,two dens on the Dilstrict. I have found that show sign of use. -Hve excamined sli dos and clif fa at most signs. of porcupine' damage i butt. could notsay' they vere used, ; The' cover on theLapon Mountain is composed "mostly of 4spen, white fir and, some Douglas fir,,. -The cover at the oYthe, dh'e s i composed: of ponderosa pine, pinon, 'juniper, ahd some Douglas fir,. : It 'is claimed by. the nati es that the young arei born the 'latter,, part' of April and in Mayo*. I havel not, seen a real young porcupine,, but, -I' have kil1ed Tour femaes frcm May 18th on, Upon opening up for co.tents of stomachs, I have found no young and no young wero following, which would gbt6o show that. the young umst be born much earlier than Hay, possibly in the early part of March, : This will be ascertained this '.ceding spring through'thO cooperation of the residents-,of Cundiyo,,' 7. PoisoninG. During the summer season of 1929 fourteen poison trge stationfB w!roe put up in Ageu Sarca Canyon.* These sttions 'were re- f4ilod both sprinlg and fall for two years. No dead por .cupines were iever 'founl', bdt -no new sign of porcuiirs 'have been noticed in the pas.. eae,. Sixteen stations rwerq established on the.Aspen Mountain Plantation the same year,' fourteen .tree stations' and two dens. Three dead 'were found the first year after putting out poison. Poison ln dens was.-always gone, but no carcasses found. Stations were refilled three times each year'for'tvo ydars. The second year the block. were nearly eaten up in 'the sring.l 'During the yeak of 1931 no new sign r.iW' 'f6und exceptin dens, and"'in these the poison continued to'disappear. The damage had.. 'ceased' oI did during the yoe1r 1931., - These. stations -will be -refilled. St*ice "during' the year 1032 with poison being put out Xn dens at oh,in- "i~spoctiontrip ovet-:area. ,. ' ll) acasses were found about one hundred feet',from poison ta- tions, None at stations and none of. the dead were,,headed toward water. -4-.
The following are some of the things i would like to verify or have definite opinions- 6n:.. 1, Possibility of two Spil'es. Definit e knowledge as to when young are born. 3. A known fact 4s to whother or not porcupines really mi- grate .from1he low foothills to the high country in spring and retiurn in the fall, ** Ouoted from letter'fro6m Dr. Waltor P. Taylor concerning two spe- cies of porcupine. "The Coues' porcupine (Erethizon epixinthum couesi) is assumed by the Biological Survey to be th6 form'preseilt In Arizona and southern New Mexico. The porcupine of southern Col6r'do and northern New Mexico is similarly assumed to be the yellow-haired porcupine (Erethizon epix- anthum epixanthum . "It is quite possiblethat the porcupines in the high mountains of the Santa Fe Forest are the yellow-haired species and those lower down are the coues' porcupine. In order to bo sure of this, however, a number of specimens would have to be collected and studied at the Wash- ington office of the Biological Survey where material- for comparison is available. "Unfortunately, there has been no. world-wide monograph of this group. The systematic status is uncertain in areas half between te reg- ular regions of distribution* I hope you will encour g Ranger Rogers to secure all the information he can on the subject." Porcuipine Control On The Tusayan "Approximately 300 poison blocks were put out in fanuary, 1931, by Rngors Morse and Hulbort," states Super- visor Kimball in his ,nnual silvicultural report. "Exainations in the spring phowed that many of the blocks had been chewed on, end a number of porcupine skeletons were found. The Biological Survey started con- trol work in November, 1931, in charge of N. F. Gillhnm on the Tusaym and Coconino Forests. 700 blocks were put out between Kendrick and Wing Mountains. Mr. Gillham is ncw working east of the San Franciaco Peaks, but expects to return to the Tusayan in the spring. If money is .available, he plans on working a crew of three men and covering the heav- ily ,infested areas on the Tusaycn and Coconino before the spring migration. Beaver Colonies: On my recent trip to the Carson I noted good colonies qf beaver on the Cimarron below the Eagle Rest Dam. Evidences of new work was noticed at several points along the stream. Betaver colonies are at work also on Red River betwoen Questa and the mines. Several new tree cuttings were noted. A Mexican had a load of narrow leaf cotton- wood poles taken from a nearby homstead nearly all of which had be felled by beaver. Beaver sorstimos have a poor "eye" for "lean" and the t;re fails, to land whore Wanted. A number of trees had fallen par- allel or away from, the stream. These were of no use for dam construc- tion. J. D. Jones
Porcupine Pennsylvania Game News Vol. IV, No. 7, Oct. 1933, P. 10 Edward Pond, of Mehoopany R. F. D., shot a porcupine in his corn field that weighed sixty-eight pounds. The animal was weighed on sealed scales in th of wit- nesses.
LOUISIANA CONSERVATION REVIEW But there is a value in this tiny remnant of original growth, this one out of a thousand acres, which we believe transcends all the other values combined-its value of scientific study. European foresters long ago discovered what Americans are only now beginning to realize: that a virgin wood is a treasure house of infor- mation as to Nature's ways, a priceless record of the slow but inexorable processes by which she moulds every forest and its teeming fauna to fit soil and climate. No system of silviculture, no manipulation of the forest to yield abund- antly some product or service useful to man- kind, can long run counter to natural ten- dencies or processes. For a few years- fifty perhaps, or a hundred-we may or- der the forest accord- ing to our own ideas, but eventually Nature will have her own way. In our manage- ment of the forests of the future we must understand, and in the essentials follow, Na- ture's way. I know no better example of the per- sistence of natural forces in the face of h u m a n interference than recent develop- ments in the old-field stands of white pine in central Massachusetts. Two hundred and fifty y ears ago tne early Fifty-one inches in diameter, thi settlers in the Swift slain, victim of the lowly porcup cougar and bob-cat, exterminat River valley cleared fa away the virgin stands of hardwoods, with here and there a white pine, to make pastures or "mowing" for their sheep and cattle. Doggedly they grubbed out of narrow val- leys every vestige of the original tree growth, and year after year joined stubborn battle with the pine and grey birch seedlings that, sprung from wind-borne seed, skirmished from the adjacent woodlots. Then came sterner warfare, and when Father Abraham called, men marched away to bloodier fields. The autumn winds of the '60's showered their pastures with pine seed, and by the time they returned-some never did-pine s tu ine. ed o only seedlings formed unbroken thickets between crumbling fences. There for fifty or sixty years pine reigned supreme. Then a strange thing happened. Encouraged by the thinning of the pine crowns that takes place in most white pine stands at about this age, not pine, but hardwood, seedlings began to appear here and there beneath the pines. They were not only ashes and maples, light seeded species, but also oaks and hickories, the heavy seed of which were carried into the pine woods from adjacent forests in the jaws of squirrel, chipmunk, or mouse, or in the beaks of jays and other large birds. Neither birds nor animals, we may be sure, had anything in mind but their own winter food supply when they transported these nuts, and they allowed only a small percentage to germi- nate. But a few seed- lings developing year after year for the past decade or two now form an understiry of young hardwoods be- neath the pines, and will some day surely dominate the forest. Then will the cycle be complete. Centuries before men, red or white, claimed this ground, hardwoods and pines had strug- gled to dominate it. And the hardwoods, somehow better able lip poplar is a monarch meanly With their natural enemies, the to take advantage of .r fast disappearing, porcupines man. the comparatively heavy soils of the val- leys, won the long battle with the pines. Then came the Puritans. They banished both contest- ants from the field for two hundred years. Seven- ty-five years ago the losers returned. Eventually, after three hundred years of exile, the oaks, hick- ories, ashes, and maples will once more be victors over the pines. Forces that may not be denied, equally per- sistent with those which brought even heavy- seeded hardwoods back to the old fields in cen- tral Massachusetts, are operative in every forest in the world. They produced the virgin forest. October, 1934
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY IN REPLY RFRTO R~oom. 306 Agriculture 3uilding University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona July 15, 1935 Er. Aldo Leopold New Soils Building College of Agridulture University of wisconsin Ladison, Wisconsin Dear Aldo: Herewith are enclosed the copies of our Jack Rabbit- Grazing Paper which you requested. I think there is a lot in the ide although a good deal more work ought to be done be- fore e dogtic. I have just been working; over the manuscript on "The Life History of the Porcupine" and find that this animial is another example, seemingly, of increase in nubers as a result of disturbance of original conditions. All of us who have worked on the porcupine are agreed, I think, that the animals are more abundant in cut-over areas than they are in well stocked stands of for example ponderosa pine. The key to this situation is that the porcupine is fond of the herbaceous vege- tation growing on the forest floor. In closed stands or very well stocked stands of forest trees there is much less vegeta- tion on the ground. In cut-over, on the other hand, there is usually an abundance of herbaceous growth. It seems clear that the numbers of porcdpines increase rather than decrease under these conditions. That is why in some places they become an important problem in relation to reforestation. A few days ago you wrote that you were having a copy of the XWildlife Handbook, compiled by Region 9, sent to the members of your committee. I have not received mine yet but want to get it. With cordial regards, Sincerely yours, Senior Biologist. P. S. 2r. P. B. Lister helped me out in digging out the reprints. tI-4
Ltbraoo of Rlb leopolb Reprinted jroin JOURNAL OF FORESTRY Vol. XXXIV, No. 6, June, 1936 Ecology and Life History of the Por- cupine (Erethizon epixanthum) as Related to the Forests of Arizona and the Southwestern United States. By Walter P. Taylor. Univ. of Arizona Bull. VI-5 (Biologi- cal Science Bull. 3) 177 pp. Illus. 1935. Those who still hope for blanket yes or no answers to questions of pest-control will be disappointed in Walter Taylor's bulletin. It is, in my view, an extraordi- narily complete demonstration of the fact that such answers are usually, by their very simplicity, spurious. Even to one whose daily business deals with the un- ravelling of complex ecological relation- ships, the reading of this work leaves a feeling of astonishment that so simnle an animal as the porcupine should be in. volved in such a multitude of interactions with his environment. The bulletin is more than a competent life-history study; it is an elaboration of the new concept of "animal weeds." Just as destructive land use seems to give a competitive advantage to "worthless" plants, so also does it seem to encourage abnormal abundance of troublesome ani- mals. Both seem to be associated with a retrogression in the plant succession and a decline in that stored-up ecological energy which, in agriculture, we call fer. tility, in forestry site-quality, and in wild- life productivity. The animal weed theory had its origin on the Santa Rita Range Reserve in Ari- zona, as a possible explanation of the dominance of jackrabbits and other ro- dents. Weed associations, however complex in their environmental adjustments, seem to be simpler in their composition as to species than the associations which they replace. The weed is often a member of the preexisting association, but in it oc- cupies a circumscribed niche. It is the process of resource-exploitation which presents weeds with the opportunity for dominance. It may reflect some profound intuitive understanding when we auto- matically resent the dominance of weeds. (These speculations are not the author's, but my own.) In the Southwest overgrazing is sus- pected to be the underlying "cause" of too many porcupines. Like all good jobs, Taylor's work raises more questions than it answers. Just how effective is the mountain lion as a por- cupine-control? What is the role of the porcupine as a consumer of and at the same time a vector for mistletoe? To what extent does the porcupine delimit the lower edge of the timber type? Are porcupine gnawings a cause, or an effect, of bark beetle attacks? To these and many other queries, Taylor adds new data and fresh interest, but not final answers. No life history, however well rounded, is devoid of weak spots. One of the weak spots in this one is, I think, the treatment of population cycles. A cyclic rise in por- cupines is postulated as a possible alter- native for the weed theory, but the dis- cussion does not dig very deeu. Historical data on past fluctuations in abundance are naturally scarce, but it seems at least thinkable that ring-counts of calluses on old gnawings might have yielded evidence of fluctuation. However, such counts would admittedly be very laborious. There is no discussion of the inherent probability
REVIEWS of cycles in porcupine. In my opinion the animal's coarse vegetable dietary and freedom from starvation losses would in- dicate a probability of cyclic behavior. It is in such animals that the cycle is usually prominent. One wishes that the study might have included some banding to check against the interesting circumstantial evidence on seasonal migration. The author seems to have tripped up on one minor question of fact: he asserts that "the porcupine has a slower breeding rate than any other mammal in North America, so far as known." The breeding age is two years; the number of young per year is one. The breeding index is thus 2:1. The black bear, however, is slower. The breeding age, according to Seton, is three or four years and the litter one to four, average two, but litters are born only in alternate years. The breed- ing index on this basis is, at fastest: 2 3:--, or 3:1, 2 a slower rate than porcupine. Grizzly bears likewise have a 3:1 index, and pos- sibly elk and buffalo. It is, I suppose, none too certain that the alternate-year postulate in bears is correct. In discussing the recent reduction in mountain lions as a possible reason for porcupine increase, the author consistently ascribes it to "hunting for sport . . . and as a protection to the stock industry." If this implies an order of importance, I would take issue. Excessive reductions in lions have more commonly followed Biological Survey predator-control than sport-hunting. Elliott Barker, State Game Warden of New Mexico, has recently sug- gested that the way to put lions on mod- erate-density sustained-yield basis is to withdraw government control entirely, and put the whole job on a sport basis. Bar- ker points out that motorized dog-packs now give the sport-hunter sufficient mobil- ity to cover the lion range, and that the "law of diminishing returns" operates more promptly on sportsmen than on paid hunters. By and large, we may confidently add Taylor's Porcupine to that growing list of first-rate ecological life-histories which constitute the foundations for wildlife management. ALDO LEOPOLD, University of Wisconsin.
PORCUINDS k0
Whether porcupines cause more damage in the forest than bark beetlesi
or fire is difficult to determine. But that they constitute a source of
-
loss that is in the same general class - at least in some localities - is
generally agreed.
4
Advantage was taken of increased labor supplies made available a
-
few years ago by emergency work to provide some increased degree of control.
As A result A marked decrease in damage has become evident. It is surpris-
0
ing, hovever, that the number reported to be killed does not decrease cor-
re spondingly.
In 1933 the total kill by all agencies in Region 2 was reported as
12,616. In 1934, it was 16,238; in 1935, 22,077; in 1936, 14,572; in 1937,
9,987; and for 1938 the number was 9,521. Perhaps we have reached a bal-
r\.
ance where the ability of the porcupine to perpetuate itself just about
4
equals the skill of man to hunt him down and kill him.
&
In the 1938 report of porcupines kill6d it is interesting to note
9
that the Harney Forest leads the list with 1,845 "pincushions"
to its cred- D
it. The -hite Rivet Forest stands second, with 1,194 porcupines killed.
The Arapaho is next, with 673, followed by the Yedicine Bow with 575"and
the Holy Cross with 537. CCC camps are credited with 289 p6rcupines, the
Biological Survey exterminated 2,746, fotest officers, 1665, while the larg-
est number was credited to local hunters, temporary laborers and probably
stockmen, totaling 4,795.
- H, D, COCHRAN - REGIONAL OFFICE
Hones* IL F.ii . Frs . "A Wym n o $hp Stdy . W.Yo Ga14an fis 9"t-, ALa ItJl 914mP 11Nh acse ottw igonswrefun n hchte aeswrefllo prupn
?arm.,rs and M, roh a-nts 3tate iank D~ar Mtr. Miller$ Your )*tt er of ?e1bruary 18 addresed4 to t'he W~niverstty --f 1-4s~onailn rega~~~~~~din~~~~~ rLblnt 2~o ,,he ojtxoL oepii wngn abn booin rfrsi~ti ~.,aoy~ 'p I.U hvo : iat# mu of *titdy withi dat:eizto jrA ,.Or- supneoandTh ~os ~as hve oun ~h&ioda uobi La oopjor curb)Onat.. dry lime *ulfur# p to~r~,i1 Ri eOO.t bet )f v~ilu i itil 4~~~~aa~~~~~~e.~~ LhJee Vhmol fv b t.diva htyodhsea Jur work a dat iLabe ,ly* riena an(L *.hreiore vie can ot' Ot You little in --he Waj of fa-. pr,.duuot. Joth oop ,r aro:,nate and limo Sulfur 1,-ParL L oolow ,o the 4 wurfuao. onl v .L. -16 Ls aP~I-.d. I uaume iyour, as a unpalnt~td building so this way be obletiunable ifor i.hie reason. ?ar unapainted woo.d I would suggest that you try ar ajplIiatidn of hot *M*ot@. T'his a p be apl 1ied with a paiint brus.. I am u0Wh tha we oan no t be of more assistance to yo)u. At tno osont we are *ontemp'lating& a ~t3aolutiQn1 )f 'h-eskan ope to) iaVe ti,4r* desirable a r~~nt otf 1w 'A lwt ;0ysio f~h ~k fery truly your *e Aldo LeopoldUi sat A1rIS University of Weosn
5i 4~~4 t~4 f a
3L4brary of Mortality Due to Porcupin Wl A Mr. Fisher of the park trmsportation com had fou a oyto "uith more quill* in his mouth thaa the ordinary poapin has in his body." He approshed within 5 feet of the anim., and col have etl killed it with a club, for the eyto r.s mre Intersted in ex(ra t the tin barbs than lie wns in th presene of the man 0. J. Marts tell* of the experience of Raner Jack Tevebaugh: In the later part of Wroh he shot a coyote that was extremely esmaated. It was found to be full of pocupine quills, in the skin, in the tissues uner the sin, on the head, and evn inside the mouth. On the head were two festering sores." Pag 24 of Adolph Mrae Mology of the Coote In the Tellom tone'. Fi14 oyote bo.
~vOlt W ILD animals constitute a great asset in any well-managed forest. Occasionally some ani- mals become a liability also. The charm of the forest is greatly enhanced by the presence of deer and other game and by the presence of beaver, squirrel, chip- munks, birds, and a long list of useful, harmless or nearly harmless creatures. Probably among the Minnesota he seems to give some preference to white pine, though he also girdles many thrifty Norway pines, jack pines, highland or white spruce, and sugar maples. The most thrifty, medium-sized trees usually are pre- ferred. A ring of bark will be girdled at 20 or 30 feet above the ground, and then at various points higher up I; L B f r a t s a a C ROOSTED HIGH Porky has "taken to the tall timber" in search of a particularly succulent morsel of bark for his evening meal. g n- t- ly "PORKY" IN TWO CHARACTERISTIC POSES Tracts of virgin timber remaining All abristle, he waddles down the woodland path, on devastation bent, incidentally delighting in any region after destructive log- visitors to the park who may happen to catch a glimpse of him as he ambles along. ging has wrecked the forest in all porcupine can throw its quills is, of course, erroneous, the surrounding territory are particularly liable to dam- A RAVE NOUS APPE TITE FOR BARK age by insects, rodents, and other destructive agencies. This is easily accounted for from the fact that the com- As is well known, the porcupine feeds upon the bark paratively small area' of remaining timber attracts the of a variety of trees. He is not particular, but in northern animal life which formerly found its home in the sur- Pine or Porcupine? By W. T. Cox
AMERICAN FORESTRY
rounding forest, now cut away. Itasca Park and Forest,
at the headwaters of the Mississippi River, is a good
illustration of this fact. This tract of one hundred and
thirty million feet, in a district which once contained
billions of feet of timber, seems to be the mecca for a
disproportionately large wild-life population, some useful
and attractive, some harmful.
THE PORCUPINE A LUMBERING FELLOW
The porcupine, which ordinarily is not very abundant
and whose work is rather inconspicuous, has become so
abundant at Itasca that it commands the attention of the
park superintendent and other foresters engaged upon
work in the forest. Recently, in marking trees for an
improvement cutting, twenty-six forties were carefully
gone over. Snow lay on the ground and it was easier
to see porcupines than it would be in the summer-time,
and the men were able to obtain a fairly accurate count
of these animals and to determine what damage they were
doing. On the twenty-six forties, seventy-six porcupines
were seen, or an average of three to the forty. Since
there are five hundred and sixty forty-acre tracts in this.
particular State Forest, it would seem that there must be
in the neighborhood of sixteen hundred porcupines busily
engaged in girdling trees on the reserve.
Careful note made as to the work of these animals
showed that each one had recently girdled and killed on,
an average 4.9 white pine trees. The trees were of an
average diameter of fifteen inches, representing the equiva-
lent of 95o board feet of timber killed by each animal,.
or a total of 69,5oo board feet on the twenty-six forties..
This timber has a stumpage value of $8 per thousand
feet. It will be seen, therefore, that the porcupines of
Itasca Park and Forest are killing each year approxi-
mately a million and a half feet of timber, worth on the-
stump $16,264, or approximately 1.2 per cent of the pres-
ent annual growth. They constitute a source of damage
which must be reckoned with in the management of the-
property.
But it would not be advisable to exterminate the por-
cupine in a forest such as Itasca, which is visited by tens
of thousands of people who are interested not alone in,
the trees, but in the wild creatures also. To wage re-
lentless warfare upon such an inoffensive animal as the
porcupine would seem cruel, and in fact a reasonable.
number of them should be in evidence, so that visitors
may get an occasional glimpse of them shuffling across
the trails or perched up in some lofty pine; but to allow
this "highland beaver" to increase beyond his present
numbers would be exceedingly unwise and even danger-
ous for the welfare of the forest.
ECHOES FROM LAST ISSUES OF TRAP LINE Charles E. Walker, State Trapper, Crandon, Wisconsin, writes: - "Thanks for the Trap Line and the info rmatio in regards to scalps and skins. My luck is getting better. Last Fr day, I took my first timber wolf in trap, blind set. I got to him t at sundown, and took him out without skinning. Some load - weigh 84 pounds. Skinned him Sunday morning. Had a Milwaukee Sentinel re er over, who took picture of him. I took pictures of him alive. Have not got them developed yet. Then Monday I took a coyote. Caught at deer carcass in State Game Refuge. Tuesday, I got my second timber wolf - a big fellow. Here is where I got the best of Roy Gratias. I got this wolf in a snare and he broke the snare and got away. While I was standing there feeling just too bad, I noticed some drops of blood and then quite a pool of blood and I doped it out that he had ruptured a blood vessel and was bleeding frow the nose. Wall, that gave ile some hope, and I took up the trail. The brush was very thick and I lost t the trail many times and gave up once, and then decided to have one more look, and I found him dead with just enough of the snare left to reach around his neck. He was a dandy - 7 ft, 8 inches from tip to tip and stood 35 inches high. After I had him skinned, I held a post mortem and found left jugular vein ruptured. Opened stomach- and found it empty except a tuft of deer hair - nothing in the intestines. Wi -+-3 -i-,res 8oon. I am sending in the broken snare
.Voo in..fo t Lee) .L 0 eas i ,oc ". is going out tnae Ifover.ese. 12ne soft- wood index for the ,,,eek w," 37,,00 v.-hilc. last yea-rs indez for the same weehk was 28603 showing the increase that has telhen piace. Determined to Keer Hs Bon~e- Coyote refused to dryp his load even at the risk of his life. Ranger Beii ab-urz of the Gila tells m interesting sbry of a coyote he came upon while it was gn.ing a huge thigh bo-Ae of a horse. Instead of slunking away as is tho c' oyotes, -.'-his oaz gathercd up the tI igh bone and took it along. Nabours rode, "os9 but the coyote kept the bone even though it was so heavy he could scarcely Yu' Kabours decided to try to rope him and came right alongside then concluded he would better shoot him. By this time coyote and horse were covering Ground pretty fast. Nabours shot twice with his stx shooter but missed both times, 1r. Coyote concluded, however, that the Ranger had an unfair advantage. He reluctantly let go his bone and took to the brush. He got away but surely did hate to give up that thigh bone. Field. Pooler, Long (Coconino); Jones (Crook); Myers, Cook (Gila); MoNaught (Crook); Hughes (Apache). Visitors:" E. %. Kelley, W'ashington (Coconino) L Marsh. Agt ng Cheney.
Coyote folder Note from H. B. Marshall, 1178 University Farm, St. Paul Coon killed by coyotes in spring after they begin to come out of hibernation. Killed by single coyotes and eaten. Abundance of coons determined by c uotes and corn. Cons increased in his loality after coyotes killed out.
COYOTE CARCASS PILE Sirs: Here is the "sequel" to that picture of pelts from preda- tory animals (LIFE, Jan. 31). This shows the carcass pile of another predatory animal hunter, containing hundreds of skel- etons of coyotes. Let no one grieve for the departed, as the slinking "prairie wolf" is the livestock man's worst enemy. This picture was snapped early one morning recently on the high sagebrush plains of central Oregon by R. G. Johnson, pro. fessor of range livestock management at Oregon State college. JOHN C. BURTNER Corvallis. Ore.
WYOMING DEER CONDUCTS "3LITZ" ON (W'aITS OLD EIrEMY - THE COYOTE 4 : / /c. While tending his trap line on French Creek in Johnson County, Wyo., last December, Predatory Animal Hunter Charles Vest, employed by the Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of Interior, stopped on the ridge to look around and suddenlk found himself in a ringsidc seat viewing an un- usual fight. Just as Vest spotted two coyotes leaving the bottom of the draw, his attention was attracted to a noise from another direction. This proved to be a big dog coyote running at top speed with a buck deer in hot nursuit. When the door caught up with his ancient enemy, he knocked the coyote down with his front feet, then jumped on him with all four feet. After taking a hard pounding, the coyote managed to crawl into a brush patch. Although the deer did not attempt to follow the coyote, he circled the patch until he spied Hunter Vest end took to his heels, followed by three does that had been waiting at a distance. The coyote, Vest discovered, was trampled so badly he could hardly crawl, so it was an easy matter for the Government hunter to finish the job the deer started. -10- 3432
as. A dozeh oame up and fought for tossed out soraps of meat while butoheri!g an antelope ner Costilla. Says "From the fact that the antelope con- gregating in large bands, they were unable to prey on these animals, which are their favorite food." " Turkeys in La Trinchera, 2 days No. of Costilla. * A wol which came to eat the offal of the b*chered antelope on the Costilla followed Ruxton for 1 day Costillo - Oulebra 1 day Culebra - Trinchera I day Trinohera - Sangre de Christo Or. (Valledt) (Here they passed a dead mule which evidently detain- ed the wolf, as he is not afterward mentioned. The incident illustrates, however, how the coyotes may have followed the gold-rush to Alaska over the koenzie trail. ) P. 211 2. 211
P.266*G. warming himself and dozing by a large camp- fire as Ruxton awoke during night. Says "these ani- Rmals gnaw the straps of a saddle on which your head is reposing for a pillowo"
5. W svery hn y during the spring season. Chewed the sddle strings of unguared saddles and duing the nigh~t ate the rawhide lariat to within a yar'd of the uW hroats.
P. 2 - 6 entirely cleaned up an old buck (shot b'ut too poor to dress) in 10 minutes Bones clean. C
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Office of the Secretary Press Service Release . Immediate. A'ril 14, 1922. "OLD THREE TOES" TUlNS THZM UP Super-Coyote of Caddo County, Okla., Trapped by Governrmeat Tlunter. Old Three Toes and his co-1:illers were a hard-boiled lot, whelped in a region where the length of a coyote's life depended a good deal upon the length of his legs and on the same dimension in his head. They belonged to a superior breed, developed by the very methods that had been designed for their undoing, and Old Three Toes was the strong- est, fleetest, and wisest of the clan. For six years he spread destruc- tion among the herds and flocks in an 13-mile area in Caddo County,Okla., outwitting packs of expensive dogs that killed off his slower and weaker relatives. Only the fittest survived. The weaklings and dullards were culled before they hcad the opportunity to reproduce their inferiority. But if these super-coyotes could survive in the face of ordinary methods of extermination, life vas a different matte- when they were called upon to face the skill and persistence of Government hunters. If you would know what happened to this band of destroyers and to the greatest of them all, read a few paragraphs from two reports sent in to the Biological Survey of the United States Department of-Agriculture by E. F. Pope, predatory animal inspector for the Oklahoma-Arkansas district. In December the inspector wrote: "Inasmuch as the people of the Lookaba community have sustained losses from coyotes amounting to many thousands of dollars, and, after spending l,000 for a pack of steg hounds, have failed to bring the animals under control, this promises to be an excellent opportunity for demonstrating the proper methods. However, on account of a super- abundance of dogs in the locality, many of which are still referred to as 'valuable dogs,' *e must confine ourselves to the use of traps. .."After looking over the largest pasture in the neighborhood, where coyotes were said to have committed depredations for the last
six years or more, I concluded that coyotes were lot unusually abundant but their tracks were unusually large and indicated that most of them were large, heavy animals. In fact, the people there state that all the slower, weaker specimens have been cmught with dogs an(! that the survivors are all Iarge, rangy animals and that a race of super-coyotes is being produced in Caddo County. We heard much of Old Three Toes, an extra large coyote or wolf, that has been chased with dogs for the past six years. We were not looking especially for his tracks, but the first tracts ie found were rather large, even for a Very large coyote, measuring 3-3/4 inches long and 2-1/4 inches wide, with one toe missing from the right fore foot. In shape they were typical coyote tracks. We found the same tracks in three different parts of the pasture, two or three miles apart. As there are some very rough, heavily timbered canyons there, Old Three Toes may prove to be a wolf or a coyote-dog hybrid. "At this writing there are probably 50 traps awaiting the re- turn of the super-coyote, or whatever ho is, and we expect to hear of his capture any day." What the coyote hunters accomplished was detailed in the January report, which says in part: "Twenty-nine days of strenuous activity were devoted to the Caddo County project, which resulted in a total bag of 19 coyotes, practically all of them large, rangy old sinners that had outrun the dogs, refused to be enticed with bait, and committed depredations against live stock to the extent of at least $10,000. "In our narrative for December reference was made to Old Three Toes, notorious over the whole county. The following letter from Mr. Mullins, his captor, fully justifies the prediction of his speedy downfall! "'It is too bad that you could not have stayed another day and had a good look at Old Three Toes, who hit the two traps with the short stakes we set together. The very last night he roamed the woods was the night you left. He was not a wolf or coyote-dog hybrid as had been rumored, but an estra large coyote, as was indicated by his tracks. We did not weigh him until Saturday evening, when we took him to town to give the people a chance to see him; that is, the few who had not heard of his capture and come to our camp. There has been a crowd here ever since he was caught, one person coming 17 miles. Five days after his capture Old Three Toes weighed exactly 39 pounds, which means that he must have weighed at least 45 pounds then caught. There is no doubt in the minds of the people here that he is the offender they have been chasing all over the county for the past six years.'" // *777-22
29. The ?roblem of Sales Personnel. 3 0. New ideas in stumpage appraisals - h~E~nmant Ii thA wnn 1AndI tvnn Watershed .rotoction onStalt River (Goddard) Oty Tree lanting - an opportunity for publio service (Randles) Visit to Dr. Long's Laboratory and informal explanation of his recent work. TM-IA JN 9th Are we ap-plying res-Its of our reconnaiessance and studies? (Kerr) What we are doing on the Jornado Rnge (?orsling) Grazing reproduotiqn (Westfeld) a 4 range 'mprovements i to ar fencing sI ttock assoelat ions Qettin the Natu1ral Icrease Iemoved ession 47. Predatory tnimal news ,AeLie on ( ep 4tK) 48. Tew Deir-elopuiente in Came work (Shepqrd) -3-
4''
-4W - - - i Lineoln Inspection - 1921 Coyote Work. Project organized by Allman of Biol. Survey on east side Sacramentos and said to have cost only $90 (1 moo. wages) + 48 poison, and to have killd bhetwen 30 (seen) and 100 (est.) coyotes. Weor working on ;alves, tukey and deer. Money put up by permittees on assessment based on permit number. Same project organize& at Ruidoso 8/26.
Scoyote: "The following story is furnished by Rager McDuffie and can be vouched for by the five other people present End canceraec.3. 'I heard a dog bark, and upon lookin out of a wiidom,. saw a, coyote coming down the trail toward the open yard space between the San-a Rita "Re.gc Reserve headquarters house and Wn. NlichoIsonvs house. The dog., a laga mo-agrel, was afraid of the coyote and retreated as it advr-ced, I grabbed a nifde d !urried out, By the time I reached the gate on the trail', the other dogs ha . come to the assistance of the first one, and Tip, a big white shopherd of Nzl.ol-o-'s, had the coyote by the throat and had been bitten by it on the nose jvst belcv tho eye. I put a Springfield bullet through the coyotels head and stopped furth1,r combat. By this time everybody on the place was present. Nicholson told me that as the family sat at breakfast they heard a noise at one of the windows, which swing inward and are practically even with the ground. At the noise they all looked up and saw a coyote bump the window twice with its head. The window opened, the coyote stood looking into the room for a moment and then backed away. There were five dogs about the house and part of them chased the coyote. It ran but a short distance from the house and then turned back toward it,. The fight and finish took place less than 50 yards from the house. We are all at a loss to explain such behavior. The coyote's carcass was burned, and as a matter of precaution, the dog that was bitten is being closely watched for symptoms of rabies., i (Coronado Bulletin.) Fieldi Kerr (Sitgreaves); Long (Camp Grant); Hussey (Tonto); Myers (Mauzano); Cooperrider (Gila); Cassidy (Santa Fe). Visitors: Loveridge (Carson) - DO. FRAMK 0. W. I00LER, District Forester, By: J. C. Kircher, ActinR.
Gila Inspection - 1922 Lobos attack cows on hind end - generally flain8s. Fall to sating before animal d e ad.
Presott Inspection - 1922 P eating manzanita berries in large quantities, as per sign seen on road S.W. ser. These are the brown ripe berries, easily gathered as they pile up on the ground.
Santa Fe Inspection - 1923 Wil& Plums eaten by coyotes, seeds and all, Barker says.
W Santa Fe Inspection - 1923 Killing by Coyotes Barker has seen 3 cases. &ll were individual cases rather than pack. Not always in deep snow.
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This book contains information vital to every sportsman, hunter fisherman and nature lover. Sent you abslutely free- no obligation. Don't pass up this wonder- ful opportunity. Send your name and ad-: dress on coupon below. Write today-now Free Book Coupon Northwesters School of Taxidermy 04-N 9Lwood Building. Omaha, Nebr. Send me absolutely free, your illustrated book, "How to Mount Game." Also tell me how I may learn to be an expert taxi- deist easily and quickly by mail. No obligation. I ... ..................................... i Wolves-Timber and Prairie According to one writer there are many varieties which vary much in size and color, yet there are perhaps only two distinct spe- cies, the timber wolf and prairie wolf. Thru- out much of the West the "prairie wolf" is called a coyote. In North America of the timber wolf there are the following varieties: the small, dark grey or black of Florida and southeastern states; the red of southern Texas; the brindle of Mexico; the light grey of the central plains; dark grey of eastern Canada; white of northern Canada and Alaska; large black of northwest coast region. There are also several varieties of the smaller or prairie wolf found' thruout the prairie regions of the United States and Can- ada. During the past few years the govern- ment has been killing off this animal so that "coyotes" are not as plentiful as they were. The common grey wolf, of the stock region, is still fairly plentiful. It is one of the most destructive of animals to stock and game. Grey wolves vary considerable in size, and, full grown specimens weigh 100 pounds or more, their fur being long and -heavy. 4 The breeding season of the grey wolf varies more or less. Some litters are born in the summer, alhho the majority are usually born in March and April. The mating season is mainly in January and February. The litters usually number five to eleven. The young are born in the foothills and bad lands, in holes in the buttes and under rim-rock and even in enlarged badger dens. The breeding season of the coyote (prairie wolf) is gen- erally later than that of the grey wolf. Nearly all states where wolves are found, and some of the Canadian provinces, pay bounty on these animals. Besides the state bounty, ranchmen generally pay an additional bounty. Experienced wolf hunters and trap- pprs, in more than one of the Rocky Mount- ain states, have been able to make fair wages during past years. The inexperienced trap- per will find these animals very cunning and wary, and until they are able to take mink and fox, they are not apt to make a success at bounty trapping. For the large grey wolf the No. 4 trap is a very good size; for the coyote the No. 2 double spring or other sizes of about similar strength should be used. Some trappers, as a means to fasten, in localities where there are stones, use these, by wiring securely around and to the end of the chain. - In other localities good hard-wood stakes are used which are about 15 inches long, unless the ground is very soft, when longer ones are needed. Thruout much of the wolf country hard-wood is scarce, in which case iron pins or stakes are much used. Many different kinds of scents are used by trappers after wolf and fur bounty. The urine of the wolf, bottled and kept until it has become rancid, is a very good scent. The sexual organs of the female, taken when in heat, added to the urine, makes it far more attractive to the male. This scent is most successful during the mating season- January and February. There are more or less wolf trappers who do not use scent in connection with sets. Some of their methods are: Find a well' defined rock trail, somewhere on the wolf's route of travel. Set two traps close together on the trail, then go 50 yards, more or less, and set two more in the same manner. A large bait should be placed near the trail and about midway between the two settings. When wolves get to feeding on the bait they will travel in the trail and will not be expecting danger so far from the bait. If desired only one trap need be set in each place, but two are better. It is a good idea to set the traps several days before placing the bait so as to allow time for the human scent to leave. This set should not be made in localities where stock will be using the trails. Another method which requires three or four traps is made by fastening all traps to one stake, Find a smooth spot and scoop out a lttle hollow, drive the stake down until the top is below the level of the ground. Fasten the bait securely to the top of the stake so as to hide the stake and also to pre- vent the animal from taking the bait away. If three traps are used, spread them out in the form of a triangle; if four are used ar- range them in the form of a square. Set the traps carefully so that when they are cov- ered everything will be smooth and looking just as it did before. As the bait is fastened, the animal cannot take it away, and in trying to pull it up, will step in one of the traps sooner or later. In its endeavor to get out of one trap it is pretty apt to step into another, and then there is little danger of its getting away. The practiced eye of the old timer will * know at a glance where to set. For the be- ginner it might be well to add if a place can be found where the traps may be set between bunches of weeds, cactus, etc, so much the better. Aitho wolves are persistently trapped, poi- soned and shot, they will not be exterminated for years-perhaps never. Increased wolf fur value during recent years has added to the revenue of the fur trade hundreds of thous- ands of dollars. At the October auction sales 36,400 wolf pelts were sold. No doubt the total sold for the year, at winter and spring sales, would be 100,000 or more. This does not represent the yearly catch by any means, for large quantities are sold direct from dealer to manufacturer. Perhaps as many are sold direct to the manufacturers as are sold thru the various auctions, so that total for the year is well up to 200,000. Some of those sold last year were no doubt taken the previous year, but the day or night, rather, when the howl of the wolf will not be heard thruout much of the West, is far in the distance. In states or provinces where the topo- graphy varies from plains to high mountains, such as much of the Rocky and Cascade Mountain country, the quality of this article varies from good to poor, even when caught or killed during winter months. Take the state of Colorado for example: The high mountain-caught will average with a level country farther north; foothills with north- ern Kansas and Missouri; plains with Okla- oma and similar. It will pay you to look thru the advertising pages of this issue.
Daily Bulle tin 1o. 24-86 U 3. £orSt 2 ct'vce October 15, 1923. Southwos tcrn Dis, ict Bor on October 9 to Deputy Suporvl.sor and Mrs. J. Wo Girdner at Clifton, Arizona (Apache Forest) a son. Bc'h mother and son are reported as doing n icely. Taking IWood Withut Pa.Mit .o __eg:_ To the Datil belongs the honor for the fir-t c iviction under thc State Law for stealing wood from the Forest. On Saturday D. J, Jones of 21agdlena was fined $25.00 and costs for sjaal- ing one load of wood fzom ths Dt .il National Forest. The fine was suspend- ed since this was the first case in Magdalena. Bulletin ll05:- Since only 100 copies of U.S.D.A. Bulletin 1105 "Natural Reproduction of Western Yc lo.w Pine." have been received in the District ftloe, only one half' the : . 'I.... quota for each Forest is being sent. When our full supply is recaived t'e Forests will be supplied with the ad- ditional number necessary to complete their quota. What Turkevs Feed On: Supervisor Sizer has submitted the following very interesting list of the crop contents of a wild turkey killed by Mrs. Sizer on COtober 4: 258 pinch nuts, 26 grasshoppers, 25 large black beetles, 6 small black beetles, 2 black wasps, 1/4 cup og grass seed. Other Forest officers who can ccntribute any data to the question of turkey feeds will be gladly heard from. D.__()X_0otsG _Wi_!d?! "Last Saturday, October 6, when I passed the old Bullock Ranch, hich is deserted, I noticed a coyote who waf snapping at his sides and acting queer-, I tied up my pack-horse and tried to rope him, as I had no gun, but he got into a rocky canyon where my horse could not follow. I camped at the Bellota RInch that night which is also deserted, and just as the moon rose in the morni ng, about three A. M., I heard a noise in my pack sacks, near my bed. I s~t up and saw a coyote's head above one of the sacks, vWbere I had scme bells and other noisy things. He seemed to be strangling and chewing on the handles of the sack. Picking up a handful of gravel, I threw it in his direction and shouted, but instead of stampeding in the direc- tion I expected, he came for me and the more I bucked and elbowed him the more determined he becane to ride my bed. I had covered my head before he arrived, so I finally lay still, and after choking and chewing my tarp awhile he charged my pack-horse, who vias pickeaed near. A comotim ensued, in which I took part with an ala-Mo li.mb, which broke the first time I landed on the coyote, and I was making t,:coks for the bed again, when Mr. Coyote changed his mind and ambled to the old 3-fjch house, some 30 yards away, where he en- untered a hog, and they went of. azross the flat, whoofing and choking. Now I am watching the poo oawXc-horse for sigs of hydrophobia, as he had a badly lacerated eye which hac ti-izod white, and the first time he refuses his drink, I will have to play executer," (Ranger Fr~eborn in Coronado Bulletin) ielc: Pooler, Kerr (Coconino); Lang (Tusayanj; Cook (Rswell),- Talbot (Tonto); Hughes !Sitgreaves); Long fSan Aintonio, Texas). Visitor: Rachford, Washington (Coconino). Act ing: Leopold.
Wild Horses - Supervisor Mirktr- Plan: Supervisor Mink of.the Lemhi For- est is laying plans fr Lo0 aQ!_. o ,ps this fall. In ordtzr to get around some of the usual difficultieb incicent to horse roundups, he is taking a number of interesting precautions. On account of the dif- ficulty of finding purchasers for the horses after they have been taken and impounded, he has made arrangements with the Lemhi Woolgrowers Association to purchase 100 head of the horses to be used as coyote bait. He has also made arrangements with a commission buyer who will ship all horses weighing over 1050 pounds to market at his own expense,. guar- anteeing the accrued charges on the horses, as well as the freight, charging for his service only his regular commission. Supervisor Mink has also had conferences with county officials in two of the three counties touched by the Lcmhi Forest and these men have promised to coop- ,,orate With him in disposing of the horses under the Idaho law. -- DISTRICT 5 - CALIFORNIA DISTRICT. Gray Wolf: An old male gray wolf was recently taken in eastern Lasse JvU~ Uy a Uovernment trapper working under the direction of Chas, a. Poole, Predatory Animal Inspector of.tho Biological Survey. This is the second scien g record of this s eci es from California, the first ie from San Ber'nardino County near the Colorado River. The present specimen was 5 feet 6 inches long and 32 inches high at shoulder. It weighed Tt '56pounds,. approximately .half of the weight of a wolf of t ize.n good. condition. One hind foot had been severed just below Zhe hoek , Mr Poole states that there have been stories of a big old Wo1f :0 . southern Idaho which has done a great deal of damage to stock. He -Iink it_ is quite within the realm of possibility that this may be the individual- which, harassed by Biological Survey trappers, the dry- ing up Of water holes, or a combination of the two, drifted across to Oaifornia. there to meet hi~ f t W~,.--.7 _ Caiona hr to me-'himfate----- -- --- -- Big Things on the S.-asta: On the Trinity District of the Shasta the follow- ing peasurements of big trees have recently been made. An Incense Cedar, circumference 26 ft. 4 in. A Foxtail Pine, 20 '" 5, " A Douglas Fir, I 22 " 8 f, A Western Yellow Pine, ' 23 " 1 " A Sugar Pine which measures 112 ft, to the first limb.--A.E.N, ...-9-
tj - /P'" 6m, -6, 4t- J,4 f, " 71 k ". A4
DAILY BIttrTIN SU. S. * rest Service July 16, 192F Southwestern Ustrict AInials in Ar zona Reduced: Predatory Animal Control Lead~er Musgrave, reports in the Arizona Hunters News Letter: "This is the end of our tiscal year and the lion work especially has been very satis- factory. Vie had set our average at ten lions per month for the fiscal year sad the end of June finds us with two I ions over. This means a great saving in lives-ock and game to the State of Arizona end I feel that the State of Arizona has gwtten Value received for the money ex- pended* I had hoped to see the last vwolf *kken frm the interior of the State before the end o f the fiscl year but it seems that there are two itlves left., Iducatiomnal loZies" S'uccess In Ar sas; SBix hundred people and a Congressma contributed to a successful showing of Forest Service films in the opening meeting of the Arkansas-Ozark lre Prevention Campaign in D-7 recently, according to the District Seven Digest. District Three has gone deeply into intensive educational Work during the last three sears and is greatly interested in the outcome of the efforts being made by D-7 WIch are presunably along similar lines of approach. It is be,- lieved there is no better opportunity in the whole Fbrest Service ter- ritory for deteiminixg what education can accomplish than that presented in Arkansas where, apparently inherited prejudice linked with lack of general information has made the problem of forest protection one of extreme difficulty to the forest officer. At the meetirg mentioned ftch was held at a ranger statton the Agest states, there were present more than 350 mebers of the Pope County Boys and Girls Club. The remainder of the Crowd of about 600 was made u of residents of the vicinity. Congressman RagOn was the speake,. He discussed in a creditable mauner. the report says, fire prevention, the game situation and the phases of Forest Service Vork from every angle. lbrestry and _Ag : Many Louisiaiwbankers are making fire protection and reforestation compulsory on mortgaged lands. lbr the Purpose of in- suring the resale possibilities of such property they bind the mortgagor to make every effort to prevent forest fires on his land and to plant trees on waste gnd cut-over areas. This practice is being energetically surported by the Louaisiana Department of Conservation, and has been taken UP by ba0nkrs in all pOt of the State. It has spread all the more Wa-. pidly since the failure of efforts to boOm certain cut-over lands fio" farmig as opposed to timber-growing ptwposes. The Louisiana Bankersf Association in Aj)zil 1925, adopted the ftllowTag as the standard fores try claUse for insertion in nortgages "The mortgagor does here1b ft-a thwe bind hIM6e1f to put his waste or Idle lands not suitable to agrial- ture to trees, and to protect an forest trees and tree seedlings growing on any of the above-described lands, and he further pledges that fires oar other destruetive agencies will be prevented wherever possible.- Forest Vorker.. Note: The bankers of the southwest might well draft a similar measure and provide in mortgages on fii stockrequirenents for the observ- ance Of proper stocking, range distribution and salting. D. 0i Kerr (Prescott); Cslkins,Scott (1A1che); lXwsey (Coonino); Lang (Santa Fel; Cheney (Crook); Marsh (Tusay=)n} Loveridge (Datil) Others: Rachford (Washingto) Prescott. Act3g: Jones
2-D,34ILY BIJETIN S26-34 Uo S. Forest Service August 10, 1925. Southos torn Di strict o.arlv 400 F.or Broeti41s: In a recent horse rouadup on the Canjilon Dis-, trict of the Carson, 380 zximbors of the "savago, unna oablo tribe of brootz- t.ails" ,;oro nI~pouxtd.od. _., I: July 30, according to the Linciln Bullotin, one of the hoavlost rains in years foil on the Ruidoso District. It 1:30 p. m. a culvert on the TRuidoso Hijhmay s ashoed out. It loft a. ,Ip in the road seven feet ..Uio and five foot deep. A group of neighbors itoludi a the District Rang:er =ndortook to restoro the road and at 3:30 .. m. travel as rostmod. In the t o horc that elapsed betjieon the going uit cf the culvert and the coplotion of tomporary repairs, 27 wiost bound and 24 4cast bound automobilos, avoragin; throe passongers each, arrived at the place and ,7uro cmaitim to pass. Binrzo Boat Both Ua.ys: It's a fast ccnino that can outrun coyotes both in ,usuit nd .hon pursuod. The Gila Bulletin tells a talo about BinGo, the falithful dog coopanion of Supervisor Winn. Recently while or. Winn, Assist- " ,nt -Supervisor Putsch and Bingo -ero afield, Bingo cam toarJng out of the 'Orush in the load of twio coyotes. BiGo'ls h'uman friends shouted amd -,,,cour,13od like Sheridan did %:hen he yelled: "Turn, boys, tum, ae're goinc baclc," and Bingo, taking no-;pirit, -.irlod anud chased the coyotes. He orobably nearly caught them but ahen 1e coyotes -;oro out of siht of the ;Loutors and out of hoaring of the s&outs, thq, too, took heart and tuned In pursuit of Bingo. Bingo, ho °xver, was entirely too rapid for anWr such as ioy ,nd reached a position of shelter and safety, behind Winn and Putsch &ully towentyj yards ioad of the 1ranting coyotos. Bingo is all right; he boats them going and oomino. "ChLco Versus Chamiso :p A shooypr in the Zuni Youitains of No lroxioo, according to the Manzano TRanor, recently :=do the statement that a plant callod Chico is a imuch better sheep food than Chamiio. TAon the shoopm- deacrlbod Chico, nbmbor of the M1anzano foroo concluded that Chico and Chatniso are the wxio plant, although the shoeoran clais that Chico has a more tender foliago a d never produces bloating. Ranger Sherman has been requestod bV Supervisor KIartchnor to obtain specimens, including twgs and fruit, of .hat is said to be Chico as .ll as %;hat ho nmrs to be Chanlso for idontification to 6otcrrino the difference, if there is any. Lkilo the 1fanzano Supervisor has not requested outside help on the subject, it is believed any idos and information ;:ill be ,;lcomed. The discussion of for- ago plants is !onorslly profitable in any event and the Daily Bulletin has space for contributions on thc Chic o-Chmiso subject. F oLd i Husco, (Coconino) ; :;Zallon, Ranlos (Lincoln); Lang (Santa Fe) ; Kerr (r±azayan) ; Tlkarsh (cE.. anzoy, No. H.) NAiljtaM Leave: ;cona, Jones, Long (Ft. Blis,, Texas) Atg: Ca21tins
June, 1926 iSTIGATIONS ry-animal control in California, tave been receive4 from the old foot- and-mouth disease territory in Tuolumne Cohnty and the Stanislaus Forest and that the danger of a recurrence of the disease among deer is practically eliminated. G. M. Trickel, senior administrative assistant in Colorado, spent practically the entire month assisting new hunters in predatory-animal work, and in the course of his operations in May he reports practically no loss on the lambing ranges from coyotes or bobcats. Hunter W. J. Nearin, in carrying out his work on a ranch near Fruita, Colo., was successful in taking a 650-pound bear that had been making a series of raids on the rancher's herds. Its stomach contained three small lambs, which the bear had evidently gulped a short time before capture. The manager of a large livestock company of Dubois. Idaho, reports that coyotes are scarce on the north end of the Targhee project and that losses from these animals have been very light. Not long ago this company employed night shooters against coyotes. Sympathy is extended to Hunter W. E. Gozzens, of Cokeville, Wyo., whose 2-year-old son died on May 31. cattlemen of the Xaibab c untrv on the Arizona snt-in adjacent to TTth have complained for several months of damage by a p ar of timber wolves, and many unsuccessful efforts have been made to catch them. Recently, however, Geo. E. Holman, leader of predatory-anal control in Ut&,a, detailed Hunters Willis and Rasmussen to that section, and after several days the old she-wolf was trapped, and "B"lackie," Mr Holman's thoro hbid foxhound, backtrailed and led the hunters to her den. Near it were the carcasses of eitclts a of e four dee and p of fon-;so horse. nre ,The pUPS were killed and one was capt-aed alive, an yatmbile, train, and parcel ,,C + 'in ,nr, ,.,AA nr, +. 'Znnf I + ua 'L7- Ia ,a - 0. E. Stephl, leader the eradication laboratory, Areatus ground squirrels in of rodent control in Montana, and S. B. Piper, of have been experimenting on both the Richardson and the vicinity of Monda, Mont, Albert M. Day, leader of rodent control in Wyoming, writes that an idea of the damage done by ground squirrels in Cokeville may be gained by noting the loss of water through their burrows along irrigation ditches. On one ranch were 15 holes, 25 feet below a small ditch, within a radius of 15 feet, and the water was bubbling up a foot or more high as it drained and broke out through the holes. Two ranch hands had been working for more than a week trying to stop the breaks and had throw approximaty 400 sacks of dirt in to plug the leaks. In me instance, the water had washed'A hole 3 feet wide, 4 feet long, and 5 feet deep in the bottom of the ditch. It was necessary to flume the break, and the superintendent of the ranch stated that the whole hillside would have to m MH O V J. . "t
June, 1926. be flumed unless the ground squirrels were checked. He also stated that in three years ground squirrels have caused at least $5,000 damage in loss of water dmxrp- to n- and ht'pl, in ditche.. -Mr. i Pi6er is exderimenting in this district on various poison mixtures to be used against the ground squirrels Galen C. 0erkirk, of the eastern rodent-control district, has spent two demonstration rat holes in a poultry house were dusted with crude calcium cyanide and twelve rats driven- out., Burrows were then excavated ahd 110 dead rats removed. An area of :approximately 1G by 20 feet was treated in this demon- btration. FOOD HABITS RESEARCH C. C. Sperry went to Austin" Tex., in the middle of June to make a sur- vey of a body of water used as 4 city reservoir and to determine in what way it could be made more attractive to waterfowl. FUR RESOURCES Mr. Ashbrook visited during the month a large fox-breeding estate at North East, Pa., and also attended a meeting of the Wisconsin Fox Breeders' Association at Milwaukee and Wausau, Wisc. D. Monroe Green spent several days early in the mpnth at Saratoga Springs, N. Y,, inspecting animals at the Experimental Fur Farm and conferring with Dr. Karl B. Hanson regarding the construction of'a new building for rabbits and also plans for a number of hutches 6f an improved type. An experi- ment is to be started at the fatrm to ascertain the feasibility of raising rabbits in yards instead of hutches. !wo large runways, to accommodate be- tween 25 and 50 animals, are being constructed, and the stock will be kept in these yards for a full year. Mr. Green stopped in New York on his return to confer with a veterinarian of the Rockefeller Foundation who is conducting extensive experiments i:n rabbit diseases. zPart' ciaar attention is being given to a disease called snuffles, with 'view to discovering some remedy that may be used as a preventive and cure. Four mimeographed circulars, 'Bi-880, "Breeders of Fancy Rabbits," Bi-881, "Breeders of Utility Rabbits, "1i-887, "Breeders and Purchasers of Guinea Pigs," an'& Bi-889, "Publications on Trapping," have been issued recently and copies may be had, on request.' GAMvE AND BIRD RESERVATIONS Mr. Goldman left on June 12 for Hot springs, Ark.,.where he represented the Bureau at the Sixth National Conference on State Parks, Jute 14 to 16. While in Arb~msas he visited Big Lake and Walker Lake Bird Reservations and inspected various other areas within the State to determine their suitability for bird refuges. THE SM VEY
Wolves, Coyotes and Nature Fakers By WALTER J. PERRY THE CUNNING COYOTE Night prowler and savage music maker. ROM time to time one comes upon nature stories in some of our most popular publications not in- frequently signed by writers of wide reputation and even perhaps with a section of the alphabet tacked to their names. These stories, while often true to life and of the greatest interest to people-especially young people-who like to broaden their horizon in that great- est and most fascinating of studies, are all too frequent- ly little less than criminal in their tendency to mislead. In fact, some of them, while carrying the ear-marks of scientific articles, and with the added prestige lent by their authors' names, are little more worthy of credence than Kipling's "Jungle Books." A favorite subject of these highly imaginative "natu- ralists" seems to be wolves. Perhaps this is because peoples of all times have seemed to be particularly credu- lous when the subject was wolves, from the classic story of the foster mother of Rome's founder, on down to date. Having had some little first-hand experience with wolves I have read these stories with the greatest inter- ,est-I was interested to know how the authors got that way! For example, a few years ago I met, and entertained for the night at my house, a gentleman who claimed to be a naturalist and who I am assured has written much -on varied subjects along that line. He is in fact con- sidered an authority. He discoursed largely of wolves, -and was imbued with the rather popular idea that they were possessed of an almost supernatural cunning. In -fact I gathered that he gave them credit for almost Sherlock Holmes-like powers of deduction, and he capped the climax by assuring me in dead earnest that quite a number of timber wolves had lately been dis- covered right in the heart of one of our larger cities. It seems that they were enabled by their cunning to make their living undetected, prowling at night and hiding during the day! He said he thought it a pity to exterminate "such splendid animals." Some time since there appeared an article on the coyote, in one of our oldest and best periodicals. The author had undoubtedly drawn heavily upon hearsay information and had been led into some ridiculous errors. Any range man would at once see he had accumulated a vast stock of misinformation. Some' examples were the statements: Coyotes never prowl at night. Coyotes never howl except in the neighborhood of their dens. Coyotes never go into the timber, being much too smart to allow their vision to be obstructed, etc., etc. Such stuff as that is all tommyrot. Most persons, if they happened to know anything at all of coyotes, would simply smile and forget the article. But many people, it may be, are reading of this very interesting animal for the first time and have no personal knowledge of him. These are the ones who record this misinformation in their minds as facts. As to the first statement that coyotes never prowl at night: They do habitually prowl at night though not exclusively of nocturnal habits. To say they howl only about their dens is absolutely foolish on the face of it. After crediting Mrs. Coyote with a cunning far in 1 -L 7
675 excess of anything she really possesses, the writer would apparently have us believe that she proudly sits up over her den and howls a notice to the wide world and all her enemies that she has an extra fine litter of pups there! Very likely indeed! I would lose all the great respect I have for her tribe if I could really believe she was so foolish. They do not howl in the immediate vicinity of their dens. On the other hand, they do howl at night or in late afternoon whenever they may be on their wide rambles. They howl alone their mating call or gathering call; they howl in packs when hunting at night, and this is the wildest, most utterly savage music-yes, music-a man may hear. As to their never going into the timber: it is to laugh! The only place where they do not take advantage of the cover of tim- her is on the Staked Plains where n o n e grows. There they take ad- vantage of every buffalo wallow, or tuft of grass, or bunch of yucca to keep out of view. They can and do hide behind a remarkably small object, aided by their rather nonde- script coloring which blends w i t h almost anything. Anyone who hasi hunted in or been in THE K o u r western Lightning swift in his attack upon his enee forests in win- ter must have noted the criss-cross trails of coyotes in the snow. The only time they desert the woods is when the snow is too deep and too soft for them to travel. When the snow crusts in late winter they return again. With all their shyness they are at times-especially at night-quite bold. I have had a dog coyote come with- in forty yards of my camp at night, and taking advan- tage of the darkness, spend a happy half-hour telling me his poor opinion of me and all my kind, even to the seventh generation! I have lain quietly in the dark and listened to him voice his undying hate, scorn and utter defiance of me, my dogs, my guns and all my in- ventions. I allowed him the privilege of free speech, and while next day, when our eyes were more equal, I might shoot him, it was not because I despised him, for getting right down close to the ground and looking at the matter, he has it all over me in a dozen different ways. The only thing I can best him in is head work- and then itotakes years to learn to think in coyote and do that! In the New Mexico mountains coyotes mate about March 1 or even a little earlier, and the two to five or six pups are born about 60 days later, usually in a den excavated far into soft ground on some sunny point or hillside. The same den may be used year after year if undisturbed. Coyotes, though not less fierce and bioodthirsty than their big cousins the gray wolves, are not nearly so bold. They frequently follow bands of the big killers and fatten on the leavings of slain cattle and horses. For while the big fellows insist upon absolutely fresh meat, and generally get it, the coyote is not so choice and will return again and again until the bones are picked clean. One should really c h a l k up to coyotes the 1 o s s of many new- born calves now charged to "lobos"- that, by t h e way, is a prop- er name for wolves b o r - rowed from t h e Spanish. Courtesy Biological Survey .yjLeS W 1 1 I LLER kill, carry off y, the wolf asks-and extends-no quarter, and eat young lambs or kids, as well as all kinds of poultry. A possible exception may be ducks. I once knew a bunch of tame ducks about 15 in number killed in the course of a few days by some animal which did not either eat or carry them awav A very enrefi,1 ox ~m-;,- vinced me this was the work of a coyote. Coyotes will sometimes attack a band of sheep and slash their throats, apparently for the pure love of slaughter. I once saw 68 head of sheep that had been so killed in one night after having been scattered by a bear. Only a small part of one or two had been eaten. A lobo may do the same thing for the same reason. The coyote feeds upon any animal he is able to kill, as well as upon grasshoppers and other insects when food is scarce. I have watched them on the Dakota prairies industriously catching grasshoppers, and have I , A w2w, W"U" "A=
676 "2Iwwv"~2W~ known them to feed heavily upon a variety of small red plums along the creeks there. Also I am informed by an eye witness, and have myself seen unmistakable evi- dence, that they feed upon juniper berries. Truly the coyote race seems to be in no danger of extermination from famine! I have also been an interested spectator of their method of killing prairie dogs, upon which they depend largely for their fresh meat during the summer. I have seen a coyote creep up on his belly to the edge of a prairie-dog town, and when any of the population became suspicious and sat up to look around he would flatten out and blend with the ground and grass until feeding was resumed. When he judged the time had arrived the coyote would make a lightning charge with head close to ground not at the luckless dog but so directed as to cut him off from his hole. Some few dogs learn this trick. I once watched for some ten minutes a coyote stalking a cottontail rabbit near some creviced rock where with a leap or two the rabbit could be safe in a hole. He obviously realized this and was very patiently waiting for bunny to get a sufficient distance from his hole and make a run on him worth while. I shot this fellow-he was poaching on my preserve. Coyotes-lobos, too-kill sheep and such small ani- mals by an attack at the throat, by a slashing cut, and not by seizing as a dog might. He seldom or never seizes. Fighting in the open his tactics consist in mak- ing a lightning swift leap past the enemy er prey and a side snap as he goes. If his snap is successful, ,the momentum of his body causes his long and slightly- hooked teeth to tear out and thereby inflict a terrible ripping wound instead of a mere puncture. Cornered, he does not merely bite his enemy, but with the quick- ness of a rattle-snake his head is extended and brought back in the same motion, and the weight of his head and neck is thrown into a whip-cracker snap. The result is a cut rather than a mere bite. Very few ordinary dogs can kill a coyote at close quarters, though heavy and swift hounds make kills by overtaking and over- throwing him while he is still in full flight. The lobo kills larger game than the coyote and usually hunts in couples or in packs. If there is more than one wolf one keeps at the animal's head and the other will make a flying leap and slash at the lower part of the ham, severing the ham string. The stricken animal sinks down helpless and is at their mercy-and a wolf knows none. But as the wolf or coyote extends no quarter neither does he ask any. I feel quite sure that no amount of torture would serve to bring a whimper from a captive coyote, and that with his dying effort he would endeavor to kill his captor. Once in order to supplement my observations on coyotes, either at large or trapped, I dug out a den and raised two of the young to maturity from small pups. They were kept in semi-captivity in a good sized poultry wire pen and were never chained up. While they were extremely interesting they could hardly be called pets, and although I have been quite successful in raising and gentling various naturally wild animals, I was never able to gain their confidence and bring them to a stage of gentleness where they would willingly allow me to place a hand on them, though when caught they would not bite me, and I habitually fed them raw meat from my hands without danger. Handling these I learned that a serious bite may be avoided by closely ob- serving the eyes and mouth. Once a coyote strikes no man is quick enough to avoid his fangs, but before he strikes the pupils of his eyes invariably dilate, and an- other and equally sure sign is an opening of the jaws and retraction of the tongue. As a result of my experiments to test the keenness of their senses and their intelligence my conclusion was that their senses of sight, hearing, smell and touch were extremely acute. It was interesting to note that when soundly sleeping the slightest unfamiliar noise would cause them to prick up their ears, or an odor as of food would cause their nostrils to work and they would pres- ently awake. Noises to which they were accustomed, even the shriek of a locomotive, would fail to rouse them. Rather than credit the coyote with any particular in- telligence, above that of the dog, such as many writers have ascribed to them, I would say that the key- note of their whole nature and the explanation of their escape from extermination-with the whole world against them-is an abnormally developed bump of caution. They fear anything they do not entirely understand, and were it not for a certain sense of curiosity they exhibit, especially when their sense of smell is appealed . to, it would be almost impossible to trap them. Wolves are not easily trapped, though any skillful trapper can place a trap so no man or animal could detect it by the sense of sight, and after the man scent has left the locality it only remains to induce the wolf to visit the spot and tread on the trap. There are various scents used to lure wolves. Some of food, oth- ers containing the sex lure, and still others which are merely a "stink bait" designed to work upon their curi- osity. Any of these may be deadly under favorable circumstances. Approaching the lure the wolf will circle and sniff from all sides, gradually drawing nearer but all his senses on the alert. The slightest scent or other sign of the trapper, or an unnatural softness of the ground under a foot, and he is off not to return. So the ex- perienced trapper makes his set in perfectly open ground where it is likely to be sprung during this reconnoitering. On the whole, wolves are absolute savages, they are wild, wild a thousand generations before they are born, and this wildness, which is excess caution, has enabled them to hold their own or at least escape total extinction, but they do not reason-not quite-only man does that. And, withal, I am forced to admire the coyote because "stacked up against hell and damnation he has managed to stay in the game." If I kill him it is because he is my enemy, and the enemy of civilization in general, and makes no claims to the contrary, and not because I despise him. And by the same token, if I kill him it will be in open warfare-cleanly, with rifle or pistol.
(Coyote Folder) CONTROL OF 1- L--TORY ANIKIAS (Letter from the Secretary of Agriculture, House Dociument No. 496. Published by U.S. Govt. Printin, Office, 102. Pac. The indivi ual work of wolves can scarcely be comoared iith the persistent attachs of rovin. bands of coyotes. In mor- 'a Count-7, Utah, three coyotes attacked and killedd $500 worth of sheep in an hour. Iear Antonito, Coo., 67 ewes became separated from the rest of the herd and two days later were found killed by coyotes. In Oregon four coyotes in two ni 'hts killed 15 purebred sheep and rams. In California, near Middletown, on one ranch runnin, 2,000 sheep, coyotes killed 200 in one year, althouh the sheep were close herded. In a flock of .36,000 sheep oraed by 10 men near Marysville, Calif., the loss caused by coyotes was 1,950 in one year; rand o0at of 1,175 tur.e7s owned by three men the loss in one ni ht was 137. hear Wilbur, Wasa., a woolgrower reports the loss of 33 sheep by coyotes, 17 bein.- killed in one wee; and hear Olympia a poultry :roducer reports the loss of 90 chickens in one month's time from the same source. In Montana, in one nif-.ht's raid co yotes killed 26 l-mbs orned by two nei hboring tvooljrowers, and near Sula 200 laabs were killed by coyotes between June and Seotember 1. 'Nor do ravishes on livestock form the only real menace from coyotes, for it has been found that in California these predactors have done considerable d'mste to melon a-nd grape crops. Coyotes have fre-uently been known to take practically every bunch of grapes in small vineyards. Wild Came also suffers from the work of coyotes, as may be instanced by statistics compiled in the Yew Mexico field office at Albuquerque, where it was found that the stomachs of 4S coyotes taken durin , Au.ust, 1927, contained deer flesh; also in April of that year consider- able depredations by coyotes on yo u. calves were noted in hew Mexico--rmuch of this hei< ,-done in feed pasturez, particularly :n nerly born calves. In Arizona, durii, the fiscal year 1920, 445 stockiien and farmers reported livestock losses from predatory species of $373,151 in one year; a nuber of others re orted a loss of 2 to 10 per cent of their calf, colt, and la~o crop each year from wolves crossinc- into that State from Mexico, and from other predators such as mountain lions, bears, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes. Since the brinCin-, of the ray wolf unuder control in 12 of the western ran:e States, to hold control it "-s been necess, ry constantly to maintnin expert wolf hunters in coown wolf crossing, s on the international boundary alon the Arizon -Ne. Mexico border, to destroy the volves co...- sorsldicplly from the Province of Sonora, Mexico.
DA ILY B3ULLETIN U. S. Forest Service Southwe stern District Jenuary 28, 1929 The Forester Passes Thrus 1:ajor R. Y. Stuart, Chief Forester and Assistant Forester C. F. Raohford pssed thru Albuquerque on the limited today enroute PYoenix to attend the National 1 .oolgrovers, Associption convention. They wre joined here by Assistant District Forester Kerr and Inspector Sboema- ker. District Forester Pooler vill oleo "eet them at Phoenix enroute from the Arizona Highway Meetirg at Los Angeles. The convention will last three days, the 29, 30 and 31. Stepping Out: Tucson is rapidly assuming metropolitan airs. The big steam shovel hasompleted excavation for the new 10-story Consolidated Bank Building end is now at work excavating for the foundation of a new 10- story hotel, Both are on Stone Avenue. The new court house is under con- struction and the now Federal Building plane are about completed which will provide ample quarters for ell the Federal departments now scattered pro- miscuously over the city. Coyoes V'U-Ymeros:0. C. Luna was in the office recently and stated ta t hTfukr' os,, had caught 90 coyotes and 16 bobcats so far this sea- son on that part of Ed* Otero's rex:noe in the vicinity of Sullivants Hole,. reports the Datil Bulletin. Practically everybody in the country is trapp- ing coyotes for their fur and w14 le they are mostly *n.teur trappers they are catching them everywrhero. I wr s told this evening that every coyote onught up in ths mountains had a stomch full of deer hair and meat. Tvo boys here at Chloride, who are attending school rcaught our coy- otes in trnps in sight of tomn last month. Another school boy over at Inman's ranch, missed no school but caught 10 coyotes in 12 deys. Gus WIelty caught 8 coyotes last month alone the canyon ebove Fairview. John James of the James Bros., saw four coyotes chasing a big Black til buck Just south of Chloride last week. C. . eple saw a largo .7a6er woar on Mineral Crook last week. Public Contract Measure: A bill krnom as the Public Contract Act introduced by Gongressman Crampton promises, if it passos, to enshrine this man's name for a long time in the grateful memory of long harassed department heads, fiscal agents and purchase P-ents of the Governent. The bill has a number of sections aimed to simplify- the purchase, contract and specifica- tion business largely throwing the last word in these matters to the depart- ment heads rather than the Comptroller General. The awkward fiscal year limitations on leases and purchase of seasonal commodities is to be elimi- nated, bids will not be required for work, materials, supplies or services other than personnl when the amount is $500 or less- the present limit being the well kInn $50; final decision on acceptance of other than low bid rests with the hend of the department; informil contract bond requirement is raised from '1000 to $20001 liquidated dmc.ges for delay in contract vwork are to be determined and remitted by the head of the department and not the Comp- troller; only forraal contracts (more than $2000) will be filed in the Gen- eral AJccounting office obviating the large cmount of record work now necess- ary in connection with the vast number of small contracts; bonds requirement in construction work raised from $500 to $2000. Fields - orst Peeler, Kerr, Shoemaker (Phoenix, Ari:.) Pear son Jones Y'o. 29-23 ( p Qj
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Legen4 W - Mature Wolves & Coyotes C - Cub Wolves & Cub Coyotes F - Foxes B - Wildcats (bobcats & lynxes) Game Survey of WISCONSIN Aldo Leopold Sept.l,1929 This map compiled by W. B. Grange for the information of the Game Research Committee of the Wisconsin Conservation Commission. I
July 3 to 15, prior to taking up his duties in Alaska. PREDATORY-ANIMAL AND RODENT CONTROL Crouch Returns from West --W. E. Crouch returned to Washington on July 2 after com- pleting a successful tour through the majority of the Western States, where opportunity was afforded him to confer with leaders, assistants, and many individual cooperators of the Bureau. Day.Transf Q1... .to_1Whinton, Hamm Becomes New Leader in Wyomn.--Albert M. Day, leader of predatory-animal and rodent control in the Wyoming district, was transferred to Washington, effective July 1, to fill a new position in this division made possible by a slightly increased appropriation for 1931. He will be succeeded in Wyoming by Adolph S. Hamm. For some time the need for additional help in the division has been felt, in view of the extension of control operations throughout the country, which in turn has brought about increased work in the administration of and closer contact with field projects. Mr. Day entered the service of the Biological Survey under a six-months' appointment as field assistant on April 1, 1919, and was assigned to rodent-control work in Wyoming. Following this he entered college and later took the civil-service examination. As a re- sult, on March 16, 1920, he received a permanent appointment as Biological Assistant. On July 1, 1920, he was put in charge of the rodent control work in Wyoming. Between August 28, 1920, and March 7, 1921, Mr. Day was on part-time employment with the Bureau, during which time he continued his studies at the University of Wyoming and received his degree. He resumed full-time duties on March 16, 1921, and led the rodent-control project in a satis- factory manner during the following years. On July 1, 1928, he was placed in charge of both the predatory-animal and the rodent control work in Wyoming, and led these two projects up to the close of the past fiscal year. Before this later promotion, Mr. Day had advanced from the position of temporary field assistant, through biological assistant, junior biol- ogist, and assistant biologist to associate biologist. He has succeeded in extending con. - -1hp e-'
A /ur-Oearig oum t 4i93k> Don Coyote- the Adaptable The deer's most dreaded enemy is on the increase in spite of control measures By S. OMAR BARKER ILE driving a bunch of year- */A ] lings up a New Mexico moun- tain road one day last spring I observed a most amusing sight. From the southward, over the red cliff- head of Hermit's Peak, came a passenger plane, its motors roaring like the echo of doom over the timbered hills. Suddenly, from a piny slope to the left of the road, there emerged a coyote. If he had been equipped with motors, they too would have been roaring, for he was most assuredly on his way. He flashed across the road not twenty feet ahead of the yearlings nor forty steps from us, but he never gave us a look. Under a fence he ducked and sped like a torpedo across a snowy field. Far above, but still behind him, came the roaring plane. Don Coyote, the devil-may-care, had at last seen something that panicked him. With an eagle like that swooping over his tail, he had no time for the impudent, half cautious, sidelong look he usually bestows upon humans during flight. Nor was this the usual crafty spurt to the shelter of timber. It was the wild, abandoned flight of terror. But Don Coyote will get used to air- planes. Adaptability is his middle name. ie is One c L zn the wild whom the en- croachments of civili- zation seem to leave unterrified. Time was when he fled thus wildly at the sight of a car. Now he trots along half side- wise and watches them pass. He has learned that they are harmless when mov- ing. If they stop, look out for fireworks. But even then his noncha- lance does not become terror - merely cau- tion. He spurts for cover. Once he has gained it, he stops'to look back, then trots on about his business. His business, too, has changed to suit the times. Once an indolent, well-fed scavenger, Don Coyote nowadays makes quite active shift for himself. Properly a prairie wolf, he has nevertheless become in the Southwest a killer of the mountains, the deer's most deadly enemy. In the old days of teeming game, there were wolves and panthers in plenty to do his killing for him. He was content with their leavings. Today game is scarcer and his meat killers are practically gone. So he has turned killer. While out walking a few weeks ago I heard the pitiful bleat of a young deer in distress. It seemed to come from the wil- lows along the creek. I ran toward it. Suddenly, not ten steps ahead of me, an enormous coyote leaped from the water and scurried off up the hill. So intent had he been on his kill that he had not sensed my coming. Unfortunately I carried no gun. Outstretched in the shallow water, which instinct had made her seek as a refuge, lay a six months' fawn. Though she was alive, her flank was badly torn. Plainly Don Coyote had already begun his meal. I should have left the deer as she was, returned home for my rifle and come back to watch for the killer. His death would have saved the lives of a dozen fawns during the winter. But I hadn't the heart to sacrifice this poor little wounded deer. I took time to get her home to a warm shed. Then I went back with my gun. It was too late. Don Coyote had returned. He had even followed my own tracks for a hundred yards, unwilling to sacrifice his dinner, but now he was gone. Nor is he only a killer of fawns. I have found more than one full-grown buck The fawn I rescued from Don Coyote pulled down by a pair of coyotes. His method is to run them down. The old- time scavenger, his killers gone, has adapted himself handily by learning the trade himself. Ranchmen, government and free-lance trappers all trap for him and shoot him on sight. But he survives. He is trap-wise, and getting wiser every year. Settlements do not disconcert him. He takes a keen, clownish delight in the nocturnal taunting of dogs with his in- describable yi-yap-yurr-rr-rr-rr-ing. He learns readily how to steal chickens in broad daylight, using tall grass, hay fields, ditches or shrubbery for his ambush. Fail- ing at the chicken yard, he makes a ripping raid on the sweet-corn field when night comes, grabbing a bite or two from two or three dozen ears. He is often in hopeful attendance at the birth of a calf. He helps himself to sheep anywhere, anytime. He has been known to kill and eat domestic cats. In i the grain field he plays-atte exciting game of jumping on top of the shocks to scare out chipmunks and field-mice. He dotes on tame turkeys. All kinds of fruit rank high on his diet card. My father buries his winter apples in dirt pits out in the orchard, and never a winter passes but that the coyotes find them. And they come, sagaciously, early in the night, before the ground has frozen too hard for digging. It is some such weakness as this appe- tite for apples that finally 5etrays even the wisest old Don in the woods and sends his pelt to the furrier-'s. Yet it is no un- common thing to see tracks where coyotes have circled a trap-ringed carcass at a safe distance night after night, too wise to close in for a meal. They can be trapped, but it takes plenty of skill and patience. T O Don Coyote's diet card add watermelons, canta- loupes, turnips, honey, pifion nuts, grasshop- pers, beetles, horned toads, young pigs, green peas, strawber- ries-the list is too long. Easier to list what he will not eat. The Biological Sur- vey hunters tell me he is becoming increas- ingly wary about in- dulging in poisoned meat baits. They also say that of all the predators he alone is holding his own-or better. Others report that he is even in- creasing and spreading eastward again through the farm lands where long ago he followed in the wake of killer wolves and buffalo hunters. He is a jokester, a clown, a buffoon of the outdoors, a prowler, a howler from the hilltops, a taunter of dogs, a dodger, a killer, a vagabond, a fur-bearing bum. But he has one most precious and ever present knack that brings him through -he is Don Coyote, the adaptable.
Large Wolf Taken in Arizona.--The buffalo wolf of Plains fame, which proved
so de-
structive to "white-faced buffalo' after the bison had been exterminated
on the western
& grasslands, still continues to take heavy toll of Hereford cattle
in Arizona, the rugged con-
tour of Arizona's highlands furnishing the lobo with safe retreats. The common
practice of
Vv .taking these marauders in the early days was with packs of fleet wolfhounds.
In the rougher
v;vsections of the West such packs of dogs were of little value, as they
ran only by sight.
Canyons, washes, bowlder piles, and heavy vegetation so obstructed their
view that the-wolf
easily made its get-away. Government Hunter Carl Larsen, recently captured,
near Rice, Ariz.,
the first wolf ever taken in Arizona with dogs as far as the Bureau has record.
While fol-
lowing a cold mountain-lion track with his nine hounds, Larsen crossed the
wolf's trail made
in 12 inches of snow and followed it with his pack about half a mile, when
he jumped the wolf,
This animal, having recently gorged itself with veal, led the pack about
4 miles, when,
becoming winded, it turned to fight. While the dogs harassed it, Hunter Larsen
approached
close enough for a shot. The wolf proved to be an old male, W*Aghing more
than 150 pounds
and measuring 6 1/2 feet from the end of its nose to the tip of its very
short tail. l-t-
is a far cry from running wolves on the plains of Texas in the early '60's
to taking a record
animal in the mountains of Arizona in 1931, but such a thing has happened.
The nearly
white skin of this wolf is now a Bureau specimen.
- 38 -
March, 1931 Hun1er Bitten by Rabid Coyote.-Hunter Ray Williams, of the Idaho District, recently had an unpleasant experience with a rabid coyote that he had run down in deep snow. The coyote gripped his horse's leg and held on. In attempting to dislodge the animal, Williams was bitten. The coyote's head was sent to Boise for bacteriologiol examination and the case was diagnosed as rabies. Williams has taken the Pasteur Treatment. No further cases have been reported. !Banded" Coyote Captured,--Early this year there came to the attention of Luther J. Goldman, leader of predatory-animal control in Idaho, a newspaper clipping regarding the capture, in the vicinity of Kooskia, of a coyote wearing a dog collar that bore 1921 Jeffer- son County dog license No. 231. The collar was vary tight on the coyote's neck, and beneath it the skin was completely bare. Inquiry disclosed the following facts: About 0 years ago this coyote, then a pup, was captured by a former resident of Rigby, who brought it home and made a pet of it. It followed members of the family about and was curbed only C when its appetite for wandering chickens became too keen. When-it grew older it was chained, but shortly broke loose and since then has apparently been wandering about. The animal was retaken in December, 1930, near Kooskia, which is at least 300 miles by air from Rigby, 200 miles of which is over extremely steep mountain country. When taken, the coyote was in good condition, and residents in that vicinity believe it to be the animal that was seen there last winter and summer This furnishes an interesting instance of the extensive wan- derings of coyotes under certain conditions and indicates the difficulty of their control. THE SURVEY
COYOTE INVASION OF ALASKA NEARS NESTING GROUNDS "A furred invasion which has been creeping steadily northward across Alaska, killing and scattering herds of reindeer, caribou and wild sheep, and plundering the catch of trappers, is expected to reach and overrun the great migratory waterfowl breeding grounds on the Bering Sea coast this summer. Coyotes, pursued as pests in the United States and Canada, spread into Alaska a comparatively few years ago in spite of a war declared against them in 1927 are still widening their frontiers of destruction, according to H. W. Terhune, executive officer at Wash- ington of the Alaska Game Commission. First entering the Territory from Canada through the White River section, the animals, last year were reported to be almost within striking distance of the northern breeding range of ducks and geese, where officials fear they can do enormous damage." - American Game Association.
, e4 ] sf . CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, K / 1 283 THE COYOTE AND HIS CONTROL BY E. RAYMOND HALL HE COYOTE, despised by some, loved by others, has both virtues and faults. He is really a wild dog. Inasmuch as the old adage "Give a dog a bad name and he will not live it down" has -a measure of truth, let us mention first a few of his virtues. He is a health officer among game and other animals, including man himself. For one thing, he is a scavenger and on watersheds, which supply water for domestic use, he retrieves many a carcass for food that otherwise would decay and contaminate the water supply, or serve as a lure to filth-loving insects which carry the organisms of decay to man's food. The services rendered in this direction are much greater than the casual observer would suspect. One reason for this is that when the service is done the evidence is largely removed. Several times I have noted the carcass of a deer, or one of man's domestic animals, which in a few nights time was all but obliterated by coyotes. Only the larger bones remained. More important still, as a health officer, are his services in eliminat- ing the diseased and unfit. By taking relatively more of the weaklings than of the vigorous over vast periods of time, say among deer, the race of deer has doubtless been improved. The outstanding service, how- ever, is in taking the diseased. By reason of the ease with which sick animals can be caught-and, probably by long experience, the flesh- eaters seem almost instantly to recognize in their prey such actions as are due to illness-they tend to be eliminated before they can act for long as carriers and spreaders of disease. A case in point illustrating the value of the flesh-eaters is furnished by the willow grouse.1 The grouse were subject to semiperiodic outbreaks of endemic coccidial disease.. Although the grouse were present in fair numbers, each year there was appreciable fluctuation. This influenced shooting. Thinking to increase the grouse supply, well meaning sportsmen had the predatory birds and animals removed. True to prediction, the grouse increased for a time. Then the endemic disease broke out again. This time it spread so far and wide that the grouse were all but exterminated and have not recovered over a long period of years since, where before, a fair number of healthy birds were always to be found when the flesh-eaters were on guard to snap up the diseased before they could spread the lethal malady to so many of their fellows. Coming nearer home, we have some reason to suspect that when the flesh-eaters are removed the California quail may react like the grouse. Dr. Clarence O'Roke's valuable studies of the quai2 for the Fish and Game Commission showed the existence of a protozoan disease in that species. This disease, possibly brought by introduced species of game 1Nature (London), pp. 567-568, 1927. 'Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 14, pp. 193-198, 1928; Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., vol. 86, I p. 1-50, 1930.
284 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME birds, or possibly endemic, takes toll of the quail and when the flesh- eaters (carnivores and birds of prey) are not on guard to snap up the sick individuals the latter linger on to provide disease organisms for the ever present blood-sucking flies to transmit to healthy birds. Also in some places where the carnivores have been eliminated, the quail decreased.' There is good reason, therefore, in the interest of game propagation alone to use the greatest caution in reducing the carnivores. Among the carnivores acting, at least in part, as game protectors, the coyote, of course, is only one, but he is an important one; important in ways other than the one just cited. One of the other ways in which he operates to man's advantage is by acting as a check (not necessarily as a control) on harmful rodents. Here we should digress to avoid the common misconception that all rodents are harmful. The grasshopper mice (Onychomys leucogaster and 0. torridus), for example, feed almost entirely on insects.4 "A great number of these insects are of kinds which damage forage and crops, and prevent us from regarding the grasshopper mice as harmful. However, a great many kinds of rodents, among others the California ground squirrel, are regarded as "harmful" because they take heavy toll of forage for game and stock; they destroy cultivated crops, the eggs of ground-nesting birds, like quail, and act as carriers of disease. These rodents are subject to fluctuation in number. The fluctuation is greater in the polar than in the temperate latitudes and least in the tropical zones; but some fluctuation occurs everywhere. Here in our temperate latitude these fluctuations seem generally to be determined largely by weather conditions and abundance of food and shelter. When an increase goes unchecked, due to absence of the carnivorous animals, or for any other reason, nature often takes care of it eventually by a plague 5 which sweeps away all but a few individuals. As is well known, the damage done before the plague comes to the rescue usually is large, not to mention the sums spent in attempted artificial control. Now right before this happens is when the carnivores play their most impor- tant part as checks. When any one rodent species begins to increase in numbers, the flesh-eaters, naturally, by reason of the ease with which this kind of food can be obtained, concentrate on it and the.numbers they eat often account for a slowing down of the increase until climatic condi- tions again bring the species back to the average. In this way outbreaks are prevented. It is readily seen, therefore, that the action of the car- nivores as natural checks is of deciding effect when the increase begins, not after an outbreak is accomplished.6 In checking an outbreak at its beginning, the coyote alone may have deciding effect, especially with ground squirrels and rabbits, which form his staple article of food. Furthermore, in these two species the plagues which often eventually act in the coyote's absence are of kinds transmissible to man. These are tularemia in the rabbits and the dreaded bubonic plague in the California ground squirrel. In these cases the flesh-eater, the coyote, not only forestalls an expensive out- 'Seton, E. T., Uves of Game Animals, vol. 1, p. 391, Doubleday Page and Co., 1925. * Sperry, Chas. C., Technical Bull., No. 145, U. S. Dept. Agric., pp. 15-19, 1929. Bacillus murisepticus in the Kern County mouse outbreak of 1927; B. tukaren~e in the Berkeley Hills mouse outbreak of 1927; B. pestus carried by ground squirrels in the San Francisco Bay region of California. aAmong the scores of cases to be cited, see, Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 9, p. 111, 1923; and Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., vol. 30, pp. 189-203, 1928.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 285 break of rodents or rabbits, but at the same time prevents an outbreak of disease dreaded by man himself! Suggestively enough, the two outbreaks mentioned above (footnote No. 5) in which plagues broke out, followed ill advised extermination campaigns against the carniv- orous animals. In wild life administration it must be recognized, as trained biologists long have done, that there are complex relationships which make it impossible in most cases to produce, say, more game, simply by killing the animals other than man which prey upon it. Similarily, neither is it usually possible to adjust things exactly to man's satisfaction by eliminating some entire group. Indeed, among the smaller animals, like insects and rodents, it seldom is possible, except theoretically, to exterminate the species. If it is exterminated or even reduced to very low ebb, it sometimes is replaced by a still more objectionable species; or it turns out that in other ways the attempted cure is more expensive than the illness. Thus, if the California ground squirrel were exterminated-and it will not be with our present density of population-the more objectionable brown rat might very well take its place. Some well-informed persons think this probable. Then, too, it not infrequently happens that the exterminated species acted as a check in some unsuspected direction, and a new problem develops! Lately, investigators have expressed the belief that coyote control should not have been carried on in certain areas where deer damage to crops is increasing. The damage seems traceable largely to does. Unlike the sportsmen who take the big vigorous bucks, the coyote takes the diseased weaklings and decrepit does. With a fair number of coyotes might we not have avoided much of the present difficulty which is of growing seriousness ? The case of the Kaibab deer lends support to this belief. Quite a different way in which the coyote constitutes an asset is through providing a considerable income in fur. In California alone the annual return certainly averages around $100,000 and perhaps two or three times that. The coyote might, under wise management, con- stitute an important part of our valuable, but neglected, natural resource, the wild fur supply. Now to the coyote's faults. He takes sheep and is especially troublesome at lambing time. He may make inroads on poultry, Although the figures on such losses are much exaggerated, the losses are real. The fact that it is the individual coyote, one out of a great number, which turns "killer," makes the losses no less in amount. Coyotes have been known to carry rabies, too. Again, although the damage done by rabid coyotes is greatly exaggerated and over- emphasized by many, and although the coyotes do not act as reservoirs for the disease, but get it from dogs, which, if properly muzzled all over the land for a given period of time, would result in elimination of the disease, it is a fact that coyotes have transmitted rabies to domestic animals and to man himself. When this state of affairs is found, it has to be met with appropriate control measures. Coyote control has been attempted by the following methods: (1) By use of dogs; (2) by trapping when furs are prime; (3) by offering bounties; (4) by hired government trappers working in the 4--85369
286 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME fur season and out; (5) by organized drives; (6) by den hunting; and (7) by use of poison. To take up these methods in reverse order it may be said that the use of poison, although widely practiced, is highly objectionable. It is to be hoped that the growing volume of protest against it will soon result in its discontinuance. Its use is justified only in a case of absolute necessity, such as might arise in a serious outbreak of rabies. One objection to it is that the "killer coyote," the individual sought, is no more apt to be taken than any other one. Indeed, because of his canny nature developed through experience with man, he is less apt to take the poison than others of his kind. The main objection, how- ever, is that even when most carefully distributed, either in suet pellets or in meat baits, poison destroys a far greater number of unquestion- ably beneficial animals7 than it does of coyotes. When used in a region for the first time, poison often has really denuded that area of the smaller beneficial animals. Although its subsequent use there against the wary coyote, some of which persist in spite of the use of poison, does not destroy so many smaller, beneficial animals, this is due to the latters having been so thoroughly killed off when poison first was used. Also, the wiser, adult coyotes refuse the poison baits, which are apt to be buried by mice, carried afar and dropped by birds, or otherwise distributed so that they may be picked up later by any animal less wary than the coyote. Many times, too, valuable dogs are killed by the poison. The animals killed by poison have no fur value unless found soon after death. A large majority so killed are never found. The use of poison is the most objectionable8 of all the methods of control. Den hunting, practiced in the spring and summer, enables the coyote hunter to run up an imposing list of animals destroyed. Almost all the animals accounted for are young which have done no damage and in the vast majority of cases never would. The larger number would furnish valuable pelts to private trappers the following autumn or winter before they were old enough to develop renegades. This method, then, is wasteful as regards the fur and, like poison, seldom gets the individual causing the damage. The next method of control, much practiced in the Middle West is the "Wolf Drive." It is employed under the guise of a protective measure, but actually is carried out more for the sport it furnishes. Having in times past, as a rather irresponsible sportsman, participated in many of these, may I proceed to a true account of a "wolf drive's" initiation and operation. The conversation of those grouped about the friendly warmth of the stove in the general store having reached an impasse on national politics and exhausted the weather possibilities, present, past, and future, someone suggests a wolf (coyote) drive. Then and there an area is chosen; a Saturday is set; and eight captains are selected. On the morning of the appointed day a few men with shotguns have posted themselves along the roads on the four sides of the twelve mile square. At 9 o'clock sharp those at the corners start toward the center of the square and by 9.20 those at the middle of each side are marching too. Now we have a circle, twelve miles in diameter, 7Jour. Mammalogy, vol. 11, pp. 362-375, 1930. a$Rearing before the House Commitee on Agriculture S * on I. P. 9599, Serial 0, p. 59. 1930.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME of widely spaced men converging on a central point. As one farm house after another is passed the male occupants, from five years of age up, fall into the line while the mounted captains by much furious riding along the roads, try to keep the line of hunters in circular form. The constant additions to the ranks together with the resultant crowd- ing of the men as the circle grows smaller, form a progressively more solid line which at the finish may be several men deep. Here is the thrill we have walked six miles or more to get. Luck being with us, one or two coyotes are in the ring, and they act for all FIG. 89. Don Coyote, Sr., looking wistful. Close up view of male moun- tain coyote captured at foot of Yosemite Falls trail, Yosemite Valley, December 31, 1914. Photo by C. A. Hollinger. the world like my dog Jake did the time he followed the buggy to town and got lost on Center street. Shotguns boom; boys yell; Jim Smith's tightly stretched trousers' seat, as he stoops to retrieve a dropped shell, proves poor armor for misdirected No. fours from the other side of the ring; Sam Smith gets a stray shot in the knee; but the "wolves" are killed, or else get away, to be chased out of sight by Joe Green's grey- hounds trained for jackrabbits. Anyhow, a good time is had by all and the ladies' aid, at the nearby schoolhouse, serves dinner. Dinner
288 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME over, we boys, in plain sight of the city sports, waste innumerable shells on empty tin cans tossed in the air for targets until one of the sophisti- cated urban sportsmen derisively casts doubts that we could hit the side of a house. With a proper rural hesitancy and injured air we offer wagers on our ability to hit his hat tossed in the air. The wager accepted, a surprising reversal of form results in the destruction of the hat, and another carefully laid plan of the rustic farm boy has demon- strated the gullibility of his object of contempt. But hark! The stentorian voiced county auctioneer has mounted the schoolhouse steps and is offering the "wolves" to the highest bidder. The proceeds, plus that from the dinner, are placed in the hands of the treasurer of the ladies' aid, to apply on the pastor's overdue salary. And so the drive is over. Homeward we go, the more fortunate in grain wagons (now replaced by cars) the women folks drove over, but many trudging across the snow covered fields, little realizing that the none too scrupulous class of gunners who participated have tested their marksmanship on else than coyotes and, in fact, have played havoc with the quail and other small game of the area. The method of employing paid government hunters to trap the year through is objectionable in that more small fur bearers than coyotes get in the traps; not to mention valuable dogs. The fur taken out of season is wasted. The rodents may increase due to removal of their principal natural enemies, Since the work is paid for out of the tax money, the farmer argues, with some justice, that if the sheepman is to have this "free work," certainly he, too, as a taxpayer, should have some "free work," say a government cutworm catcher in his cornfield. It is pointed out, too, that it costs around $25 for each coyote taken, which is outrageously expensive. All those who trap for fur in winter are more than annoyed at this waste of a valuable natural resource. The wise, experienced "killer" coyote is not always first to get in the trap and very often watches his less canny relatives and other species of harmless and beneficial animals precede himself in taking the fatal misstep. For these and a host of other reasons, the system of employing government trappers to work the year around is neither economical nor efficient. Less expensive, slightly less objectionable but no more effective, is the bounty system. This seems really to work only with a large mammal, like, say, the mountain lion, where it pays to go after the individual. When the species is reduced to the point where it no longer pays to go after the individual, no control is accomplished and the net result is to redistribute some of the tax money. Once estab- lished, such a system is difficult to discontinue and too often the bounty system is extended to cover "new" kinds of "pests." Then, as has happened in many counties, the treasury is depleted; the county goes in debt to carry through the year and the bounty has to be discontinued or the tax rate raised enough to take care of the burden. There is the matter of fraud, too. Foxes, dog skins and what-not are "made into coyotes"; innumerable substitutes are palmed off as the original. Without a uniform bounty on coyotes those from all adjoining districts tend to be presented in the one paying the highest bounty. More often than not, bounties, established by well meaning citizens, are paid in areas where the animal in question is more beneficial than harmful.
CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 289 Nevertheless, we probably shall continue to have bounties so long as sheepmen, farmers, and hunters act as biologists; just as we shall continue to have untimely deaths so long as people insist on plying their ills with the wares of the patent medicine man, rather than seeking the advice of a physican. Private trapping for fur as a general control undoubtedly is better than any of the methods already mentioned. Furthermore, where the others have not been employed, it has given just as good results. Of course this was not always true, but has been over the past few years on account of the high prices of fur which, in effect, place a high bounty on the animal. The animal is used. Taxpayers' money is not spent in getting him. Instead, a productive means of livelihood is afforded to many. This alone, however, is sometimes not enough. The "killer coyote" has the knack of keeping out of the sets of private and government trappers alike. Here is where the dogs come into their own, especially in the open country-hounds that run by sight. Before the advent of the poisoners, which spelled the doom of certain types of good dogs as well as that of foolish coyotes, this method was much practiced in the west. No better sport is to be had either. Away after the quarry, and some can run. Although the average coyote can do only about twenty-six miles per hour, some are much faster and give the wolf hounds a good run and now and then a tolerable fight. Here the wise old killer coyote has but little better chance than any other. Indeed, by using one good trailing dog to start the wolf hounds-and a pair of wolf hounds do the work-the killer can be singled out at the scene of one of his misdeeds, followed, jumped,, and quickly dis- patched. With good dogs, one man can, and has, equalled the achieve- ment of the full time control man using poison and traps. Also this method is economical of the harmless and beneficial kinds of animals. In the more thickly timbered sections, like the redwood belt where the coyote has followed man, hounds that hunt by sight are, of course, not so successful, but over the majority of the range of the coyote they are far and away the best method of "control" and get the renegade individual. In review: The coyote, by reason of its high rate of reproduction, adaptability and cunning, will persist in spite of efforts to exterminate it. A few will persist after other valuable species are exterminated by efforts directed at the coyote. Therefore, any' method of control used should not be destructive of valuable fur bearers, game, and other beneficial wild life. The coyote has virtues which make it worth encouraging in certain areas. Outstanding of these are its services as a disease eliminator among game, as a preventive of bubonic and other plagues dreaded by man, as a check on harmful rodents, as an eliminator of decrepit game which may damage crops, and as a valuable fur bearer. The coyote has faults of which the following are note- worthy: It contracts and sometimes spreads rabies. Renegade indi- viduals destroy sheep and sometimes poultry. Where this occurs con- trol must be resorted to. Any effective method of control must permit singling out the individual which does the damage. The poorest methods of control are. first, poisoning, and second, trapping out of* season. The best methods of control are winter trapping, supplemented,
290 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME where necessary, by the year round use of hounds against individual culprits.-Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, December 19, 1930. GOVERNOR ROLPH-CONSERVATIONIST AND SPORTSMAN [The following data and ancedote on the Governor was divulged by his son, James Rolph, III.) OVERNOR JAMES ROLPH, Jr., is a conservationist and sportsman of the first order. A large landowner and rancher in the State, he has spent years in study and development of fish and game resources. It is the first time in many years that California has had a Governor who is so keenly interested in this phase of the work. On his ranch in San Mateo County, he maintains an excellent ken- nel of trained dogs. Much experimental work on various breeds has been done here and some astonishing results are noted. FiG. 90. Governor James Rolph, Jr., starting on the trail of the wary buck. Photograph submitted by James Rolph, III, May 1, 1931. In his quest for superior hunting stock, he has even imported the wild dog from Australia. 'This breed was crossed with the American shepherd dog and an excellent jumping dog for brushy country was the result. The Governor spends as much time as possible riding over his prop- erty and making -personal investigation of the game life. Game nuisances are abated to a reasonable degree. One day during the deer
Wolf Folder From Journal of Mammalogy, General Notes, Vol. 15, No. 2, May, 1934, p. 158 Mother Wolf Carries Food Twelve Miles to Her You "The following observation of Ranger Lee Swisher in the Toklet region of Mount McKinley National Park affords valuable data on the range and home life of the Mount McKinley timber wolf (Canis pambasileus Elliot) and is here given in essentially his own language in letter of October 16 and November 21, 1933. "Last spring (1933) I found several mountain sheep killed in Polychrome Pass and with W , binoculars saw an old wolf carrying meat from there, going north down the Toklat River. I spent over a week trying to follow her trail and at last found her den and pups on a small island in the Toklat River, about three miles below the last hills of the north range. I judged the distance that she carried the meat to her pups was more than twelve miles. "In locating their dens I find that a pair of wolves cover from 100 to 150 square miles of territory while foraging for their young The largest pack that I have seen here was eleven, but their usual number is from five to eight during the winter . . . It seems that they take their intended kill by surprise. Last winter I compared the distance, in feet, of bounds made by an old ram and the wolf that caught him. For a short distance their leaps were approximately the same (about sixteen feet). When the old ram struck a patch of ice he lost out in a few jumps . . . I have not yet seen where wolves chased their victims more than two hundred yards."--Joseph S. Dixon, Wild Life Division, U. S. Office of National Parks, Buildings and Reservations, Berkeley, California.
Aeer Drou~nt lown and halt eaten by wolves near Lake Traverse FULL moon shone brightly on the steel-white, snow- covered lake. It was forty below, and a heavy silence hung over the lake and over the low hills behind its shores. Suddenly a chorus of wild shrieks and yells and long-drawn howls broke into the night. The clamor came from far up a little valley that opened on the shore. A dark form plunged from the thicket and rushed madly out on the frozen surface. A hundred feet behind, four long gray shadows broke from cover on its trail and streaked after it. The yelps grew louder and more excited. The light of the moon showed the hunters to be the great gray timber wolves of northern Canada, and their quarry a fine big buck. In the forest, and across the deep snows in the Is It Instir clearings, the deer was faster than any of ligence T the pack; but through careful generalship the leader of the wolves had forced the Them the I chase to the shallow snow on the lake. Here the pack formed a moon-shaped crescent and herded the deer toward a point of land half a mile down the lake. Although the wolves were excited and were raising a terrific din, they seemed to lag and gained no ground on their prey. The buck had al- most reached the point, and apparent safety, when from the tip of the woods a fresh wolf hurled himself into the path of the doomed animal. There was a quick flash of snapping, tearing jaws and the buck was down to be fought over and torn to pieces while still alive. With glasses I had watched the whole drama, powerless to help. I had been awakened from a sound sleep and crawled out of my sleeping bag in time to watch the whole show. The chase had passed right in front of me and at one time was only several hundred yards away. I rekindled my fire, quieted my dogs and crawled back in the eiderdown. A number of times previous to this night I had read the same story in the snow and have seen it repeated once since. Just as the guide places his huntsmen on the deer trail and then with his dogs drives the deer to the slaughter, so does the wolf leader place one of his pack on this point of the lake, one on the next and usually one on the third point and . h ii Ce then with the remaining he ranges the back country, starts his quarry and carefully drives it to its hidden doom. Does this plan come from instinct or is it a carefully thought out plan of action, executed by an animal that knows how to think clearly? As in man, so in wolves, or in fact any kind of animals, the degree of intelligence varies widely accord- ing to the individual. Some wolf leaders are startlingly astute and others quite dumb. All are cowardly treacherous. Now let us explode a bubble. Everyone has read and heard stories of humans being attacked by wolves. There is no authentic record of the American brush or timber wolf attacking a human being either singly or n packs. The "Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario) ct or Intel- Star" has had for years a standing offer of at Makes $100 to anyone who could prove a single story of that kind. So far the money has earful Men- not been claimed. y Are? The Canadian government had a com- mission that for several years investigated all such stories and could not find one in- stance where anyone had actually been attacked. That wolves will follow a human being, dog team or team of horses, is a well-known fact. For the past fifteen years the writer has lived in wolf country. During most of those falls and winters he has amused himself in the pursuit of these animals, both in northwestern Ontario and in Algonquin Park (in north Ontario). A great many times he has been followed by wolves, both day and night, but at no time was in any danger of attack. In fact, except on the trap line or during fall hunting season, he never carried a gun while in the bush. THERE is a story of a young mail carrier, out of Sudbury A I believe, who was traced when several days overdue at the end of his 300 mile run. The searching party found his sled, the bones of his dogs, and bones of the young man. The snow around the sled was packed down by wolf tracks show- ing that there had been a good-sized pack. When the party back-tracked his trail they found where his moccasined feet had dragged in the snow for several miles. The man was r)TT,'rnnnlv T.Trv M AS'^ 101A. .J lkJ J* %,l'k*" --IL .s . . -
OUTDOOR LIFE MA.13 either unconscious or dead before the wolves had come. Most animals are cruel but few can touch the fiendishness of the wolf. He kills a great part of the time for the sport of killing. When on the chase under those circum- stances the pack range along beside a spent deer that would be easy to pull down, keep him running and tear great pieces out of his flanks and hams, slowly destroying him on his feet. On the ice at the foot of a high cliff on the Petewawa River I saw thirteen deer that had taken the 500-foot leap rather than fall prey to the pack. Not one of them had been touched after it had landed - on the river ice, but many of them were ripped, slashed and had great chunks of skin and muscle torn out] during the chase. ONE big wolf sure put a fast one over on me. Every four days he traveled a certain deer trail. He would make the trip east one day and four days later he would pass heading west. Just what the idea was I never found out but I wanted his hide. Let one place a rotten log across the trail. Here he al- ways placed his front foot on the same spot while stepping over it. The author with a is Left- Ti to. one of the huskies of the author's dog team Below l The author with his team of huskies an d wolf-dogs -~ad al Igotwas disappointment. He had come along at a fast trot right up to the log and stopped, stood for several minutes without moving and then gingerly walked around the end of the log to the side the set was on and up to with- in about three feet of the trap. There he had stopped and looked things over for a minute, then de- liberately turned his back and scratched gravel at the trap until it sprung, left his scent on it as an added insult and trotted off. He never used that trail again. I have talked to a great many rangers and wolf trappers about this instance. Some of them have had similar experiences. All agree that these wolves have been pre- viously trapped and are wise. Cer- tainly instinct warned him of danger but pure cussed brain work made him .spring the trap and insult the trapper. / ~ THE most generally used method § 'of trapping wolves today is by / snaring them. Poison is prohibited ' by taw* and a good law it is, sav- ing the lives of thousands of small animals and birds. The snare is usually a -i steel cable set either spring pole or snub. The set is /7placed on a deer trail or old / abandoned road. The spring-pole set is as follows. First a pole six- ~ teen or eighteen feet long is cut and lashed about five feet from the ground to a tree close to the path. The small end of the pole extends 'oif on his shoulder, a little better than half way cross the path. A long forked pole raises the butt end of the spring pole high enough so that the small end will be about thirty inches from the ground. To this small end the wire loop is fastened with hay wire. The loop is then set cross-wise of the trail. Old branches are used to block both sides of the snare leaving a small gateway where the snare is. Mr. Wolf comes along the path, his head goes through the loop, it tightens, he plunges-throwing the forked pole over, the heavy butt end drops, hoisting him by the neck so that his hind feet just touch the ground where he hangs until dead. Rather brutal, but very (Continued on page 68) *Editor's Note :-Some qualification is needed. In Manitoba, for instance, an authorized officer may poison wolves in any provincial game reserve, and in Ontario expert trappers may be so authorized anywhere. After carefully preparing my outfit by smoking my trap, gloves and ground sheet and weathering them well, using extreme caution to keep all human scent away from the trap set and vicinity by wearing green deer skin moccasins with the hair on the outside, I set the trap, using every trick and artifice to cover the setting. To the human eye it was perfect. That night a half inch of snow fell on the bare ground and three days later about an inch more. The set could not have been better con- cealed. The fifth morning I journeyed to get my wolf MAY. 1934
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BOAS HATCA I totd. --loi-e taXtractio fete.. nke Pionee Metai Beats I reongere. n used Nonsinkable. EguIPeed with mounting i toe ootboard moct~r. R Unabut ,odnhs rowb.at. t- fo teshina and bootios. c..1,9 and deosola lens PIONEER MFG.Co PerrySt G . iO. H d d le b u r y . I n . d Rowboats $36 Most complete line ever offered. at real money-saving Hydro. plane Rowboat $70 and up A VERY FAST UTILITY MODEL FOR ROWING OR SMALL OUTBOARD MOTOR. OTHER I Oi SNI Crosby ing in craft t having dry un tions. I S ft.; d, 450 lbs CA THO 218 PESHT ClUDOOR ,A AY, 1934 ialatria-wnich develops into the gencrally fatal black water fever-are both caused by the apparently trivial bite of mosquitoes. Happily, no sportsman would go into the carefully explained that the fawn was mine and that he, Jerry, was to protect it. In a few minutes he understood and shortly the wolf dog and the deer... - .-* ,i t.[ OI eaO UCSL 0J1 tropics witnout a generous supply of qui- friends. Many a grand romp they had to- nine, which is both a preventive and cura- gether when the fawn became tame enough tive of malaria, to be allowed the freedom of the camp. Modern firearms are the best the world Jerry killed two of my dogs that attempted has ever known. A well placed shot from to molest his pet. the right gun will stop anything on earth. No sportsman would consider hunting THE same big fellow would just tolerate dangerous game without a satisfactory Jgrown-ups but was passionately fond of rifle and adequate sporting equipment- children. In front of my main lodge was but mosquito nets, simple drugs, ordinary a sand cliff about thirty-five feet high above caution and common sense are just as im- a beautiful sand beach. One of Jerry's self- portant to his safety ;_ -A . -tKS in summer was to lie on the edge of the cliff overlooking the lake and beach. Playing in the sand at the water's edge would be from fifteen to twenty-five The Truth About Wolves little tots ranging in age from two to seven (Continued from page 15) or eight years old. From the dreamy, far away expression in the dog's eyes one efficient and those in the know have very would never think that his senses were little sympathy with him. fully alert but let one of those youngsters The snub set is somewhat similar except get out in the water past his little waist that no spring-pole is used. The snare is line and in three leaps the big fellow would lashed to the butt end of a, heavy sapling be in the water between the lake and the or small tree. The snare is set in the child. In an instant he would be trans- same manner as the spring-pole set. formed into a hideous, snarling, snapping Wolves caught in the spring-pole set have demon, but never touching the child. The practically no chance to show individuality youngster, frightened, would rush scream- but such is not the case of the ones caught ing for shore. As soon as he was safe the in the snub. After the first plunge which demon became a dog again. Without even shows them they are caught some lie down noticing the child he would trot up the and go to work on the cable. A fair per- steps to his place on the cliff and there go centage of these actually cut the cable in to dreaming again as if nothing had ever two with their teeth and so escape. Others, happened. He acted as my beach guard after a short struggle which continually for two summers, saved two lives and was tightens the noose, lie down quietly and worth four men or a dozen nurse maids. wait for the end. Then there are some Was that instinct? I bring this chap into that really go down fighting. They twist the argument as he was mostly wolf and and jerk, plunge and turn, snarling and lone that surely knew how , .-1- chewing everything within reach. The ' I saw a wolf at BuckOntario, that mess these fellows make is really astound- weighed 270 pounds. He was enormous, ing. They finally die by strangulation and o of course. The gray timber wolf generally a cut throat. In the winter of 1929, I weighs from ninety to 110 or 120 pounds. lost five wolves because they chewed To tell how high a wolf stands from his through 94-strand steel airplane cable. One footprint, measure the print from front to old fellow cut his noose as though he back and multiply by eight and one-half. had used a fairly sharp chisel. The chief One of the largest tracks I ever saw was ranger of our district shot him some thirty- at Lake Traverse, Algonquin Park, On- five miles from the set with the wire still tario. The track on hard sand measured around his neck. four and three-quarters inches. The wolf, by that reckoning, was forty and three- rDUE to the splendid, tireless work of the eighths inches tall. I saw his trail first rangers, wolves are getting mighty in October and that wine, T ..... W, -1 Pzark. In 1927 there were many packs in low and a blizzard blowing. I was on the park. Almost any winter night the snowshoes near the middle of the lake. hunting cries of one or two packs could be Jerry, the dog, was following me. My heard anywhere in the northern end. To- parka hood was pulled far out over my day there are very few and what are left face, leaving a small opening to see through. have been so broken up that they do not Suddenly Jerry crouched beside me snarl- do an awful lot of damage in comparison. ing, whining and showing a brave front to In 1930 there were over a hundred wolves real fear. I threw back my hood and snared in the park. In 1931 only eighty, found that in the storm I had walked into while in the winter of 1932 I doubt if there the middle of a large pack of wolves. The were fifty. The happy result is that where closest was not over twenty-five yards there was one deer in the park in 1927 away. I did not have a weapon of any there are ten today and the ratio among sort and except that those wolves were smaller animals is much greater, worth $25 bounty apiece plus pelts Many dog mushers will tell of the won- I did not need one. They had evidently derful intelligence of the wolf dog in seen Jerry and I at the same time we saw harness. My own leader, Jerry, was three- them. They sure were in a hurry to put quarters wolf and one-quarter huskie. He distance between us. The wolf leading the was a one-man dog and a strange mixture rout was, from his great size, the owner of love and viciousness, tameness and of the footprint I had measured. savagery. His mastery over his half wild There seems to be a lot of controversy team mates was a perfect example of as to whether animals are guided entirely brawn, cunning and brain work. If one by instinct or whether they think. Person- slackened in his traces Jerry sensed it and ally I would like to get into the argument. whipped him. He was a trained deer dog I don't know much about your animals and loved the chase, of civilization but I sure do know that the One day while canoeing on the lake I little brothers of the wild dope things out saw three wolves chase a little, spotted for themselves. Of course instinct plays fawn into the water. Speeding the canoe a very large part in their lives but, as in to the spot I picked the little fellow up humans, so in the wild to a lesser extent- ann took it Dadc to camp with me. My clear-headed thinking has its share in main- guides built a large, chicken wire com- taining their respective places in every day pound for it. As soon as he was placed existence. I doubt if they would last very in it I took Jerry up to the netting and long on sheer instinct. I scarce within the boundaries-o-f-Algonquin twainauryaotthirt -five b
Reprinted from JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY Vol. 15, No. 4, November, 1934, pp. 286-290 WINTER FOOD HABITS OF COYOTES: A REPORT OF PROGRESS, 1933 By CHARLES C. SPERRY This progress report on food habits of coyotes is based on the examination of 2,584 stomachs collected in 10 western States during December, January, and February, 1931 to 1934. Analyses were made in the Denver Laboratory of the Division of Food Habits Research of the U. S. Biological Survey. Acknowledgment is made of the assistance of Shaler E. Aldous, Franklin H. May, and Cecil S. Williams, of the Denver Laboratory staff, who made many of the stomach analyses and prepared the preliminary tabulations. Of the 2,584 stomachs, 668 were empty, and 219 contained d6bris only. This leaves 1,697 on which to make an appraisal of the coyote's diet during the winter months. Examination of stomachs continues to play a most important part in our study of the food habits of the coyote. Since experience has shown the short- comings of field analyses of stomachs, all of our examinations are made in the laboratory. Some field work has been done and more is contemplated, as a knowledge of field conditions is necessary to a correct interpretation of labora- tory findings. From the 1,697 recordable stomachs that enter into the present study, taken during December (656), January (651), and February (390), the follow- ing summary has been prepared on the basis of frequency of occurrence of the various items. The accompanying illustration, however, gives percentages by bulk. The latter method of appraisal has long been standard in recording data on the food of numerous birds and mammals, and, since the percentages of all items aggregate 100, this method permits easy preparation of charts or graphs. It is often of greater importance, however, to determine the fre-
SPERRY-WINTER FOOD HABITS OF COYOTES quency with which the coyote indulges in certain feeding activities than to know the bulk of the food it consumes on such occasions. This is particularly true when considering the coyote's relation to livestock, poultry, and game. For this reason, the following discourse will deal in terms of the frequency with which items have been found, while the figure presents volumetric estimates. Win ter Food of the Coyote based on the examination of 16?2. well- filled stomachs FIG. 1 CAIRRION-It is not surprising to learn that carrion heads the list of the winter foods of the coyote, for with the advent of cold weather the coyote can find few of the small forms of life that constitute part of its regular warm-weather diet. Consequently an old dried carcass, even an empty hide, is likely to prove acceptable as food, with the result- ing marked increase in the amount of carrion recorded. The greater part of this carrion food is derived from the remains of horses, burros, cows, coyotes, and sheep. In addi- tion all known station material is placed under this heading. By the term "station" is meant the carcass of an animal used as a decoy, to attract coyotes to the spot where traps or poison have been placed. The kinds of carcasses used for station material vary greatly, in accordance with field conditions and the trapping technic of individual
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY hunters. In general, however, horses, cows, coyotes, and sheep provide the bulk of station material, although some trappers get excellent results by using rabbits, prairie dogs, marmots, or other smaller animals as a lure. Carrion was found in nearly half (49 per cent) of the winter coyote stomachs and made up 36 per cent of the bulk of the total food. The fact that very many of the winter stomachs were from coyotes secured through the use of a lure, in the form of a carcass, tends to accentuate the carrion item in those stomachs. Were it not for this contingency there is every reason to believe that "rabbit" would constitute the dominant food item of the winter-collected coyotes. RABBIT.-Rabbits closely compete with carrion for first place in the winter diet. Lepus is identified in stomach contents more often that Sylvilagus but nearly half the time material adequate for generic identification is lacking, so that the entry must be made merely as "rabbit." The percentage of occurrence of rabbit varies from a low of 26 in California to a high of 64 in New Mexico. In 4 States, namely, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon, the average is over 60 per cent, and for the 10 States repre- sented it is 47 per cent. RoDENTs.-Rodents, occurring in 32 per cent of the stomachs, occupy third place in the winter food of the coyote. In this group have been recognized representatives of 6 families, namely, Cricetidae, Heteromyidae, Geomyidae, Sciuridae, Erethizontidae, and Muridae-the relative importance in the food being in the order named. It is here that the mammal student finds especially interesting work, since readily diagnostic parts, such as feet and teeth, are seldom present. Consequently the microscopic characters of hairs must be depended upon in making determinations. It may be added that here lies the greatest difference in the results obtainable through field and laboratory stomach analyses. At best, field determinations in this group have been limited, and devoid of fine distinctions. In the laboratory, 9 genera of sciurids have been determined, while under "mouse or rat," 14 genera, representing 5 families, have been distinguished. Leading inthe squirrel and "mouse or rat" groups are the prairie dog and meadow mouse, with 15 and 189 records, respectively. DOMESTIC STOCK.-Remains of sheep or goats occur in 16 per cent of the coyote stom- achs. The presence of wool in the stomach of a coyote, however, is not prima facie evidence that the animal had killed a sheep. Often the original killer coyote may have satisfied its hunger and left enough sheep remains to furnish acceptable food for one or several other coyotes. Such could be and probably often is the case with any carcass too large for one coyote to devour at a single meal. On the other hand, killer coyotes have been known to destroy a number of individuals in a flock in a single night. Often fragments of an old left-over "kill" in a coyote's stomach are recognizable as carrion by the laboratory workers and are so recorded. In the present work more than 40 per cent of the sheep records were listed as carrion--either because a sheep was used as a station or because the fragments under consideration were definitely from an old dried or maggot-infested carcass. It may be added, however, that field observations indicate that an old, dried-up sheep carcass is unattractive to a coyote and seems to be eaten only when all other sources of food fail. Calf, colt, or hog remains are rarely found in winter-collected stomach of coyotes, having been recorded but 16 times in a total of 1,697 stomachs (less than 1 per cent). DEER.-The remains of deer were found in 5 per cent of the stomachs. This is a slight increase over the 4 per cent recorded for coyote stomachs collected during Spetember, October, and November. A similar difference is noted in the volumetric percentage of the deer item, which is 3 per cent for winter stomach and 2 per cent for those taken in fall. Each of the 10 States contributed deer to the food of the coyote, although in 6 cases the percentage was small. The percentage of occurrence of deer in the winter coyote stomachs from the other 4 States was: Colorado 14, California 11, Oregon 9, and Washington 5.
SPERRY-WINTER FOOD HABITS OF COYOTES McLean (California Fish and Game, vol. 20 no. 1, pp. 30-36, 1934) found deer meat a major food item of California coyotes, but concluded (p. 34) that most of it should be considered carrion. In our study we have not yet sufficient information to estimate fairly how much of the deer item of the coyote's food should be classed as carrion. One Colorado coyote stomach and another collected in New Mexico contained remains of antelope. MISCELLANous ANIMAL FooD.-Infrequent mammal items in the coyote's winter food are remains of badgers, moles, shrews, and skunks. Together, however, they make up but a trace of the total food and only 1 per cent by occurrence. Lizards and snakes occurred in 1 per cent of the winter coyote stomachs. The domi- nant item in this class is the bull snake, with 6 records; rattlesnake takes second place, with 4 records; and the spiny swift (Sceloporus) third, with 3. Other reptiles less fre- quently captured by coyotes include spotted lizards (Holbrookia), sand swifts (Uta), whip snakes, racers, and pilot snakes. Insects, as would be expected, are an uncommon food of coyotes in winter. Of the Texas coyote stomachs, 5 per cent contained insects, but the average for the 10 States is only 1 per cent. Final results showed twice as many records for grasshoppers as for all other insects combined. Other unusual items of coyote animal food include a fish, eaten by a Washington coyote, and centipedes, 9 of which were found in a coyote stomach collected in Texas. BiRDs.-Birds eaten by coyotes may be grouped in three categories, namely, poultry, game birds, and all other birds. Each of the three contributes 1 per cent to the volume of the winter food. Poultry is infrequent, being recorded but once in an average of 40 coyote stomachs. Game birds were found in 4 per cent of the stomachs collected in winter; they com- prised 27 grouse, 13 quail, 4 Hungarian partridges, 2 pheasants, 1 sage hen, 6 ducks, 3 coots, and 1 goose. A variety of other birds are eaten by coyotes. Our laboratory analyses show that nongame birds enter the diet of the coyote once in each 16 meals. Most of these are magpies, robins, meadowlarks, blackbirds, and sparrows. Other species occurring two or more times in the 1,697 stomachs include: Road-runner, hairy woodpecker, horned lark, chickadee, nuthatch, thrasher, and bluebird. Some magpies may be picked up dead about poison stations, while an occasional ground-feeding bird may easily become a coyote victim. More complicated, however, are some of the problems of interpretation that arise in connection with the avian food of the coyote. For instance, there was the Montana coyote that devoured a meadowlark, a wren, and a sparrow along with a meadow mouse and 3 deer mice, although half the contents of the well-filled stomach consisted of carrion (horse), and an additional 30 per cent was made up of rabbit. The most successful bird- eating coyote was a December animal taken in New Mexico. Examination of its stom- ach disclosed a robin, a bluebird, a meadowlark, and a blackbird as well as 2 deer mice and 55 juniper berries; carrion (horse) comprised 60 per cent of the total contents.1 VEGETABLE FooD.-Wild fruits, berries, and seeds contribute 1 per cent, both by occurrence and by volume, to the coyote's winter food and occasionally they comprise the total meal of an individual. Important items among wild fruits are mesquite, with 9 records; and cactus and juniper, with 5 each. The last meals of two Arizona and two New Mexico coyotes were composed entirely of mesquite beans and juniper berries, respectively. A Washington coyote made nine-tenths of its last meal on chokecherries. I It is altogether probable that much of the bird food of the coyote consists of individ- uals killed by automobiles on the highways. See article on page 320 of this issue.-Ed.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY Cultivated fruit was present in about 1 per cent of the stomachs, the 17 records being made by California and Washington coyotes. Apples were eaten by 10 coyotes and pears by 5. One California coyote made a full meal on figs, and another from the same State was responsible for the lone grape record. Grass is a rare food item of the coyote. The Denver Food Habits Research Laboratory continues to receive regular shipments of stomachs of predatory mammals from members of the Biological Survey's predatory- animal control force in practically all the Western States, and the examination of con- tents is progressing at the rate of approximately 500 a month. The next progress report will cover the food habits of the coyote during the spring and summer months. In the meantime, stomachs, not only of coyotes, but of other predatory mammals as well, collected at any time and obtained in any part of the country, including Alaska, will be gratefully received. Denver Laboratory, Division of Food Habits Research, U. S. Bureau of Biological Survey.
ltbratv ot bo leopolb o X hy X e're frad of oves By LEE I. SMITS 1~LL * There is no recent record of a wolf attacking a man, yet unproved reports keep alive a legend which had its origin in the dark ages 0 E VERY winter there arrive in news- paper offices, by wire and by mail, the stories of wolves attacking hu- man beings. Often these accounts are thoroughly circumstantial, giving the place, time, and names of the victim or victims. As nearly as it is possible to form a conclusion from investigation of a stead- ily growing series of reports, none of these stories is true. That is, the intent to attack is not present, even if wolves do follow human beings-which may happen. Move slowly through the woods, still- hunting. deer, and you will sometimes have a bluejay or a red squirrel follow you, cussing you out as a dangerous in- truder. Through inquisitiveness, it is possible that wolves may tag along in human tracks. (Although much more frequent- ly they will cross an old snowshoe trail only after careful scouting.) For many years the United States Bu- reau of Biological Survey made inquiry into every report of a wild animal at- tacking man in the United States. It was demonstrated that men were at- tacked, without seeming provocation, by various kinds of animals, but never by wolves. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, Arctic explorer, who lived for a decade in a region where wolves are found in their wildest state, took pains to investigate and to inquire, and became convinced that wolves never have, in modern times, attacked man. In addition to his actual field experience, he has for twenty years or more followed reported instances of attacks by wolves on human beings, and each story has proved to be pure inven- tion. Stefansson for some years con- tinued to wonder about the tales of Wolves devouring human beings in Rus- sia-there was so much of art and legend relating to enormous and bloodthirsty packs, roving the Steppes. Correspond- ence with scientists and fur traders has served only to drive the Russian wolf menace further toward the region of pure mythology. Prohibition had a certain effect on the dissemination of wolf yarns. When open, public saloons flourished in the logging towns of the northern parts of Minne- sota, Michigan, and Wisconsin, it was from bartenders that travelers derived their information as to the ferocious fauna of the woods. Almost every bar- tender had a wolf story, and most of them believed their own tales. In fact, a great many lumberjacks can give, with the utmost sincerity, plausible accounts of wolves preying on mankind. In the bartender version, the most re- cent attack had occurred the winter be- fore at no great distance from the place where the story was being told. One standard form related to two brothers, Scandinavians, who worked in lumber camps separated by a few miles of woods. On a Thanksgiving-or Christmas-one brother set out to visit the other, and did not return. It was supposed that he had taken a job in the camp with his brother, and his acquaintances were astonished when the brother appeared, inquiring for him. A search was then made, and the bones of the young man were found scattered about the base of a tree against which he had made his futile stand before the onslaught of a pack of wolves. In some versions he had killed a wolf with a knife or club. Similar stories appear regularly in Northern newspapers, and are generally believed by their readers. Chase S. Os- born, former governor of Michigan, has been for a half century a newspaper pub- lisher in northern Wisconsin and Mich- igan, and has personally investigated scores of such wolf tales, all of which were fakes. There may have been the death of a wayfarer in the woods from cold, alcoholism, or accident, as a foun- dation. In 1927, many papers carried the story of a wolf charging into the home of a settler in Mackinac County, Michigan. The animal was attacking a child when the mother seized a gun and dispatched it. A few days later I visited the scene of this thrilling adventure, and viewed the body of the "wolf"-a scrawny collie dog, with a white blaze on its chest. J. W. Curran, editor of the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Daily Star, has for many years offered one hundred dollars for any authenticated case of wolf attacking man, in the Algoma district of Canada, a re- gion where timber wolves are fairly *plentiful. Many claims to the reward have been made, invariably backed by second-hand reports, but it has never been collected, and Editor Curran now expresses his willingness to extend his offer to the whole North American con- tinent. This he has hitherto hesitated to do only because of the difficulty of mak- ing personal and accurate investigation of all wolf stories, although usually noth- ing more than a letter to the nearest postmaster or Hudson Bay post is re- quired to spoil even the most detailed and impressive of these yarns. Harry P. Williams, assigned by the United States Bureau of Biological Sur- vey to supervise state trappers of preda- tors in Michigan, has hunted wolves in the United States and Alaska for many years. He captured the notorious Custer wolf of the Black Hills, the bane of cat- tlemen, and is acknowledged to be as wolf-wise as any man living. It is his belief that the wolf legend itself is re- sponsible for the stories of wolf attacks which are given circulation by well- meaning witnesses. One day a deputy United States mar- shal in Alaska returned from a deer hunting trip to report that he had been treed by wolves at the edge of a small muskeg. Williams listened attentively to the story, took down the location of the muskeg and, journeying to the spot, sur- prised a pack-or family-of wolves; an adult pair and their half-grown offspring, no doubt. Before they could get out of range, Williams' rifle had brought down half a dozen of the animals. What happened to the marshal, Wil- liams is convinced, was that he startled the sleeping wolves, who, not having caught the scent of man, ran at the sound of his footsteps, and made the mis- take of running toward him. When a frightened deer runs directly toward the hunter, it is never assumed that it has bloodthirsty intentions. An animal with as highly organized a nervous system as a wolf's may blunder in a time of ex- citement much as a man may blunder in parallel circumstances. A cool-headed Canadian trapper, in the Algoma district, once annihilated a pack of eight or nine wolves with his rifle. He sighted them eating a deer on a frozen lake. The day was very still, and after he began shoot- ing, the wolves were utterly confused by the echoes bounding from the steep, rocky shores, and raced to and fro in confusion while he picked them off. Each time they neared the shore, a resounding echo turned them back. Did wolves attack human beings in America prior to white civilization? In- dian lore does not list the wolf as" a man- killer. The Jesuit Relations contain ac- counts of bold depredations on livestock by wolves, but do not refer to them as dangerous to human life. One Jesuit chronicle describes a half-breed hauling moose-meat into a fort on a sleigh and fighting off, with his whip, a pair of wolves that ran after the sleigh, snatch- ing at the meat. The Lewis and Clark expedition en- countered vast numbers of wolves prey- ing on the buffalo herds of the Missouri valley. These wolves were unacquainted with man, in many places, and were ex- ceedingly bold. One soldier of the ex- pedition rushed a wolf, gorged and sleeping apparently, and killed it with a sword. On another occasion a soldier asleep at night, with his arm extended outside the wall of the tent, was bitten
The MINNESOTA WALTONIAN by a wolf. As the man started up, the wolf dashed off. It may have innocently assumed that the arm was all there was of the man. It is said that great horned owls have been led into 'similar mis- takes by woodsmen wearing fur caps on cloudy nights. Lewis and Clark were thoroughly de- pendable reporters, and they do not men- tion feeling the slightest fear of wolves. Grizzly, or "white" bears, as they called them, were a real menace to hunters of the expedition. It is recorded, and is entirely believ- able, that in October, 1831, Louis Pasteur, then nine years old, witnessed the death of a man from rabies caused by the bite of wolf in the mountains of eastern France. A rabid animal is insane and a rabid kitten would tackle a Great Dane. Similar to these accidents are the re- ports received by Editor Curran, of the Canadian Sault, of wolves in captivity that have bitten persons. Such reports, of course, have no bearing on the dictum that wolves, in the wild state, do not at- tack human beings. H OW, then, did the wolf legend arise? Were wild wolves ever a peril to mankind? It is well known that the predators readily alter their feeding habits under changed conditions. Buffalo wolves learned to kill stock. An occasional lion or tiger develops into a systematic man- killer. That wolves never attacked hu- man beings in America, before the com- ing of the white man, might be explained on the grounds that Indians tried to keep in regions well-supplied with game, and wolves had no reason to linger where their own food resources were exhausted, so the inducement for wolves to eat In- dians may never have existed. Throughout the wildest portions of Canada, where wolves may sometimes go hungry, and where men are sometimes present, wolves have never displayed any inclination to resort to human flesh as an emergency ration. Many perfectly honest Canadians believe that wolves, if hungry enough, will gobble a trapper, but old trappers and fur post factors- if they have any reputation at all for truthfulness-say that they never knew of wolf attacking man. The largest North American wolves at- tain a weight of 125 pounds. They are exceedingly powerful and sagacious, and exhibit excellent team work in their hunting. It would be perfectly easy for one wolf to drag down and kill an un- armed man. Yet wolves in the woods of North America are so man-shy that they will not approach a deer carcass that has been dressed. But, in Europe, before the use of fire- arms, when settlement had interfered seriously with the natural food supply of wolves, is it not possible that they did prey on humanity? Medieval chronicles indicate that this is the case. An eleventh century document says of famine condi- tions in Central Europe, "Wolves, find- ing so many bodies on the road, began to grow bold and to attack living men." A few such attacks would be sufficient to start the legend of man-killing. Wolves, with their great cunning, their terrifying howls, and their ferocious aspect, have always played an important r6le in folk tales. It is highly logical to believe that the stories of wolves attack- ing persons, appearing every winter in our newspapers, have their remote origin in the tales, truthful at first, told around the fireside in the dark ages. A -some- what parallel legend is that concerning snakes in regions where there are no poisonous species. Where dangerous ser- pents are most numerous, snakes in gen- eral are much less feared than at the edge of. the northern limit of serpent dis- tribution in North America. Dangers chronicled are more blood-chilling than dangers experienced. Wolves are extremely intelligent and adaptable. Williams reports instances of wolves adopting and rearing litters of unweaned cubs, orphaned by a trapper. In the buffalo days the poisoning and trapping of wolves was a simple matter. Now even immature specimens are crafty, whereas an old one, like the Custer wolf, displays a degree of sagacity that is posi- tively uncanny. Indirectly, wolves--or rather wolf stories-actually are a factor in bringing about a considerable number of deaths annually in this country. No hunting season passes without lost men perishing. They die, not from cold or hunger, in the great majority of instances, but from panic and exhaustion. Once he realizes that he is lost, the man who has all his life heard of wolves devouring persons- and Little Red Riding Hood made an im- pression on most of us in infancy-be- gins to quake. When darkness comes, he sees wolves in every shadow, he hears them in every rustle of the leaves. All too often the tenderfoot's last shred of common sense vanishes, and he begins a frenzied scramble ending in death unless rescue arrives. Minnesota's Largest Recent Timber Wolf
File: Coyotev"' Mt. Lion Predation From General Notes, Jiiur. Mammalogy, Vol. 16, No. 3, August, 1935, P. 229: Cougar and Coyo te My friend, Pyeart Hulse, whose ranch is on Canyon Creek, Middle Fork of the Gila River, New Mexico, writes me about an experience of his father in December while on his trap line. I will tell the story in Pyeart's words: :y Dad had a strange experience with a lion last month. He was oilt on Canyon Creek Mountain setting some traps when he came right on to a lion and a kitten, and was within a few feet of them before either saw the other. The lion made away at once and jiuxped into the thick brash, pre- venting a shot. The lion had killed a deer and on looling it over Dad found a dead coyote a few feet from the kill. The ground was soft from a rain of the nrevious day and the tracks easy to trace. On looking closely he saw where the coyote had come up to the k4ll, and there it was that the lion made for the coyote and caught it in a couple of bounds. 7he coyote's head was badly crushed and show ed where the tusks had gone through the skull into the brain, killing the beast at once. Dad set some traps at the deer carcass but the lion did not return. He skinned the coyote." Evidently these predators were not on mch friendly terms as it is sugosed they sometimes are.--Charles A. Gianini, Poland, New York.
TOLF & COYOTE G ray Gestation period,/Wolf - 9 weeks ' Coyote - 6)4 days (C. Emerson Brown, Jour. Mammal., 1936)
IA.NSING, July 12. - Frank J. 'Jators of'
the State Administrative Board hcas found in the files
of his office an original duplicate of a wolf bounty
certificate issued in Clinton county, south central
N'Tichigan, nearly 100 years ago.
The certificate is dated Dec. 14, 1841, and
was mado out in long-hand in the office of the Clinton
county clerk. It roads as follows:
"Coo Cosh, an Indian inhabitant of
said county being duly sworn by an interpreter
deposoth and saith that on the 6th day of
Novombor, 1841, i did take and kill in the
township of Bengalo in said Clinton county a
full-gron wolf..."
The cortificate vwas signed by the county clerk
and the justice of the peace. The bounty allowed for
the wolf was ('4.
Several other original bounty certificates,
some of' wbich are from VanBuron county, havo boon found
by Waters.
---- - LANSING, July 15 P. IT. -- Four male wolves were among the 149 predatory animals killed by bounty hunters in Michigan during June, the heaviest take of wolves since o January when bounty hunters reported killing four The June kill of predators by boun 'i~unters cost the Department of Conservation $1,280. The catch consisted . of the following: Coyotes, 118; bobcats, 27,and wolves, four$ _ budget allotment of q40,000 has boon set aside by the State Conservation commission for the fiscal year which began July 1 to operate the bounty system and pay bounties'*
Release May 15, 1937 UNFAIR ODDS "Montana Fish and Game Notes" publishes the report of eye witnesses of a hold-up and murder on a Montana ranch recently. The victim was a coyote - the assailants, three black crows, according to a recent bulletin of the American Wildlife Institute. The ranchers who 'witnessed the affair declared that the coyote didn't have a chance - the odds were too great. Swooping in turn, the crows picked and clawed viciously as the animal ran in circles for about half an hour. Finally, completely exhausted, the coyote dropped and the crows tore him to pieces. And from Sylvia, Kansas, Grace T. Bigelow, Deputy State Game Warden, sends word that crows killed a litter of nine young pigs belonging to Reno County Commis- sioner, Charles Hornbaker. "What's to be done?" asks Warden Bigelow. A suggestion might be that we develop a taste for crow meat. Properly prepared itts really not bad eating as to our surprise we learned recently. "Bish" Crawford, president of the Missouri Crow Shooters Association, slipped up on our blind side and before we knew it, 'we had literally "eaten crow". Release May 15, 1937
Department of Conservation Lanslng, Miohi gn 'arch 17th, 1941 Professor W. J. Hamilton Jr. A Cornell University thca, e -York Dar 1ill: I have the copy of your letter of earch 13th to Mr. Feeney of the W!isonsin Conservation Department in regard to wolf adini strat ion, As you no doubt know, the official policy of all public acencies in North America seem to be against any kind of - t of this species. This holds true at least for all po itical uits In which this species occurs, So far as the middle west and east are ooncerne4 ichig is one of the few states which still boasts of the occurrence of the timber wolf, So far as officlal policy is c neerned, wolf control is still practiced* As you know a bounty system prevails in this state hieh provides for the destruction of coyotes, wolves and recently bobcats in the 'Tpper Peninsula only, Actually, so far as wild dogs are concerned# the bounty is really aimed at coyotes and Is supported by both sportsmen and farrers with vigor, The number of wolves destroyed as the result of the operation of this system amounts to about thirty Individuals per year, which Is small, eom- paratively speakinZ, id it also Is probably about a* much sup- preasion pressure as the species will tolerate, Very few of these tirtyaniual. possibly are trapped Intentionally by the trappers, Th-ey set thei.or traps out for coyotes and when working in wolf coun- try occasionally they will cat a wolf* Most trappers consider the wolf too scares to Justify the expenditure of any considerable amount of time and effort on their part, So far as our state is concerned, I believe that we are going ahead on this matter of predator control just as about as quickly as we dare and with very ew ez.eptions we are constantly fae-d with rather determined opposition toward our ideas, Judging frm our own experiences its3 going to be some time before the piblio at large really u itands predators and their role in the scheme of things. There are many more points whrich ]I could bring up here, butper- haps could be discussed better at the Mamal P.etings at Chicago this spring which I note you are planning to attend, and wich I also plan to attend, For once the meetings are golng to be near hone* If there Is any further information whic you may desire for your report at the meetin , please don't hesitate to call, We shall do our beat t.rd ha g the problems satisfactorily, Sincerely yours (Signed) A, Y, Stebler Cusino Wildlife Ezperiment Station AYgrmb Shingleton, Michi ;Ian
21, 194 Mo~i A*~ if goea Stte I zvelf Ua ohe*lu lte the wolf ~q coto !f* a mall a eopytoPne and ldoLoopldoWe do not wnt to Le anta0)1latl on this. uattswj on the ooary ol like tbe @ttliel policy of the statesI WhlAa wlvoe occu eoutlirtd at the Usma Zeett ,a in ChloagoWof you pla to to in atA noad&i*arp,;to h wolf situation in Michigan? I knwIt will contribute much to the woetin, "d that yoki unblase4 oboevvtions will do ma orafraltnapoper oliy for the ma-a society* With every goo wih# Copesto
March 5, 1942 File ramtto Go. folder ram folder Wolves foler olves, Foxes, Coyotes $a Martne~te Count Brrl Sotmon of Athelsta21e, Wis., moed to a farm in Silver Cliff Tvp. In 1921. He wus the 3 yars o. He mberh hearin w lves hwl. hey had dep voies aa were probably timber w ves. He thins wves d apeaed about 1,D. About 1926 his brother taped rod f e i . About 1931 foe-haters from Mariatte am ut with dogs. Th~ they got some. Du omO dons. Has the iress1x no foxes &mriag wolt "sI will try to verfy from About 133~ bops to hear coyotes# which were worvin a nighbor's sheep. Thinks there are still so foxes, but not owurous. Coyotes munewus. Gbas oae with oar in 1941. Colusion This looks as it foxes co I when wives remve , possibly beamse they were removed. Also. looks as if at present coyotes might be holding the foxes dwn.
this way the sweetest tasting that you ever ate."-C. P. F. Coyote Doings The following interesting sidelight on the family affiliations of coyotes was taken from a report published by the United States De- partment of Agriculture, Bureau of ,Bio- logical Survey, Colorado-Kansas District, which works in co-operation with the Colo- rado State Board of Stock Inspection Con- missioners for the extermination of preda- tory animals: Assistant George M. Trickel, working in the Montrose section, accomplished a very commend- able piece of work on May 3rd. Near the William Moore ranch, about seven miles north- west of Montrose, Colo., he discovered a coyote den on the east side of Spring Creek Mesa in a hillside covered with thick greasewood. Approxi- mately thirty feet from this den he discovered another den. A short distance from den No. 1 he shot and killed the adult female. In digging out the second den he killed the second adult female. Then, in digging out both the dens with a shovel, he got two litters of pups, ten in number. In the first den there were four large pups and three very small pups. In the other den he succeeded in getting three large pups. Evidence thus showed that the pups m these two dens had intermingled, and that neither female adult coyote was particular whether or not she nursed her own puppies. After killing the two females and getting the sum total of ten pups, he took scent from one of the females, and the following day trapped an old male coy- ote near these dens. As far as has been ascer- tained, this male coyote is the "daddy" of the two litters, which is rather unusual, as is also the fact that coyote pups of two females will intermingle from one den to another. "Are they unhappily married?" "Oh, I hardly think they're rich enough for that-"
IL31~4
Nadisson, Wiseonsin April 7, 144 Wi in Conservation Dept. ,aisn Wisconsin Dear Ernie: The followin Is a report of my activities for the past few days on the wolf cek up. The first part of the week I was In the Flambeau Forest area, andI n the northern end I contaeted Louis Joenson, trapr and resort owner and he in ern as that there has ben 3tibers In there most all winter. Sam was with ae and he also informs me that there has boen 3 and probably 5 timbers in there most of the winter, but we found no sign on this new snow. Saw several coyote and fox tracks thr out this territory. Medium deer eoncentration In the lo operations around Lakeof the Pines and Eergen Lake. Deer a cares in the rest of the ground over Rabbit very scarce, no grouse seen (rufted). Saw several o te and fox tracks on way from Radisson to this territory. Chocked volf sign In my old territory In sections 4B6 & 7 T38R M. Fount large mture buck deer in Boo. 7 that had been shot wItA a .22 rifle 10 lays to two weeks ago ant was In a very weakeneL conitin. Was too weak t run so killed.It. There were several coyote traks ar this doer tut they had n ot attacked it. There were m coyote ant fox tracks in this vicinity and also 2 bob- eat. Aso ogsrunning dser, but fount no4cdr killed by either. .dn w that they are feeding leer. Deer population very ligt t very sarce, this in a very good snoshoe rabbit country. also a good partridge counry but foun n sign at all. Fla i to 20 birds hero last year on his same trip. Geore Edberg aecompanied me on a trip up In the East Fork ant Moose Lake territory. ontacted. R , advised me to go to Moose Lake fur tam and across to CapSawyer ant across to Black Lake and retur to Winter. He informedm that he had seen the tracks of one bunck of timers, five in nuinber and one bunch of two In this vicnit off ant on all winter. We were able to see traeks up until aot1:00 P.M1. when It started to thaw. We fould 1 eo tks, 10 fox ant one timber wolf trek crossin the fire l . ts very soaree. Deer searce exoept In vicinity of Venison crok where there was a medium heavy concentration wo out of the spruce ant cedar swamps alon the coek. F undn sign of coyotes or wolves killing deer* GOPX
Mr. Dn Kolsem of Ojibwa ol ae that he ha seen tmer wolves north of Ojibw on the od Hines rade in the vicint of the head waters of Crazy Hree k chasing dloer. Hni Pearson mIn thi s ter iry to see wbat we could find. ou no timber wolf sign, but saw several ooyote and fox traoks. We actually sawavery large bob cat eat on a fresh killed do. be er was ll warm ad we were ii 150 feet of the eat before he saw us. It was plain to see how the oat killed the deer. The oat must have jupe to the doe's shoulder#, bi the e In the neck aM throat, riding it until It went A ith holes In the win pipe an from loss of blood. The deer was kille l n section 174--. In a new slash area. This I the first and only deer that I bavo ever seen killed by cats. Also found where one more had been killed about two weeks ago. There were severa eat tracks In this viinity. No coyote had been to this or the other oareass. I opened the fresh killed doe and she had two doe fawns. There is about a meium conentration of doer In the logging operations, 71 to 100 leer in this vicinit. R bbite none and ruffed grouse none. Covered about 4 or 5 sections In this vicinity. De to the spring break up I will have to give up this work, unless otherwise inf e. It Is my honest opinion that there are more coyotes anA fox in the northern countles than I san remember. During the past few years the have been slowly Increasing, last winter you oould fint a couple or three tracks of coyotes and fox almost anywhere an with the Increase last year from them one or two females in each vicinity there are now a lot of coyotes al fox. I believe that the increase this year Isgoing to be very large an you no doubt will get lots of olai s for daageto shep. I do not believe that the damage to leer by eoyotes anything to worry about. We fount several leer killed by eoyotes In Iron county but do not believe it to be the practice of coyotes in general. The timber wolf Is also on the increase ant spreading out to territory that has not had timbers In for some time. Bob oats are quite oon again. Snow-shoe rabbit Is ging down hill fast an so are the ruffed grouse. I believe .0% le than last winter. Trusting that this report Is to your satisfaction, I remain Sincerely yours, /s/ Geo., Ruegger George Ruegger. Copied 4-8-44 ga
UNITED STATES wA DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ADDRESS ONLY THE DIRECTOR. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 54ptembr 13, 194 Mr. Aldo Leopold, Department of Wildlife Management, University of Wisconsin, 424 University Farm Place, Madison, Wisconsin. Dear Mr. Leopold: We have received your two letters of August 24 and 30 and greatly appreciate your comments and advice concerning the possible introduc- tion of wolves to Isle Royal. National Park. One of the cardinal points of national park wildlife policy is the protection and perpetuation of vanishing species. Also, as you have pointed out, there can be no question about the value of the national parks for research on wildlife species and problems and the obligation of the National Park Service to preserve those areas so that their value as outdoor research laboratories will continue unimpaired. Frankly, a question uppermost in our minds in connection with returning wolves to Isle Royale is the possibility of an adverse public reaction that might do harm to the conservation of an adequate stock of wolves in the lake states region. Apparently the Wisconsin Conservation Commission is subject to considerable pressure even now to reduce the numbers of wolves. Thus far, Michigan has been able to carry on a mere token control with full knowledge that more, not less, wolves would be desirable in order to keep down the over-population of deer in the Upper Peninsula. In addition to preserving our own good relations, we should like to avoid doing anything that would bring the present protection policies of Wisconsin and Michigan into a possible line of fire. We have seen almost countless instances of opposition to steps designed to correct intrusions on the wilderness parks. Once a condition is established, a management measure undertaken, or a road or building constructed, it is very difficult to get rid of it. Opposition to its elimination is often out of all proportion to the demand for establish- ment of the artificiality. The corrective step of bringing back wolves to Isle Royale might be another such instance. We shall consider this matter further and let you know when a decision has been reached. In the meanwhile, please be assured that we appreciate your advice and information regarding possible sources for securing suitable animals. Sincer4ly yours, Newton B. Drury,,. J I Director. I/
Clipping from the Louisville Times, August 14, 1944. WOLVES NEEDED? Wisconsints Department of Conservation publishes a pamphlet which leaves the impression that without wolves, cougars, and wildcats, maintaining deer herds in health, for hunting, will prove impractical. The Wisconsin report based upon painstaking investigation brings out the fact or apparent faot, that not elsewhere than where predators have been on~rolle d severely, or exterminated, have problems of health of deer arisen; that where such control or extermiation has been accomplished star- vation and malnutrition occur, and artificial feeding is a failure. At the same time the Federal Government goes aheid pro oting deer con- servation and trying to exterminate cougars aid wolves, and tue American Wildlife Istitute publishes a book, TmL:E WOLVES OF 1IORTH ELICA, which says their total conquest has been neoess~ry to final settlement of any country they inhabit; a book which, the advertising indicates, advocates extermination. It is not, apparently, trae--although it is unimportant in this dis- cussion--that knolves are untameable and it is not true that their total con- uest has been necessary to final settlement of any country. If deer hunting is to be stabilized maybe we shall need wolves, cougars and bobcats in appro- priate situations. isconsin is rich in experience. ol,
-3- is such help aN involve poisoni wessional Wolfe 2. BecauSE Michigan there a method for at 3. If youi men who could k bringing the pi 4. What 4 to trap and shc can. be directec be initiated wi of the wolf ma3 ed deer herds.
i7t f4j, m f V.-V
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
CHICAGO 54. ILL.
ADDRE-SS ON4LY Decmo
2 4~
DnW Oft. MV~OMA W~K SEMiAC
Dr, W, H. Burt*
Curatr of Miamls
Dear But s
Thank yo for your letter of Doomber 26a the statemnt by Co&r regarding
the wlf on Isle Royalo, The bare statement is er~tainly open to qusin
Hok
mvr, I certa1iy agreo with your opinion that the wtl shuld have bn Abl. to
coas to the iand*
I appreolate very uh the trouble you have ta In thin regard*
Sincreliy yours,
cc: Pro. Ado Mood with copies of Mr. B t c 1 OanDr
Burtts letteV Of December 26. itrH Nhln,
COPY STATE OF NICHI GN DEP OF CONSE RVATION LANSING 13 December 20, 1944. Mr. Victor Gahalane U. S. Dept. of the Interior Mational Park Service Chicago 5 Illinois Dear Mr. Cahalane, Your letter of December 12, regarding the presence of wolves on Isle Royale is at hand. We can find no evidence that wolves were ever on the island. As you know, Paul Hickie did a lot of investigating on and about Isle Ryale, and a search through his notes reveals no evidence of wolves. Hickie seems to have oonoluded that while wolves may once have inhabited the island, there is no actual record available. Hiokie states that coyotes are frequently called "brush wolves" in Isle Royale, which may account for some of the confusion in trapper's and hunterts conversation. After looking over Hickiets notes we doubt very much that wolves were found on Isle Royale since the coming of the white man, if, indeed they were ever there. Very truly yours, H. D. Ruhl In Charge, Game Division (sGR) G. W. Bradt By G. W. Bradt Game Management GWBPO
COPY UIVI TY OF 1ECHG ME"YOF" ZOOWZGY AM, ARBOR In GM 1 IL, Victor Ho Cahalma Nationl Park Service, Chiazo 54, Illinois- Dear Cahalawi The only published record of the wolf on .sle Royale, of which I am amre,, Is that by Coner (A Key to IEohl~au Vertebrates exaept Bires, b Allen C. Conger, Z*hiean Agrulture Collee, 190). On page 60 he states "The Timbr Wolf is not o Isle Royal* and in may parts of the Upper Peninsula." I don't know where he got his information. but I am inclined to take it a bit cautiously~, So of hie statemts are obviously based on .othint other than facts. Hwer, I see no reason why the wolf should not have erossed the ie to the island* My guess would be that they wre there, but w he no definite reoord Sincerely yours.0 (SD) . Burt W*,'ff*Burt Curator of Maznls
I Q I ~7l. RMOMENEP0FO HADAOE ANIXALCOTL V Tts reotsaizes the solleattv. opinion of a poial comtt of staff embers of the University of Wiscensin, appointed by Dea F. B. PTwa, at the reust of Mr. Frak Qaaes, seerpta7 to Acting Goernor Godad The emnttee h4d at its dLspoel, durin the progss of the sty: (1) the tostten of farmers In orther Wiseonsin who have sauestia lossee rom predatory an s animals Incluin eoetes, wove ead bear; (0) the historial and statistical data *n bounties for the past 75 years In Wiseonsin as eepiled by the Wiscosin Conevtion Deprtusat; (3) the ad'vice of Dr. Stanley Young of the tU. 5. Fish end Wildlift erices, who has reently pablished a very couple%* treatise, Te Wolves of North Amera;' (4) the advice and testi- m. f a highly skile twep.w, Mr. Ba Jueggew, of Sawer County, Wisecensin. A AXIA P1M EM kLg Te commttee wiksh* to eubae at the Ouset tht etetn- nation of preatore in the region ts neither weeosnde nor souht. rh ~Wonstment of rual toning arn5 by **untie# to regulate the usse of lAnd for forestry, rereetion and agriculturo
the estabihaet ot narlz1y five million of acres ofpuli forests, the active promtion of roraea uses of S land by buaters and te~rlts thog tate and privately fianed. adver- tising the removal ot Isolted settlers fter the uamoo their properties at ptbUOc expese, all boar testimony toa pattern of land use In northern Wisconsin that doe not admit ot the comlt# oxetinatin of any astive spooi** tf Animal. ?hey A"e esential$ in limited numers# to a prope balene. .t wild life within the region, *nM to affor maxin use of theo foresat &Md reereatiss area by sT rtsmeni and naturalists, On the other hand the general adopt ion of a system of live- stoat farming (dairy cattle *an sheep produotion) en.couraged w4 promnoted by the University in suitable sec ti one In n~rthr Wisconsin~, bring with it a more Imed~iate task, the protectihn of domestle *tok from predatory animals. Hoever, even te ez- tension of sveh livestock operations does not reqire total extermi- nation of prdtory animals that maintain bulane whisk reflects to advanasge In agricuturo1 as well as recrational wpheres, The pobie, therefore, Is one of establishig amd min- taing reasonable controls on numbers of wild sanals permitted, to remain In the area, and of 9seleting the measures t* be followed In exercising these sontrole nest efteetively. Such pro.4ur must keep In mind the mot *"npatent use of rublic funs, as well as taot-eu .4 4d ata on~ wild animal population and con-~ ditionse that are now In the possession of the. Consevation Department or tht may be obtained by that Department inathe eourse )f Its work. 402 -
(0ad NUI MLM1AlA 4, PE2AA19 I% is %At optino of t cui~tt mtt tii wespuslblitr mutbe diided for damage by wild animls to apioultural *opes and livestok. When any taimal is placed# uner pratl.n by the State, and rartieullyw suah an an1ial is declared to be Set, tne of whiah will be 1te t spotfla seasoRes an platess It slearly baoemos the dut of the State to pay,, ot ot it& gm huting license Ime, sun* to .inpensat* private Indil- vMls fo loese# usta~nod to o or ivte k by w_14 aral*. bars, deer amn toess, patitularly where toets a" proteted by a closed season, reprtsent this class of animal. On the ether had, eoytoes wolves AM wildats ae not so p- t"tM, hence tey are not the obligation of w public agony eher.4 with the dufty f pzet the propation Ad, proect ioe ot gat far tb. benefit of spotmen wh tim el o the work tewo huntin license. Thy becoe$t if an obligation at all, an obli- gatis a tae generl oublic hieh 'benefits as Its eltisis P~serin the puarsit of cerce and .gwioultvvre. The slt% that blaeks a harbor io in a sento, a rat hm akswe- borne ee e at least hardous if not impsible# am tbe pule, has tar a **st or me rswosis4 Its obligatien b rethe axa at ect. khe mai n is ithe a of eoyotes aMd wlyts is whether the hazard in oontrolled by full-tiso 'Paid employees# or by oscsioals 4labwtrs* who get paid for their labor strictly on the basis at their aecomlisla, seats. where ta be so valid t mataant h hssta the cost 1.s p*rUbe on* ehaeabl to the 1general fund at the State, not the eserratios tunA.
(C) fWS -CMSU TPRMA NXL 140 ~ ~ ZMW oiie mp oa~omdOho C-d Stil 0inma In. UpT c. 6 0.#A.Cifo L~LOU SoahCuff Gle nor 04SU 0 0 2 to~ %-0fto I a 0 0 0 so fI-ov So6Aqu 4 ismt of wles AA D*- iS~~~af "tWboomm ~I Usiew 20 1w o,3v A41P am Sk" am ob" Sbod CRIA Sb*4 Sb*4 2-of1ba- &Gg SQR bef- lat$ ______ A. 0aho lnM ja . sem "Ater _so" Vult- SAVW~Swo Iri ~rao *o! o to L 20W poe or" 1 m go* TOC,4 ly4h Ufo Lalst2 04 - 1M floo P0fA sta ummom '4 'apI epofe 3-"V U.".- -0.cu~m o 1Wmabs -~no) Ladr iw a opwaio *v is. 04Orn. ftt adm *do,& Q11, 1 vW voltv" uwkwft VOILves sim nma Bvftm Wronstu 00400 Lal""a 3"Isma n GmWp 4 as"
Tht hre Is ne* for fast noyn contol msres, tb* commtte offers as wil~ine the wnrt a livestock lpsose sgastained In Rusk Cmuy. This reot based on partial returns trom a qustionaire submitted by Comty Agant E1e Orber,, indi- cates tho .ztat of livestock damagoo sm&Ined as a result of prdtoy aa1ima depredton. H~.Mtaations Far Legslative Th *omt to. feels that w eomstonn for .ffeetiv* regulation aW restrat In both Came and noan aimals wlfl Invove tw procedures% (1) li1slative &Won that will permt immdiate wlubursstat for lsses Incurred through prdeou creaure* with ceRO-r@t Inooatives for the revuatin of such *reatur5 which hay rfreheM deetwuive nubws; (2f) logis- lative action that will prit loagew time stMles and esaM investigations for the parpooe of establieM~n pomaent balase betwesn 1W1s*oon1 agr1itura and rter~atlouaI re se Ina the nrthWRn area. TL~M~gf.(#aai. lups lyas) It le reeonede that sine* testimony presentd by wilftrppers and Consevatloa Doparft rewso.uei tndiaR-te eui.rl that timber wilves, unlike .Waotes or brush wilves, shu 0iliationo and e-a little 4anae to dowestle *nms, no Immeia-te steps be taken to reis now exterminate 40W 4 W
this spotie. The ti1 volt la an 1Mporat agent In tb* 4WO~legioM oyel an sa the verg of extintion I iA #sonsin thre orI th* beot Itret fvl ieenaalnatri zmtion of this sp~oelxsm be rvetd 11agl(yn nd~) It to~ room~~dta ic e losses from wtle~ a ysv bee oust e by farmer I nothr Wiwua1 IMbit th vn are &ad fee on rabbits *ad do only Oacaonal tsag 'to tinetUo fm4 ad livostook no roUsal measres betae at tw a t1,. bwat7 b* Imeitely r~te on the soot* to b~rn it wA~w snstro - thmrftm* meu the losses duo to these predators. 41h# estowstl*R of the bouty system will permit man Iividuals to participte in the sntrol of Whe predtor and wtUl distrbu the benefits (Pqwts for kills) Over awvid are. Aycootos of the bount system otr to Its feva smoag tW5o and sheep iiiuer wo have sustsAaed loses It Is sipifia~t 'to note that in an i * e themo s" Rot tho sa who would oslliot bouty paymet* Pamets of bent an *oot..ahod be m~do out of the Ceta fun of the Stoto and the amuts paid tor Iividual sRizls killed or trpe shoulcl be kept it line withsila payments ade by the at** ,f Mtinesota and X14RU . This Ism an important pro O Is oe to ptovet* wossiw py~t Wagmae y heUpoof'Wsoenitfo soyot~e trpp or kille ini these adjotiig stabs,
rx(vjjjes r~'v uroew,)n by thi ~~shs U1tfle dir'ect *ffoot on -,irlu turw in ncrt)# rn '1e'soi ,nsldm.. has eendon.to g~ f !7ro-,jn ntagq bi, o-,-~e nd to rabbit*, bit Vkila pre , ,tlon while exte-nsive, Is a~~~i~novn the ncn1q ereti@R p raj.DL of the Statse rpther thaui an~ Im- ;Sear 4m~o *erlinu) The *I-easin Qcrasorwtl-n Gomission has this year (1944) Itkttte t "ree sop4ratie mmaa'ares tcrr the *@atr@1 of bear in W41sessin. These were: (1) tbe o,ab1iisftent of a special beir seamen In r'laotmbe; (2) the annou&rent bear *nd 4e* seso In * etnber; (3) the provision ZhFt any l.An vnr bo permitto4 %o 'kill or trzi boiut on his Premies at any time. The oo=1tte# rnoo,qends that th~erm be a mleslic iappropri- ation out of the onservaticn fund of the Itate to pay all bear damage clims. The amount of this aPpropriation wiild rhe baset on the exnperionee of the pact several y..rs In admlnista~rlng sech damuge claims. The committe fools that the p1r-tsent arwoo.4we for payment of these losses xwt tie Circuit Judge kac.ting vie a-rlltotr betvoeen the %4onserystlo 'Department awl the fawiner, In case of dsue Is etrl aifooy The sommittee does not wish t"'eown an rfoedurp that Vould In any vay limit the pow-vers tW, Vhe MsCe-nsin C-.serva4tion eomstssion In either exteaiding the ove seasun (partioulfArly In the spri'ngiun!b of 11 ah--Aoril or Xay), ar closing seFaons on bear. '06.
Boar shoud be t"re a as # gn animal an Its nubers kept in harwoay --Ith Its environment, %his can best be Aoan by reesoable and Oartully time repgul*.tbR. rho qnmission sho fld, be In a position at al tines to det, rinoe bear p* l-tin tr#nds and to Institute Immedlate action when nraeosxswy. The Com:ilsaon sho"Id be perItted to use its disareition in daV6etrninlry ihen tbe nu r of b"ar have 'ean suffileiently reded so that no a oi open season is nee4. Under no condItins do we f avow bounty on bear. Tha State has the means at hand to get rie of Its killer ber threug its Speoinal trapper system, and %has to renovo the cause for a larges damsg fund. I, Long Term iVasvres The following long term weu e8? ar. propsed: (1) That these two agenoes, the 'W8nsossin Conservation Depaurtent and the University of Wtiseonsin, establish a speclal study of a mini i of years duratien t oatermine essential factors having an Influence upon th sudden Increases ow door*e&#* In population, migration aovonents, food habits and any other *haraetersties that in the opinion of the ceperating agencies make these animals a hoaad to agriculture. (2) If the present bounty la on eoyotei and. foxes isle be enntinuedt, we reseuen that oaraass s or oresoeinoe parts of bountied animals be mate available upon request to the Conservation flpartment or the University if Wiseonsin for examination and study.
we # fatvot ooperative control on1 a county unZit bas Involig the use Of vol1Vhy maR poVw under direction of 4 qualified lede So rouats rjubers of predats when th~y be- *am* 5U44.#517 detu y ad a 40"04 to farm livestock many authorltls are sk*ptleal aS to ShO *ttftlvohse Of the boutyt sys tem. Therfore# ,* W9R4mn that experimens should be intiadted to tet the su2itablitY of other control s~us~a toWisconsin$* predator proble UAIversity Commttee /a/ Axthar D. H~asler, Zoologist /s/ Fred B. Tm~k, Extension Forester /a/ Jan* J. La.7, Sztonsion Animal HubasAl /s/ Chairm #altW A. rkowlands, Kxtenslon Spervisor of 00UAtY 46gents Matisoa, 'iRoni Doeembe 1*, 1944 1o~ied
WOLTS Aldo Leopold (A discussion following the film "Wildlife of 1nalWi by Adolphi brie.) Adolph Nurie was sent to Denali (Mt. McKnley) to aser the question: Are wolves destroying the mountain sheep herd?" He foud that tn 1 wolves were getting only a few lambs and old brokn-toothed sheep, where s a decade preius, when sheep had overgrazd their range and overflowed tto smooth topogpy, mh heavier mortality from wolves had prevailed. In short, he found wolf predation on sheep to be automattally adjusted to the shee herd: when sheop becam too rousA wolves trimaed them down; when sheep became soarce they Itabited only the roughs' and hence were secure* Similar compensatory mechanioms are being discovered in m other predator-prey relationships. Failure to sppreciate this fact may lead to serious errors In conservation polioy. For example: Wisconsin has now re-aaoted a wolf bounty, despite the faot that there are probably lees than 5wolve left in the state. A reaent increase in oyotes, with heavy losS in sheep a4 other livestock, p1actioally forced this action. Yet the continae of the bounty might extirpate his, in trnf might injure the ultimate welfare of the deer herd, which In 1942 had outstripped its supply of winter food. and had to be reduoed by an open seon on females. In the wolf-deer relatlonship, the wolf tonds not only to trim down exoess nubers, but also to Improve distribtioa by breaking up oongestions. Deer herds subjeted to norml predation never overtaxed their food supply, and deer 'irruptions' are still uzkuown in Mexico an Canada. Irruptive
behavior began with federal extirpation of wolves and cuars in 1915. In % deer troubles likewise followed the removal of predators. Artificial feeding is no remedy for excess deer, because deer do not stop eating natural browse when fed on hay and g&*. On the cotnar , the drain on natural foods is increased by artificial feeding. The end result of prolonged artificial feeding of deer is to pauperize the herd and to eliminate those wody plants which yield ntritius browse. These good food plants are then replaced by worthless ones. Mea 1.i the deer deteriorate through al trition it has been proved by experimental toots that doer do not maintain their weight on any'rion devoid of good browse. These prey-predatofood relationships are not understood by the oublic. Viny conscientious sitisens are indignmt over the reduction of the Wisconsin deer herd, and now claim that "the remnant is being fed to the wolves". They do not realize that wolves occur in only 8 Of34eeoountie5, and that there is only one wolf for ach 2,000 deer hunters. They assume that good doer hunting annet exist on the same terrain with wolves, whereas h!story shows the contary: in fact, Seton estimtes that in Pennsylvania a wolf per 2 s uare miles existed at the time of the best deer hunting. For these rAasons, the publication of authoritative prey-predator studies, like that now given us by Mrie, is of great importance to sound conservation. ec Dean Bssell Mr. Swift Mr. Feeney
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR \J NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ADDRESS ONLY THE DIRECTOR NATIONAL PAK SERVICE (54) September 23, 1946. Mr. Aldo Leopold, Department of Wildlife Management, University of Wisconsin, Madison 5, Wisconsin. Dear Aldot You will be interested to know that on July 13 a temporary employee found fresh wolf tracks in the mud near Slough Creek in Yellowstone National Park. A good plaster east was made and filed in the Mammoth Museum. This is the third substantial record of a wolf in Yellowstone in recent years. During the winter of 1940-41 an animal was seen near the hotel at Canyon, and a cast was made of a track. I have seen this cast in the park museum at Mammoth, and without doubt the track was made by a wolf and not a coyote. About two years ago last summer, a park ranger who is an exceptionally good observer and ac- curate reporter saw a wolf near Dunraven Pass. I believe that the best interests of the species will be served if no publicity is given to these observations. Sincerely yours, Victor H. Cahalane, Biologist.
October 5, 1946 Mr . Victor H, 0hln National Park Service Dear Viet I a rmwo -oleased to hear about the Telwstone wof, and I appreolate yor tb pains to let m kv about it. Thre should of course be n mblicit let's Jst hope for a seonid one, I assume this iit be doft from O.nad, I am letting A11 Feeney and D TIwpeon see your letter, but they will unerstand tat the information io oonfide1l oth of them sr, our views about wole. Yours siacowolys Aldo Dool cc Yeany and Thompon~
ERNEST SWIFT-ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOREST$ & PARKE--C. L. HARRINGTON COOPERATIVE FORESTRY--F. 0. WILSON FOREST PROTECTION--NEIL H. LE MAY INFORMATION & EDUCATION-* J. H. H. ALEXANDER (on1 RVATlOn PI&H MANAGZMZNT--ODR. KOW. SCHNEBERGER GAME MANAGEMENT--W. F. GRIMMER LAW INFORCEMENT--A. J. ROBINSON FINANCE--C. A. DONTLY CLERICAM.--MISS LYDIA STUMPF TflT MADISON 2 November 30# 194 FILE REFERENCEt Mr. Victor arkiula Herbster Wisconsin Dear Mr. Markkula: We wish to thank you for the wolf skin which arrived today In good shape. You did a fine job of skinning it out. It will be a good addition to our study of skins for eduational use. Our preliminary investigation Indioat-s that it is a timber wokf and not a brush wolf or coyote according to the bounty claim. Our dclsion Is based largely on the total length of the animal which is considerably more than the maximum for coyote. Also, omeo e evidently weighed the animal, for the bounty olaim listed a weight of 70 pounds and that Is why we believed it was not a coyote and arranged to purchase the skin. We understand you did not weigh it. For our records to go with this specimen, would you please answer the following quesitonsI 1. Where was the animal taken? Can you give us section, township and range or else a definite distance from a speified village? 2. Was animal trapped? 3. Were other wolves running with It In a pack? 4. Was it a male? We believe it ws but wigh to be positive. 8. Whrt date did you take the animal? Thank you for this Information. An envelope is enclosed for your convenience in replying. Very truly yours MANAGEYNT bIVISION W. L. 9oott, Supervisor Cooperative Game Management WE8 tI DC. Jo;n omm Leo old .1 r. Yohn me, Jr., TJ.W. E. J. VANDERWALL. DIRECTOR
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CHICAGO 54, ILLINOIS December 19, 1946. Mr. Aldo Leopold, Department of Wildlife Management, University of -isconsin, 424 University Farm Place, Madison, Wisconsin. Dear Aldo: The two copies of Swift's publication arrived. I should have informed you previously. I appreciate very much the trouble you took to have the bulletins sent to me and hope it was not too much bother. Undoubtedly, there will be an opportunity for you to get in on the Mount McKinley wolf preservation scrap. The Camp Fire Club people do not change their minds easily. (I could almost drop the word "easily".) I hope it will be possible for you to get to Mount McKinley sometime, and that before the wolves are all gone. The opportunity which I enjoyed on several occasions in August 1940 for watching a number of those fine animals may not occur again. The principal sparkplugs of the Camp Fire Club's campaign tried to persuade the Boone and Crockett Club to go on the record in favor of a wolf extermination bill. From someone who was present at the annual meeting two weeks ago, I ha*heard that Gabrielson really spoke his mind (in our favor) and practically called the Camp Fire Club boys a bunch of ignoramuses. Sincerely yours, Victor H. Cahalane, Biologist.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ADDRESS ONLY fI THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (54) . Auust 11, 1947* Mr. Aldo Leopold, Departmsit of Wildlife Management, University of Wisconsin, h24 University Farm Place, Madison 5, Wisconsin. Dear Alde, Because you have been interested in the subject of a predatorfbr the beavers of Isle Royal,, you should know of a mimeographed "Report of Wildlife Studies in the Rocky Mountain National Parks in 195" by Ian MTaggart Cowan. A copy of the report was sent to us by the National Parks Bureau of Canada. As you may not have seen it, the following information is quoted from a section dealing with the food habits of the wolves of Jasper and Banff National Parks. *In certain areas beavers are an important dietary item. For instance (25 out of 60) of the pup scats at the Buffalo Prairie den consisted entirely of beaver remains. Here beaver exceeded in importance deer and elk combined. "As stated above Buffalo Prairie has for a long time been, noted for the size of its beaver population. The many streams that wind between the rugged hills and ridges are a succession of old beaver meadows and dams in various stages of disrepair. There are still several active colonies but the aspenst the favorite beaver food, have been killed to an extent that certain beaver colonies are subsisting on Jack pine. Others are wandering many yards from the ponds in search of food. These circumstances render the beavers easy prey to wolves, coyotes and bears. There is little doubt that wolves and other predators are effective in reducing a beaver population that has eaten itself out* In this area the beavers have worked progressively further and further up small streams so that when the last food is eaten they cannot find sae passage to a large river or lake s The streams here are many of them so small that they offer little protection to migrating beaver. "T Itw.masa -nr wa w4AAn. -&n. 4-4 ~AJ------------ W V. U iSU.LjJ U[ . beaver population from increasing until it is so large that safely available food becomes inadequate.
At first reading, paragraphs two and three seemed a little contradictory to me. After studying them over, I infer that Cowan believes wolves do not catch up with the beaver population until the rodents must travel "too far" for food. Then the wolves find easy pickings and really out down the beaver population. I expect that this would happen on Isle Royale if wolves were present. Coyotes are present on the island, but are comparatively few in number. Small prey, such as hares, are scarce, and beavers are in- accessible in winter. Moose would be available but rarely, except as carrion, Perhaps because of this limitation which winter imposes on the coyotes, they have never become sufficiently numerous to show up as a major enemy of the beavers. On the other hand, wolves would be able to subsist on moose during the winter. Sincerely yours, Victor H. Cahalane, Chief, Biology Division.
D--. Vicor~ H. O ,.alan
Tbn quotati~on frOT. the Cownn ror in extremely
Itoroing. Do youknwhi- personally? IZe
hin V4s year and vW mtlng of him4s Wh.
It spen very plausible to -no tmt the length of
tetrip fo* food shm,.l etrmn the abilit
of alasto cate-i baavrr,
Al1do Leopold
Aumst 13, 1947
Xxtrmt from *The Goo* Bid f California* Grinnel -3ryn - Store (Pli~d b U*~iwsity' of ol. Pre".) Ofts grnnfagia Roarune habesn a mo of detroyin tk q and yoa of Valley qail. An attmt to obtain II~t on this point brogb little psttvo evdec. !kw U2wstition mad a rview of qvi Vli*.d referenc to tte food of the Ro12me inalifomais, as wUl s tb aalst of .1gttytrs stmacks of bodrrs ta in soutm Celt- foui (X.C.ralt, 1916). The . netgto kwd bt auv bsa -we s occasionall atac smal birds its blrd4441ia aad eg-atn kebitat hare bee =Weatd and that the k1ilin of Mei bird s an injurious .pecils is Wholl =-stifie4, It is only in v* rainea~ that young qpil a"=99d
P.fr ()A o e dg r P.265o Wolverine (Caroagie-u) "Althouigh exceedingly rare, was occasionally met with in the mountains". (DOTE: Unless he means Colorado only he must mean New Mexico since he covered no other States. A Canadian with with him, which indicates Colorado). Ruxton heard "most wonderful stories" about them buffalo", Ruxton saw one while hunting sheep, but doesn't saY where.
DILLY BTI2DL it 11 PT 500 UJ L'. Forust crvicu Fbbruary.7, 1923. oouthweostcrn District Rcc -ived in the Librory; Ilw io:ico Colleg o f .L~ iculture, Bulletin To, 56. The duty of well water and the cost ,no -nroftt on irrigated crops in the Rio Grardo Valley by Vernon, Lovett and Scott, T ~';riterdosks:~ There is a c-,ll for c stcnocra-phors' typewriter desk which we "ro unable at present to fMill If ny sunrvisor has one that can be spred, please advise. Di E ,.ork According to the Lincoln Bulletin, the Salazar Cnnyon Road which is being constructed under the direction of Forest Examiner H. D, Barrall is neal'ing completion, This road is both a Forest and Comaiunity development project. Its major industrial use will come from wood deliveries to the towM of Lincoln and to the U, S. Marinc Hospital at Fort Stanton. It will also facilitate the delivery of form produce to those points and to C.pitan l2kSiTrii po d ion: Investigations conducted by the Cloquet Experiment Station, on thu method of reproduction of Black Spruce, reveal the fact that this tree reproduces almost entirely from layering. The process in as iollows: A lov er branch of an old tree becomes covered with sphagnum moss, which grows on the forest floor, and soon adventitious buds are formed. One of the buds sends a shoot abovoe the ground and this becomes a new tree while the remaining buds develop into roots. These roots supply the new troo with food and ultimately the branch from which they sprang will decay and the new tree must then depend solely on its ovn roots for o:istonco. As now trees send out branches the cycles will be repeated and thus the Black Spruce will continue to possess the swamp, Black Spruce occurs in dense stands in the swamps of the Lake States and Canada. Jild DoPs: Last smmor one of the boys on the Blaek Range Crest trail crew had his female Airdale in ca.mp, which uated with a Police dog. Her owner was called on to augment th protective force at Dianond Peak and when work was over he returned home with the Airdalo for only a short time before going to Hurley to sock work. The Aird'le evidently throught he had returned to Diamond ecak and she went there to find him. ,;hile there she gave birth to nine puppies, according to Hugh Hedge of the Diamond Bar ranch, although one died shortly after birth as it uses foumd in the don The result was as usual. A mother with eight pu,)pies to feed must nJvcU something to cat. She natural- ly did whnt she knew to be wrong - calf killing..- and thus evaded man at every turn. Since her pup-ies have become larger their rango of territory is widen- ing. Their tracks hve boon seen seven miles down on either side of the Black Range and, unless already captured, hunter In-in, of the Biological Survey is having his hands full, At last reports, 1r. Hedge said it was nearly aim- possible to trap or to approach close cnough to shoot these dogs,(Gila :1cnster) Field Peeler (Phoonix); Kerr, Cooperrider (Gila) joaovo - Cheney. .Actjn Marsh.
- w Tonto Inspection - 1923 Ring-tailed oats Foun& at Roosevelt, Vsi], Station, &agle Creek, Springerville, Blue River,
(Game files) January !I, 1924. Methods of ttaek: Muegrave al the Flagstaff meeting gave the following gen- eral description of the methods used by predatory animals i attacking gie. Dog Tribe: ttacks from behind an& eats from behind after killing. .ttack often takes the form of ham- stringing. Cat Itribe: Attacks fr:m the front and usually starts eating on the neck. Bear: Mauls or crushes the heatd. Usually do not eat --"freshly killed meat.
col* '-witchell"
a Mexico
Dear li vdtchell.
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WANN 4 C _ RENC DUCKS CONSC E)4H AFA SPEAKING OF DISARMAMENT With the compliments of J. N. Darling of Des Moines, Iowa, to the 5,500,000 gunners of the United States who annually take the field against our remnant of game.
FIVE MILLION MEN HUNT ANNUALLY IN THE U. S. THEY ARE EXTERMINATING GAME AND SPORT. BEWARE OF A GAMELESS CONTINENT! HIS is a warning to all men who hunt in the United States with shotgun or rifle, and kill game. If you are going to exterminate your own sport by killing off the game "according to law," I want you to do it knowingly, and with your eyes open. As a conspicuous illustration, note what the men of Colorado have done to the once marvelously abundant big game of that one time hunters' paradise. Even as early as 1912 they had so far wasted their heritage of bison, mountain sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, antelope and grizzly bear, that all hunting of these species had to be stopped! You had grouse and quail and rabbits left. Now the shooting of quail has been stopped! Am I right or not? Throughout the whole United States, with but few exceptions, the free hunting-grounds have been swept so clean of good game that only paltry remnants are left. The exceptions, wherein ducks, geese, quail, deer, moose, sheep and bear may yet be found, are so few and so far between that they are like little islands around the border of a great barren sea! Is this what you want your sons to inherit from you? Look on the map shown herewith, at the shaded states, and see the 21 states in which your automatic and pump shotguns, and your wicked bag "limits" and open seasons, have enabled the confirmed quail-killers to EXTERMINATE quail shooting. You can't hunt quail in any of these states, save in Kansas every alternate year, where a 5-year close season has brought back the quail. Last winter 4 other states tried to stop all quail hunting. Now look on the other map, see where grouse hunting has been exterminated in 14 states, and tell me whether or not I am improperly a "calamity-howler." I could make for you maps showing the extermination of grizzly-bear hunting, deer hunting, sheep hunting, antelope hunting, turkey hunting, and so on; but what is the use? You know the facts well enough without them. In California five organizations (two of them east- ern) have clubbed together to save the tattered rem- nants of California antelope, sheep and elk. In California a live wild deer is almost a curiosity. "But," I hear you ask, "can anything be done to stop further game extermination, bring back some of the lost game, and preserve some sport?" I answer, yes. Something can be done,-provided the nature-loving sportsmen of America, few though they are,-have the vision, the horse sense and the nerve to see their duty and resolutely perform it! But the initia- tive and the labor must be furnished by the men who kill the game! For thirteen years I have been telling you that "the game of the United States is being exterminated ac- cording to law." Now I also tell you that the only way to save your hunting sport on a continuing basis is to SHADED STATES SHOW GROUSE HUNTING EXTINCTI 1R 2 OTHER STATES AVERAGE OPEN SEASON . 38 DAYS AVERAGE DAILY BAG LIMIT .. . . 7 BIRDS TOTAL KILLING POSSIBLE EACH YEAR, PER GUN, SON BIRDS Prepared by Dr. W. Reid Blair, July 1, 1923, for the Permanent Wild Life Protection Fund Prepared by Dr. W. Reid Blair. July 1, 1928, for the Permanent Wild Life Protection Fund make sweeping and permanent reductions in the annual volume of slaughtered game! I claim that killing should be reduced by approxi- mately 50 per cent! I say that this should be done by radical reductions in all bag limits, and in all open seasons, save in Pennsylvania, which is in a class by itself. But do the job thoroughly, or not at all. Don't make any more empty bluffs at "preserving" killable game while it is being steadily exterminated. It is a crime to permit 5,500,000 armed men to go out every year to kill all the game the foolish "law allows." It is a crime to maintain the present bag limits per day, and extend them throughout "the season." The lengths of the killing seasons are everywhere twice too long. No man should be allowed to hunt deer every year. Make it every alternate year! No man should be allowed to kill birds with a 5-shot or 6-shot gun. The game can not stand the automatic and the pump machines. No man should be allowed to bring his automobile any nearer than within three miles of his hunting ground. "Free-hunting" dogs, and all wandering cats should be exterminated. It is illogical, wasteful and therefore wrong for any American to maintain that because wild ducks and geese now seem to be "abundant" (in a very few places, where they specially congregate), it is therefore right to maintain a daily bag limit of 20 or 25, even for one week. No gentleman's family can possibly eat 20 or 25 ducks or 8 geese per day without bursting; and no man should be permitted to slaughter so much game per day that he must give away two-thirds or three-fourths of it to keep it from spoiling. In thinking of the "increased" ducks and geese, remember the passenger pigeon, the quail, the great flocks of prairie chickens, the thousands of antelope and deer, and the millions of buffalo,-all seemingly "in- exhaustible," but now all dead and gone! How shall this reform be brought about? I will tell you. For all local or "state" game reforms in game- killing, your state legislatures must act. Call upon your State Game Commissions to take the initiative, then tell your own legislature you want it to get busy. Your own legislature must limit the machine shot-guns to two shots, and stop all other abuses in your state. For all migratory game, also ask the Secretary of Agriculture to so frame his annual "Regulations" as to reduce killing fifty per cent, all along the line. That is all you need to say to him! Sportsmen, remember that it is not too late to save hunting sport from extermination,-provided you have the nerve to do it! Have you got it! "Yes?" Then come on, and make good! WILLIAM T. HORNADAY Campaigning Trustee, Permanent Wild Life Protection Fund. New York Zoological Park, August 1, 1923. SHADED STATES SHOW QUAIL HUNTING EXTINCT) IN 28 OTHER STATES AVERAGE OPEN SEASON 41 DAYS AVERAGE DAILY BAG LIMIT ....... . R1 BiGOS TOTAL KILLING POSS18LE EAC YEAR, PER GUN, 533 BIRDS
A LETTER from W. T. HORNADAY to E. W. NELSON West Farms, New York City. Dr. E. W. Nelson, June 24, 1924. Chief of the Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. Dear Dr. Nelson: I regret to see from your letter of the 19th that your attitude is unchanged. This is of enormous importance, because you are now the last remain- ing obstacle that blocks the road to a great reform. I call you "the last," because, when all other opposition faded out on May 22, 23 and 24, I became very sure that the National Conference on Outdoor Recreation did not mean to hand me a Dead Sea apple. But you, Edward W. NelSon, the official and the chief game protector of the United States, for 100,000,000 people who don't shoot, and not counting those who do shoot, refuse to concede that there is such a thing as wickedly wasteful bag limits, or that anything can justify reductions from present limits, -- wasteful or not, -- save progressive decreases in the supply of game, and actual danger of extinction. And at the end of your letter you have recorded this amazing declaration! "Even if a million birds should be killed next fall more than if the reduction in bag limits were made now, that additional killing would in nowise have the slightest influence in endangering tLe future existence of any species of wildfowl, so far as the best knowledge we possess indicates." Ye gods, Dr. Nelson, what an assumption! Do you wish it to go down in history as a parallel to the action of the Ohio State Senate in 1857, denying protection to the passenger pigeon because of its "millions?" You declare that you have started "an investigation" to obtain testimony by which to determine the necessity, or the lack thereof, to reduce bag limits because wildfowl are "decreasing." The open inference is that if the evidence points to no "decrease," then no reductions in bag limits are necessary. Now, you and I know very well that at least 100,000 of the bag-limit duck shooters of California, Texas, and the Carolinas are ready and willing to send you their written testimony that ducks and geese are not "decreasing," that they are "in- creasing" enormously, and that it is a public service to kill them under present bag limits to keep them from becoming too numerous. I am quite willing to concede to you in advance the possession of 10,000 such pieces of evidence. You know very well that they are available in the wildfowl shambles, so why waste time in actually procuring them? You remind me of the fireman who refused to save a rich man's house, saying, "He's got plenty more houses. The loss of this one won't ruin him. Let her burn!" Refusing to change the bag limits until wildfowl are threatened with extinction is like permitting hide-hunters to kill 500,000 bison because another 500,000 remained, and there would be no danger of species extinction from that act. In view of your position, and your obligation to the people of this nation, I think you are very remiss, -- first in not having taken the initiative yourself in this reform, and secondly in standing out in opposition to it after it has been put before you by some one else. Noblesse oblige! You are not merely the protector of the shooting rights of the 5 per cent of sportsmen. You have a duty to the 95 per cent of people who have vested rights in every migratory bird until it is law- fully killed, and who do not shoot at all. There is yet time for you to act in this matter. I warn you not to wait for any meeting of that Advisory Board, -- at a cost of 1,000,000 wildfowl waste- fully slaughtered, because that Board refused to act last December. I want to say to you that the footing of that Board is now mighty insecure; and I hope that a word to the wise will be sufficient. On July 15 you can notify the people of this nation that sound conserva- tion policy and the rights of the whole people in the migratory game demand that on August 1 the wasteful and unjustifiable bag-limits on migratory wildfowl shall be corrected; and by August 1 the minds of the duckhunters will be adjusted to the idea. As for the "conservationists," where is there one man worthy of the name who could object? Yours very truly, AEH
FOUNDED BY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF 191fl-15
W. T. EORN&OAY
TRUSTEE" CLARK WILLIAMS
JME" H. PERKINS
COUNSEL. IENRY W. DRFOREST
30 BROAD STREET
PERMANENT WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND
FOR WORLD-WIDE CAMPAIGN WORK DURING THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS.
West Farms, New York City, June 30, 1924.
To Our Leaders and Allies:-
"Our Vanishing Game" No. 3, now sent to you, will give you full
information of our
formal request to the Secretary of Agriculture, Hon. Henry C. Wallace, to
take immediate
action to reduce the present excessive bag limits on ducks and geese in 29
states. My efforts
have thus far produced no results. Be sure to read my correspondence with
Secretary
Wallace and Dr. Nelson.
They have started an investigation, to determine whether ducks and geese
are "de-
creasing" or increasing. From the storm centres of wasteful slaughter
will come back
an abundance of testimony declaring that waterfowl are "increasing,"
very rapidly, and
that no further protection is necessary. As to the increase in hunters and
automobiles,-
why bother about it?
I now place the issue in YOUR hands!
Perhaps you and your friends can persuade Secretary Wallace that by the logic
of a
bad situation it is now his duty to act as we request. If you believe that
our request is
right, and that 1,000,000 waterfowl ought to be saved next season by action
now, it will be
entirely proper, and in order, for you to exercise your sovereign "right
of petition" and say
so, in your own way, by letter.
I am sure that the Secretary of Agriculture maintains an open mind (and a
sound heart),
and that the moment he becomes convinced that it is right and desirable that
he should act,
he will put a stop order on the slaughter of 25 ducks and 8 geese per day,
and reduce the
number, everywhere in the United States and its dependencies to 15 and 4.
But the taking of the action that we recommend and request would be no child's
play.
In the putting over of any worth-while reform, "the hit bird always
flutters." But soreness
over the loss of riotous killing privileges never is permanent! If you are
interested, encour-
age Secretary Wallace to act; and assure him that if he acts to stop the
wasteful slaughter
of our migratory game, at least twenty millions of Americans will back him
up.
The time for action is short!
Yours very truly,
I I Z-1/2 Z/2-q ON OTTER Will C. Barnes says that while he had a ranch on the Sitgreaves Forest there were otter at the mouth of Chevalon Canyon, that is the junction of Chevalon Creek with the Little Colorado. These otter were trapped out, however, in 1888.
2 - 02 ;- -1 a n o c on Orn 10 :,a 1,qm a 8 mi 01 " noti ce 0 c" e d -r, 17 r J 0 e rn i e 0 0 0 1 r 0 p of wol, FOTi.oef -Jicl i i -,n wri-ti7 o- a 'book' on ":IiA (,5-ge of ' rizonv -ni e cico I-Pvra io rec ord of i.inly of t' esp srectea ocenri-nr, in tho migh iandic5fion (,-f Cilifami,, - oiild T)P o- ' intere ,,t '(,r cowy-.r ;tive 7-irT-ccps. yol, tell e -I)riefl-v their origrin and preseiil range iri Cali-fornia? I do not iinythin: - detiAled . IAMT,1 - the ,Ititidps ,nd a,-e-ner- al raoF-rarliic rap-iOTIS. j -riythin,, yoi epn me will be ver,,.- miach -nT),
W. W. CAMPE-LL, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY PRESIDENr OF THE UNIVERSITY BERKELEY April 24, 1925 Mr. Aldo Leopold, 2222 Van Hise Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin. Dear Mr. Leopold: I have your letter of April 16 relative to distribu- tion of wolverine, marten and fisher in California. Briefly all three species are found along the main Sierra Nevada from the Yosemite region south to the vicinity of Mount Whitney, which marks their approximate southern distirbu- tion in California. The fisher is found chiefly in the boreal zone and has been observed in summer in the Yosemite region at an elevation of 11,000 feet. However, in winter time they are found lower down, being taken by trappers chiefly in the sugar pine belt, sometimes occurring as low as 4000 feet. The marten is resident in the Hudsonian zone at elevations of from 8000 to 11000 feet, occasionally being taken in winter as low as 6000 feet. The wolverine is restricted to the higher peaks; specimens have been taken at from 6500 feet in winter up to 11,600 feet in summer, and the animals probably range clear over the summits of the highest mountains, that is up to and over 14,000 feet. I am returning your clipping, also a separate of qui the article referred to. Yours truly, Joseph Scattergood Dixon Economic Mammlogist.
2222 Yan Hise Ave. adlison, is. Aril 2, 1925. C/o Biological Yrvey, ashington, D. C, De~r qol!n: ! notice by the A h Srvey that yo -vte described "Tw ew Ocelot fo Meic," ly itense interest in findings of this 1dn needs no expolanati t you. Can you let e see - -opy of your manuscript or tell me where it will appear 8 tlmt I will not miss it? Jso, oen yoi tell me briefly whether you have ever suspecoted the cocurrene of ocelots in -trzona or New !exico? I have ollected a great many Jaguar records and have sometimes apeted that they were not all jaguars. With kindest personal regards, 'ery sincerely youre, AIDO " TOPOL.
THE SURVEY ISSUED MONTHLY FOR THE PERSONNEL OF THE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Vol. 6 Wlshington, D. C., March 31, 1925 No. 3 GE25RAL rOTES Papers by members of this bureau have been presented at recent meet- ings of the Biological Society of WVashington as follows: "Ilhite Sheep in the Alaska Range," by 0. J. 14urie, on February 28; "The European Hare in North America--Is It a Yenace?" by James Silver, on March 14; and "The Future of the Potomac Valley Below Great Falls," by Dr. H. C. Oberholser, on March 28. The following publication of the bureau was issued in March: "Spread of the European Starling in North America," by May Thacher Cooke. Department Circular 336. Received March 12. Manuscripts have been submitted for outside publication as follows: Goldman, E. A. "Two New Ocelots fr exico."1 Howell, A. Brazier. "Asyretry in the Skulls of Mamals." Jackson, Hartley H. T. "Review of 'Bird Islands of Peru, "' by Robert Cushman Miurphy. Nalloch, J. R. "The American Species of the Genus Griphoneura Schiner (Diptera, Sapromyzidae)" ; and "Systematic Notes on and Descriptions of North American Wasps of the Subfamily Brachycistinae." McAtee, W. L. "The Place of the Bird in the Modern World"; "The Relation Ef Birds to 4oodlots"i and 'The Birds at Dinner." Pregle, E. A. 'The Arctic Lemming" ; "Bird of Paradise Flower"; "The Cassowary": ,'A Fieherraan of the Depths"; "Grasshopper Gray"; "The Insistent Katydili; "The 1 inkajour'; ;The Lover of Nature"; "The Mud-skipper" ; "Muassels of the Shore" ; the Sea Horse" ; "A Whip- tailed Lizard"; and 'The hite Cobra." Scheffer, Theo. H. "Fur Farming, A Survey." BIOLOGICAL IIrES TIGATIONS Dr. H. C. Oberholser and 7. C. Lincoln, accompanied by photographers from the Office of Motion Pictures and the Division of Illustrations, have made several trips down the Potomac River recently to observe the thousands of canvasbacks, scaups, black ducks, and other species of waterfowl that have congregated below Washington. Among the more unusual ducks observed were greater scaups, ring-necked ducks, goldeneyes, bald7pates, gadwalls, and old sqaws. Three Canada geese afforded excellent olportunities for observation on March 9. and 21 of these birds were seen on the 12th. Ac- cording to reports, larger rafts of ducks have been seen this season than for many years.
'ITh? BOUITTY SYTSBU /- For more than 50 years previous to 1920 the State of Lna paid bounties on predatory animals. It is reported during this period more than a million. dollars was ex- d by the State on boanto.ies. In addition-to this huge toolk associations, ro-und-u associatins, and individual I can well remenber alcng abo-t 1900, when the Shonkin Round-up Association, 'hich .covered a large territory on both sides of the iissouri ::vr below Fort lenton, hung up a bounty of ?5o on grey wolves, End later this bounty was raised to Q100, Lnd again in 1909, when I was Supervisor on the Custer Forest, the Otter Livestock Association offered a bountzy of ,$50 on groval wolves and O110 or wolf pups. .any Other associations did likewise. Of course, there is no way of knowing just how much has been paid from State and private funds, but I think it is safe to say that one and one-half million dollars would not cover the bill. Ihile some progress may have been made under the bounty system, it seemed slow indeed, ad stockmen began to cast alo0 t for other methods. The fact that fraud in collecting bounty money was .being perpetrated quite generally and there seemed to be no definite way to prevent it, helped mold sentiment against the buuntyl system. Praud in '.ana .y forms was practiced but the most common seemed to be for some local trapper to get in touch with trappers outside the state and exchang.e hides with them. That is to say that outside hides were brouhfit in the state by local trappers for bounty pur- poses only -- the local trappers getting bounty on local hides and trading them for out-of-state hides. 1,ost of the 7estern States have adopted the hunter system in lieu of the bounty system, and all. seem to be satisfied that a step in the right direction has been made. Iontane adopted the hunter system in 1920, but allowed the "turkey raiser" to write into law a bounty system in 1925. The preso't bounty provides the follbowir< hounties for "animals killed between the first day of April and the first day of July, both dat'es inclusive of each. year. For each drow. wolf Il5; for each grown coyote or coyote pup, or wolf pup, '2; for each mouitain lion 520." Jast why a bounty between April firstsnd July first only seems a moot question. Can it be that the predatory animalo like their turkey and lamb chops better during these months? Darirg the coming State legislature there is going to be an effort to repaal the prest. .bounty system, which, from a careful study of the attached map, seems to justify a Change. Eote, for instance -- thirteen Porder counties paid - bounty in 1925 on 5,166 coyote pups and 235 adult coyotes,
while the remaining 45 counties iii the st,5e paid bouInties on only 2,938 pups erd 174 adults. Or, in other vords, 25 per cent of the coun..ies paid 651er cent oi the bounty, which would. seem tb iidi'cte -that co*otes prefer to live in norder counties, especially along the C.anadian Porder, where. it is suggestbd, that they furnish, company for the bootlegger. The ratio o-f adults to pups shown by the bounty records is about one to twenty, respectively. Bounty hunters don't -wan t-to destroy-the brdedin> 'stock, so instead of getting the mothers, they left -teri to bring forthaa crop next year. It is estimated that 'the averajo litter is about six pups, which, if correct, m6an-j that about 1,'2150 female o, oY.Btes were ft for Se'd by these bouhty hn1 . t.ers'. nder the present bounay Thw, the ,ffnds of the. Fish nd .ame Dep attmeht aye assesse 7,500 an.nual y, qad it is inter- esting .to not-e that loss than 100 predatory aimals,. were killed for *Lounty in the twelve b.g gameP cpunti~es ofthe. %tate. Another interesting, view of the matter is found in the -oll.owng example. Assume the a.ount of- noney,p.aid- for preda- tory animal bouhties in the past.:has be6n one and one-half million" dollars, - ar'd hs ume that all' agree, that it would be good business.tb- spehd, an equal'amount. in the future to reduce 01 e.iminate pre.datoryailS.' The question is: How is the best way? "Bounties," you may say. },ut no; we tried that and it doesn't work; 17hat th "' ..... . amillion and a half dol- lars, alon,< With't.ihe-fur-values of predatory animals, would keep a trai.ed ad ebx ert iunter in eac. -ounty for the next 25 :years. . "But-" '-Y, "tt would L e o, E l tQ, a pension." Wwell, then, hw not unt three or 'ur experienced men in each county for the -ne-ttWo ,or'ithreo 'yea'rs and clean up the job, and then a very few experts alon. the JBorder. would keep the State fr ee G ". A. Smith. J . - Seef!1bing map of ,oMontana. A Iog-Di-st' ance'Record (So Ft We r e1owa)- Duriiig'this smmer's heavy fires in the West, large quantities of ashes,:charcoal, jnd other -fire m-.terir.l were carried great cistances. In the Bureadioi Besearch at Harrisburg is a small quantity of ashes arid charcoal which was carried a distance of thirty 2iles, from ;-et . cDox.a2d in the Glacier I.ational Park to Sit. .rs, A. Rupp, -Chief of the Bureau of Forest. 1Tanage.et, reports that-in i1920., .when h-e was District Forester at% Fort I1oudon$, fire material was carried from- a fire burning on Sideling Pill in Filton Co-uty to Fort Littleton..in Fmanklinh County, a distance o'T nine miles. Can you beat it? From Bulletin of Penna. Dept. of Forests and Waters. -2 -
Non 78You l.Adult 206Yo IAdults -.Yug ItI58 idllts 3 I8Auts'-. Flathead -oti _ ^.,| Young 11I1 |I Adults Roosevelt [-J Yo ng 5h-d~raAc ~t [ I r-----1 _ , .... 613 Your-j. ". !'- 7" Youn ._.t .r_ . 4' -2- Young ,-53.,5 .ou ng " --.--- L% - Ch out eau- I1 I 'a. _ eton __ _ I ,r" c one 5 Adults Sander 6' Adlt ..... 21 5 Ad lt Y f 5A u t 1anders; ak N429 Young 14 3-Yo'ug l / I 2 I- in ,-"Y°mgu4n 10 ei'- Cas(ae' , ru Garfield so 80 o ~?n. --~ ~ Ad-u/ . luts .-- 5 Adults lo n, 8 l"s- Mi ssoula -'L / tCla-?a : lZ . r- \o n ulth'_, ai Youn 6 eum._ 87 ltoung TPrairl' 9 on/,. 1.: -°!YA - --, Adult _ 1 ~Adult 49 71 -L 14, du lt Dun t M'.. ghe 10 9d, .Lan s, dts 90 28 Adultlt 1 VI~tatr- ell w- ter3Idl r a- ' " -w ' 3.o + - / - -- - - ° + - A d l s To i 0 , 12_W -l 0 1Y --Il Mad so ter Adult 112 yYo. 0 ue on Be r~rha n.e Y-13.k 2 dlt 4 Young du Adults 3 ong Swet Y.llow--- 20 Young Carter B-e Mapha Madisng _ube of 4Adults 102 Lduoy ts 23lso. ! other predatory animals, tu,-rned in for bounty in Montana during ALpril, MZay, and June, 1925.
ONGRESS FAVORED & BOUNTIES .+ I4E Conservation Congress held at Saginaw, Michigan, recently went on record as favoring a return to the bounty system of controllinz wolves. cnvn1t-. 1iu1A_ .Al L~j L iL ILU ; 1 l 'Lll IIUVIUtld1 L)II U 4.LlU animals taken under the bounty system was 268,564 as against 8,842 by the paid trappers, but much of this difference is accounted for in the figures on weasels. The average cost of. each wolf killed under bounties was $30, and by trappers, $60.07. The payment of bounties on crows and woodchucks was not approved, the cost being out of proportion to the importance of their relation to the preservation of game and to agriculture, In four- years that Michigan paid bounties on these two species, it cost the state $737,590. being twice the amount paid for all other species in the same \period.
OUTDOOR AMERICA
'What's What and How- By
in Conservation
When to Release Pheasants usually has light spots on a dark back-
ground, while the common musky (Esox
i. We hatched forty-five young ring- masquinongy) usually has dark spots
on a
neck pheasants from fifty eggs, and because light background. Others disagree
with
of wet weather and other conditions beyond this theory and say it is not
a safe rule to
our control we lost twelve of them to date. follow, even claiming that in
some waters
They are now four weeks old and growing just the reverse seems to be true.
fine. When should these birds be released The United States Bureau of Fisheries
to get the best results? W. J. S., Indiana. says that a surer way of separating
the pike
from the muskellunge is by the scaling on
S O far you have made an excellent show- the cheeks. In the pike the cheek
is nearly
ing. The largest losses among young entirely covered with scales, while
in the
pheasants usually occur during the first muskellunge the lower half of the
cheek
three weeks after hatching. is devoid t i s-Tes ite great tjty
of
The best time to release the birds is an indivi &s.N
open question. It depends upon what your
. X,
aims are, the usual winter conditions, the Turtle Trap Dope
amount of natural food and cover where
they are to be released, the extent to which 3. I noticed yonr advice to
"R. K.,
you are prepared to supply feed during the Ohio" in the August OUTDOOR
AMERICA
winter months, whether you have a close o concerning snakes and turtles.
I want some
an open season this fall, whether both sex kind of a trap for use at a pond
where there
may be killed, etc. p is no attendant in charge all the
time, say
Many who know pheasants thoroughly one that will work while I sleep.
What can
prefer to turn the young birds loose when you recommend? E. B. J., Michigan.
they are nine or ten weeks old, because in-
sect life is then still plentiful and the birds V ES, we can recommend two
traps that
quickly learn to rustle for themselves. A"work while you sleep."
Both of
Others prefer to hold them until from them were recently illustrated
in the
twelve to fourteen weeks old; still others monthly bulletin issued to all
Kansas Wal-
recommend holding the birds over the ton League chapters by the Kansas
Divi-
winter and releasing them in the springtime. sion of the League. Both are
here illus-
Usually young pheasants run about 55% trated by rough sketches. The first
one
to 6o% cocks, and in states where only shown was designed by Prof. L. L.
Dyche.
cocks may be killed it will not retard the The size recommended is 4 feet
long, 2 feet
future increase of your birds if fully half high and 2 feet wide. It is
built by cover-
the cocks are killed by hunters, because ing a framework of lumber with
wire net-
pheasants are polygamous and one male will ting, counterbalanced treadle
boards on
mate with from three to six hens. hinges or rods at each end, and
a 6 inch
My own judgment is that under reason- strip of tin tacked on the inside
and bent
ably favorable conditions best results will down to prevent Mr. Turtle from
crawling
be obtained by releasing the birds before out. Runway boards from the top
of the
winter sets in, then arrange to place feed water to the trap should be firm
so the
for them when the ground is covered with turtles don't get "cold feet"
and go right on
snow and ice. Few individuals or clubs over the top.
have ideal enliditinnq lndep" .which tn hnld
game birds over the winter. If you want
to try it I will gladly advise you concerning
pens, feed, etc.
Distinguishing Musky and Pike
2. How can I tell the difference between
muskellunge and the northern pike? My
friends don't seem to agree concerning posi-
tive identification marks or characteristics.
A. L. S., Wisconsin.
M Y dear fellow, you are in no worse
trouble than most anglers and many
of the fish experts themselves. You cer-
tainly can't go by the size, because many
great northern pike weigh as much as the
average muskellunge.
The most generally 'known form of
musky is the spotted musky. It is native to
all the Great Lakes and lakes and streams
tributary thereto, a few lakes in the Upper
Mississippi Valley, also in Canada north of
the Great Lakes. The barred musky is best
known in Chautauqua Lake, New York,
and adjacent waters. In some waters the
musky runs solid dark on the back and does
not have either spots or bars.
The great northern pike is still more
widely distributed, being found all the way
across the continent from Labrador to
Alaska and south to the Great Lakes Basin,
northern New York, the Upper Mississippi
and its tributaries.
The musky seems to vary greatly in dif-
ferent waters. Some well-known fish ex-
perts distinguish the musky from the pike
by his spots and the background, claiming
that great northern pike (Esox lucius)
32
The other is a barrel trap recommended
by Claude J. Meredith, Superintendent of
Wardens of Kentucky, the details of which
are easily obtained from this rough sketch.
This is easily constructed and should do the
work while you sleep. All you need to do
is remove the turtles. How's that?
The World's Largest
Spawn Taking
Station
(Continued from page 22)
dred pounds of feed a week. These ponds
are screened off at the overflow and the
screen must be cleaned two or three times
daily, to keep proper drainage. The bottom
and sides of the pond must be thoroughly
scrubbed once a day to remove all traces of
fungus growth. If the advocated policy
of holding fry over a year before planting
were put into practice, these fry would grow
to need ten ponds for each one hundred
thousand fry, and require i,ooo pounds of
food a week, with the resulting increase of
labor. Further, the fish would be trained
to expect feeding twice or three times a day
and would not grow into the rustlers the
e4rly planted fish are.
The ideal conditions would be for larger
reaking ponds, fed by spring creeks, to be
built near the larger creeks, and so con-
struqted that they could be entirely drained
to remove all fish before restocking. This
would enable the holding of the fry for a
year in natural conditions. Proper choos-
ing of places to plant comes next. Small
tributary streams with plenty. of feed and
screened off so that large trout cannot get
at the fry would be best.
In planting, the maximum temperatures
of the creek water and the water in the
fish cans should be slowly equalized to avoid
sudden chill to the fingerlings.
The Fish and Game Commission of Mon-
tana have had two large tank trucks con-
structed to hold about a barrel and a half
of water each. These automatically cool
and aerate the water and will safely carry
8o,ooo fish at one load. The air is brought
through a box of ice and forced into dis-
tributing rods at the bottom, keeping the
water in proper condition for any length
of time. These tank cars are loaded at the
hatcheries and the fry are not handled again
until they reach the place of planting.
These cars soon rui out to the head waters
of any stream and unless the distances are
great, they can make several trips a day,
taking practically an express carload ship-
ment at one load instead of the ten or
twelve automobiles usually used in distribu-
ting. Best of all, the fry reach the planting
grounds without long delays, without any
intermediate handling and in water of con-
stant temperature and well aerated. There
is very little loss.
The area of the state is so large and the
conditions of the streams vary so greatly
in east and west Montana that nearly all
varieties of game fish can be successfully
raised and matured. In the western and
southeastern mountain streams abound Na-
tive, Rainbow, Dolly Varden and Eastern
Brook Trout and Grayling. Whitefish are
in the lower streams bordering the warmer
waters. Salmon and Lake Superior White-
fish in several lakes and in the eastern riv-
ers where the water is too warm for trout
come the Pike, Channel Cat and Carp. In
some streams Bass have been planted, but
these are not as plentiful as others.
And now, with 35,000,000 little trout
placed in her mountain streams annually,
and soon a like number of warm water fish
supplied the eastern rivers from a recently
established hatchery at Miles City, Montana
is making for her people and offers to the
visitor some of the choicest fishing streams
in the Northwest. With her ever-increas-
ing resources of wild life to bring interest
in the beauties of her mountains, she invites
the visitor, tourist and traveler to share
her outdoor glories.
Seth Gordon, Conservation
Director of the Izaak Walton
League, will gladly answer que-
ries on all conservation subjects.
Consult him about your con-
servation problems.
'%brr 19, 12. Xr. Aldo -~pA Ow Sr. Isaold lou Zott otry I" 5tbl ad&O to or. ft"e fflo UpsImea "fr to no.~s~* ~ Ib , fiwma to mr t<$#r ym in af* mmfo W~w G. kav lw ever, Mat -nPrVv~ n e&Vxlt o*csa o1 aAI Ofp o.m Inwltus ofrswfamvnv rOOPN wUa So~~ to,, lao ust eoeta ~ rgI ital vt m of - I mI not W1" Isd3 Awr is* m a MO* as Is ymr thr aeao ee t oi *1 a ~4 *4 eaw it m sres ua bt e4 kIttm1 fr ba ImW I is, - o 4 k, i ats pta. *am14t mAth thsor vasm mt wlo swr ma tsapae..I okw Ovarg~ tb ttetmm r .NVO eo e etsrf A~mwCouty. fta. awas" t~t a M&Ma hmm a itef.a lo
PAILY BJTLTTIN No. 29-60 U. S. Forest Service March 13, 1929 Scuthliestern histrict "oronado Veterans: Here is the boronedu list of 'Old Ti-erst according to the oronadoBulletin: Bob Thornson fro Jul. 13, 1 a!6, 23 years; Fred 11inn from Yarch 7, 1.07, 22 years; 'arl Shcleiel3 fromr June 15, 1208, about 21 years; L. ,.. Hess, Septerber 1, l'02, abcut 20 years; Filliam John Anderson, May 7, 1209, about 20 years. A fairly good record as any- one will admit. !W e doubt if any other fcrest in the South-' e tern District can show a better one. Attendance Record: In the U. S. Civil Service Cor.issicn, one appointee took no annual or sick leave in 1328, and perfonrocd 250 hours of overtime work. A totl of 1C4 took no sick leave; 66 worked raore than 100 hours each overtime; and a nember of the disbursing office rendered 850 hours of overtime service. If he took uo annual or sick leave, he put in an average of 2 hours, 48 minutes, 52 and forty-five one hundredths seconds of overtime on every one of the 302 vmcrking days, after deducting the 53 Sundays and 11 holidays. Kansas Has Brcomies: A Kansas City, do., 'ispatch February 24 says: Viiorses in western iKansas have become so mu3h o< a nui! sance the leg- islature has been asked to come to the aid of the wheat farmers. !Tartin F. Trued of Greeley C unty has a bill which will giye the farmers who take up stray horses the right to claim possession of the animals at the end of two months. According to Trued, Greeie7 mnt farmers have corralled wild horses for more than a year to protect their wheat. The *nir'als are strays from eastern ]olorado." Xink In Arizona and No. Mexico: 11otinr the nention of iink on the Pecocs by Ranger Johnson of the Santa Fe in the Daily Bulletin of Feruary 25, Dr. Taylor wrote Tr. M4usgrave concorning Arizona and received the following reply: "Yy first observation of mir in ]irizona was back in 1918 or 1919 when I was catching fish out on Flakes Lke near Snowflake, Arizona, a mini came up and deliberately walked off with one of my fish. I sat there and waited for perhaps ton rTirutes and he returned and did the same t ing. La- ter I saw. one on Silver "reek south and east of Colorado. I have also seen sign of mink along the little Colorado near Springerville. M,. E. usgrrave, Biological Survey." Gasoline Purchases In New Mlexico: Contract No. X8AO-3, dated 12/27/28, with the Magnolia Petroleum Companyj under which gasoline purchases are to be made up to Juno 30, 129, provides for a deduction of 5/ per gallon under the existing service station pump cr tank wagen ,rice, but does *ot allcv for an additional l/ per gallon deduction as did the contract for the period ended December 31, 1928. The present contract provides for a 2% discount on gasoline purchases for payment within ten deys, and on bulk oil purchases a 10% discount from the regular retail urice is allowed. Purchasing officers should see that purchases from the [a!-rolia Comrpany are made and vouchered in accordance with the existing contract. Field: Calkins Crook); Burnnl sSanta Fe); Theney "Tonto); Mullen (Lincoln) Acting: Jones
NEVER MISSES THEM
Proves Most effective for Catching Common Turtles, So Menacing
to Fish Life of Our Ponds
T HERE are in Louisiana today turtle traps
and more turtle traps. In fact, there are
all kinds of turtle traps. First there is the
drop trap, for catching logger heads and
snapping turtles; then there is the game
trap made by placing fish hooks on logs
where the turtles sun themselves. There is
the net trap, the most effective type of
which is made by attaching a net, under a
slanting log, so that when the turtles drop
overboard, they fall into the net.
But none of these have proved as effec-
tive for catching the common pond turtles
as the new trap recently invented by Percy
Viosca, Jr., head of the fisheries division
of the Department of Conservation. With
this trap more common turtles are caught
than ever before.
No matter how common a turtle may be,
however, if properly prepared as a turtle
soup or stew, it can be made into one of
the most delectable dishes in the state's
menu of aquatic foods.
But that's not the only reason for catching
pond turtles. Even more important than
the soup, is the fact that if they are al-
lowed to become too numerous, they be-
come a menace to the fish life of the pond.
"But", you may ask "How can a few tur-
tles more or less in a pond make any dif-
ference?"
Since turtles are largely vegetarian in
their habits, a few will not prove particu-
larly destructive. But once they become
sufficiently numerous to destroy all of the
vegetation found in the pond, the real trou-
ble begins. Having consumed all the avail-
able food of one type, they must of neces-
sity turn to another source of supply. And
so they begin feasting on the eggs and young
of the fish. And if they are still hungry,
the crayfish and other forms of fish food are
eaten.
They therefore constitute a real menace,
so that the trap invented by Mr. Viosca,
not only increases the plates of turtle soup,
but it helps protect the fish, by preventing
an over-supply of turtles.
And the nicest thing about this trap that
never misses our plebian "shellbacks," is
that anybody can make one. Just take a
look at the drawings, read the directions,
then drag out the tool chest and get to
work.
A floating wire cage is attached to a frame
supporting a slanting board. The lower end
of the board extends below the surface of
-lN .6Ibn O~tP 4 -
OA C
LONGITUDIN4AL ./tCTItON
etz
E {l Vif w
TURTLE TIAP,
..HEET qP- 2"
CONSTRUCTION DETAIL OF TURTLE TRAP
CtOOJ/ /LCTION AA
LOUISIANA CONSERVATION NEWS PLAN JoOWING OPEA TOD TURTLE TRAP TURTLE TRAP AS SEEN FROM ABOVE the water, and the upper end over tile cen- ter of the cage. The cage is usually made of poultry netting which covers the bottom and sides completely, and there is an over- hang made of the same wire which extends inward about six inches all around the top. It is best to slant this overhang slightly downward. The whole arrangement is floated by means of logs or beams and is placed out in the center of a pond or bayou where turtles are plentiful. The turtles will soon find the slanting board and climb upon it to sun themselves. When the sun sets they will drop into the open top of the cage, and may be collected at dusk, Or if some- one approaches the trap during the day time, those turtles which are on the end of the board will drop into the cage. As many as two dozen and sometimes more are taken in a single trap during the day. And they can't get out. The wire overhang prevents their escape. In communities where the pond turtle is becoming an increasing menace to the fish life, it might prove profitable for all of the neighboring families to "get together," and somewhat in the manner of the quilting "bee," of old, work towards the construction of a sufficient number of turtle traps. With such cooperation, the traps could be con- structed in a very short while, and by com- mon agreement could be placed at the most. strategic points. ": ]7/ IT ,VORKS CLAY SURVEY IN CENTRAL AREA COMPLETE The Minerals Division of the Department of Conservation with the cooperation of the Louisiana State University Experiment Sta- tion, is conducting a survey of the clay re- sources in the State of Louisiana. The first report on this project covered the Shreve- port area, including Caddo, Bossier, Webs- ter, DeSoto and Red River parishes. The second report covered the Monroe-Ruston area, including Claiborne, Union, Morehouse, Bienville, Lincoln, Jackson, Ouachita and Richland parishes. This bulletin, the third of the series on Louisiana clays, deals with the central portion of the State, including Sabine, Vernon, Beauregard, Natchitoches, Rapides, Winn, Grant, Caldwell and LaSalle parishes. Samples were taken from carefully se- lected locations with due consideration of relative distances from fuel, labor and mar- ket, as these factors have a decided bearing on the value of the clay apart from its ce- ramic properties. In estimating the value of clay deposits, only exceptional quality .coun- terbalances cheap fuel and labor and ready market. Samples were taken where feasible in cuts on highways and railroads and from ravines. In cases where these topographi- cal features were missing, sampling was done by boring with a two-inch auger. Pros- pecting was carried on by W. G. Cole, R. W. Harris and J. W. Whittemore. Tests of the samples were made in the ceramic engineer- ing laboratory at L. S. U., Baton Rouge, by Mr. Whittemore and his assistants, C. A. Hitzman, J. I-I. Roberson and C. E. Patter- son. The bulletin describes the field work and laboratory testing of clay samples. The economic use of each deposit is indicated with the results *of the tests. The tests of only those samples which have some value for the manufacture of ceramic products are, given.
ADD fuss AILL GEIWE|AL L'OMIVUIWRCATRONS Tit STAT CONOUBVAwIoi COTIMUX.Ioyq. MADIS r r QPUi A rV'r ' i UkXT 1 "117 f" r' N, T commUssionU L .i:IJ JL .. L 1 WILLIAM MAUTHE. CHAIRMAN FOND DU LAC CONSERVATI EUGENE WENGERT MILWAUKEE L. B. 0. C. LEMKE. WAUSAU A. W. ICKS. GREEN DAY CONSERVA F, L. GILBERT. MADISN E. M. DAHLBERG. E4, TARY LADY8MITH ON COMMISSION NAGLER LTION DIRECTOR ON 4 C. L. HARRINGTO" $U.ERINTENDENTOPFORErS AND PARKS B. 0. WEBSTER SUPERINTENDENT OF FISHERIES MATT. PATTERSON ASST. TO DIRECTOR H. W. MAC KENZIE, ANTIGO CHIEF WARDEN A~ Y ~ 45 ,'7A u a-' 2 H7 ~A-4.4 J a 7e p4 d "l 44-1,24 -9J
September 10, 1929 Professor K. W. Wight School of Forestry & Conservation Ann Arbor, Michigan Dear Wight: Last spring Stoll of the Detroit News asked us to loan him Sabin to break in the keeper of a private estate ne-r fltroit. We d1i t"his and Stoll br-ht in to me a list of "venain' which he stated had been taklen from less than 25) acres daring the two months ending August 15th. I know very little as to the locetin or character of these lands but Stoll thought the It,t w-s authentic and, if so, it would ,ert Aly seem that some anner of venin control was in order o, these premises. 1 fox (red) 40 cats 30 red sq. 22 weaoel 11 house rat 10 dck 2 badgers 6 mink 75 cr:s) 62 sparrow id ct~rling 2 gre-.t horned owl 1 sharp shinned hawk 2 ycllow hely woodpecrer 6r1 ,npi3 turtea 3 9ar pilt 56 wood chiuck hole s r ssed Your* very truly, P. S. LoveJoy Game Division I '- ) ~(~AflAJ I ~ ill->
Muskrat s Vr.~b 12,a 1929o Mw4214 vle- ryRiili Univ Oerty af isconi Wadisof Wisconsin mty 6%&vr Leepldi ?tes 1e6 of the laiv.i f rOrt-bw1, 929 1 qiwte the fa11oiW far yo, a tifoqwti~a and me. my njSo Af-ect eate, uskImts, p1&eoai, rin-neck-ed the Arican k~4aia iielth k sociation by 'Dr R. G. Green in 3. M. Waft, of the UWaivrt of Miieta- enC t-he Zt te ',*Part- matof Realth. This now 4tsepa* whtih has eCU~ed muhCoev in public health circles, Is ncquie bg ae -,ho I~.nfected anim.ls. The fa ct th t vu& moe aluno- of ani.de , h,-Vf the 4*.eeee gm-,tly 1ncm,-ocs the dan~e to buha beia8. by Inceas ing the rosile PAorce. of infetion." I.4 T4. ULU- JR.
File: Wolverine New Mexico Extract from Journ. of Mammalogy,_ May. 1931, p. 166. "On the evening of the same day, an Acoma Indian named Flaming Arrow was visiting me. He told me his people had a hunting song in which they extolld the three great hunters--first, the Mountain Lion; second, the Eagle; and third, the Ho-Ho-an or Ko-Ko-an. He did not know the white man's name for the last; but said it was as big as a dog, somewhat like a small bear, but it had a bushy tail. Its coat was rough, its feet black, and its back nearly white. It was terribly fierce. "Then from his medicine bag, he produced a carving, a small effigy of the creature's head. It was an excellent likeness, and there can be no doubt that the KO-Ko-a is the Wolverine. The Indian said it was formerly found in all these mountains, but had disappeared. None of the present generation had seen one. "This extends the Primitive range of the species considerably to the southward." Ernest Thompson Seton, Santa Fe, N. N.
Muskrat folder 1/ Par Farming Box Cross Reference See 'Annual Report of Muskrat Investigation Laboratory, Church Creek, Md., p. 96 of 11th Annual Report of the Conservation Department of the State of Maryland, 1933. (Piled Maryland Box)
Fie Sex Ratio folder Weasel folder t- Extract from 'h Weasels of New York" by W. J. Hamilton, Jr. Te American Midland Naturalist, Vol. XIV. No. 4, JUly, 1933, P. 300. In large numbes of M. as raw pelts and carcasses, the males outnumber the females approximately 3 to 1 . In the maller clotheanii, te males outnumber the females 2 to 1. It mst be remembered, hcwver, tlat about 95 per cent of the weasels taken by trappers are caght in steel traps set for skunk, and the diminutive female of the Bonaparte seldom brings enough pressure on the pan of the trap to spring it. Me small animals, when caught, are usually taken about the middle, and not by the foot, indicating it was the weight of the entire body that sprung the trap. If the animals are caught in box traps, the sexes are more nearly equalized. Indeed, Mr. C. J. Rlison, at Clay, N. Y. caught six weasels in two weeks trapping with box traps. One was a male noveboraces, while five were the little females of cio ni.
File Grit folder Weasel folder Extract from "Me Weasels of New York" by W. J. Hamilton, Jr. The American Midland Naturalist, Vol. XIV, No. 4, July, 1933, pp. 329-330. "In a number of weasels, the hind gat was found to be crammed with hard- packed sand. This was not found only in trapped animals, so cannot be explained as having been ingested in the animals' frantic efforts to escape. A large male noveboracensis that was shot by a hunter late in November and presented to me in an unrkinned condition, had the rectum and part of the intestine distended with much sand. I am unable to account for this inorganic matter in a nmmber of weasels."
File Opossum An opossm was killed at Mt. Vernon, G........ Co., by Judd Kempton, Nov. 15, 1933.
From Iowa News Release March 29, 1934 File Muskrat SKTRAT ATLE 8 CATF ISH TO DEATH A muskrat bocar"r g-rvictor in a battle with a 10 inch catfish ac- cording to C.C. Lille and L.F. Kiner, deputy game wardens, who witnessed the beattle while patrolling the Iowa River. The muskrat swam to the bank with the fish in its mouth. The unusual thing in this story is that the muskrat is called a vegetarian.
Mink folder CROSS-ERENCE See "Nutritional Anaemia in Mink" by Ronald G. Law and Arnold H. Kennedy. Can. Pield-Nat. Vol. XLVIII, March, 1934, pp. 47-49.
Shipping Point, Express and Telegraph Station, IHfkah, Minn. Reference, Ilokah State Bank .. Hill Crest Fur Farming Company Not Incorporated B. Tippman, Operator Breeders of Purebred Poultry, Holstein Cattle, Fur-Bearing Animals, Game Birds and Ferrets, Purebred Seed Grains, and Ginseng A Square Deal Our Motto 64L v~ rL~fZ , _ (( .7Z Z( ; ""A z ' Foreign Office Leipzig, Germany
Otter V Swan Extract from "Te Primitive Persists in Bird Life of Yellowstone Parke" by George 7n Wright. Te Condor, Vol. XXXVI, To. , July-Agast 19$I, p. 151. - "We walked up the crest of the hill on the west side of Tern L!e where we could et a good, thouh somewhat distat, view of the Tr.mpeter Swan nest that we had been studying. Both p2arent birds were out of sight, so we started on. At the last o1oenin in the trees we hesitated for the fatefl last look. "A black object loomed by the swa nest. With field glsses glued to our Fes, we saw thaft it was an otter stretching its full lenth upward to peer down into the next. From one side it reached out toward the center n pu shed asid the he mterial covering the eggs. Then the commotion started. With rapt interest, the otter rooted around in the dry nest material, heaving up here and diggi in there, until it was more haystack than nest. Then the otter started to roll, aroud and around, over and over. This went on for a nrumber of minutes. At frequent intervals its lo n neck was craned ulward, and the serpent- like hea rotated around to discover (we su-pposed) if the Swans were tetuaning. At last the otter seemed to weary of this ply. It climbed from the nest to the outer edge, then slid off into the water. Swiming off along the edge of the marsh grass, it was the undlating silver demon of the water world. Once it dOve and several times detoured into channels tarough the grass, only to come right out aain and continue on. It never turned back, and ras finally lost to sigt. "Where were the Swans all the hile we had been prying for their return? We well remembered that time two years g when they cLae flying in from a far corner of the lake to drive off a Raven whic ha already broken one egg. Careful search with the glasses reveaed the arents, al tht we could see being the water-stained heads and black bills protruding from the m rs, grass. One was about six hundred feet from the nest, the other not more than two lranred and forty feet. Yet both birds gave no evidence of concern. Seeing that the damage was already done, nd another year's potentia Swan crop for the Mirror Plateau lost irrevocably, we saw no further reason for cpution. So we stripped off our clothes and waded out across the s lows, We -ere amazed to find all five eggs intact. There they were, all together, rolled to one side but perfectly whole. So much for cir tantial evidence. Had we gone on, Mr. Otter would have had one order of scrambled Trumpeter Swan eggs charged on his bill."
Muakrat folder CROSS RE'RENCI See "Swiming of the Mnskrat' by John D. Mizelle. Journal of Mamzaialogy, Vol. 16, No. 1, february 1935, pp. 22-25.
3/22/35 L~k.S puat & Mink ?am (Clare Palm, Sperior, Wsonsin) operate a fa farmi Superor. Ne rats within a enclsur. Use carrts ad grees. Re told J. F. Widr, 221T Ogden Avnu, Superr tat in lato wixter uhon he is fooing ox the ice he has to chop out mayrats wli tails frozen to the ice, after thy have omouet to foo. Theo rats liy* in both banks and houses. The rats maintainteir ow opeuings in to ic. M inJks they *zy 75 paLr on 90 ares, but this q be off. Aconts Douglas Go
4/15/34 File: Fisher Jacobek caught 2 cab(?) fisher in Price Co. in winter of 1907. This was in Town of Bnory 3 miles W. of Oneida Co. line. A.L.
4/15/34 File Fisher Paul B. liis figures that it takes 16,000 acres to support a fisher in the Superior X. F.. This was the actual population where undisturbed except by illegal trapping. AL
From I ew Worlds, by Murat Jack Van Coevering '$umer, 1935 A/ usmz vrs, considered aluale fur bearers iin America, M are equally valuable fur bearers in Europe, but their nuisance-value exceeds their fur-value. Five muskrats brought from Alaska in 1905 and released in Bohemia by 1K. Waschatke, Forest and Domain Director, were estimated in 191-1 to have icreased to 2,000,000. Today, all central tLurope is fighting the muskrats. Reason: the rats under- mille dykes andt roads.
500 Nr. 27 famen abicbt wieber auffebt. get einmal nac aaffnerart mit einem abicbt ldngere aabre bufammen febte, wirb i4n ebenjowenig ber- geffen wie feinen beften Oebrau(obunb. Zat Naubb6get in bet 91dbe ibrO brftO rauben, fonnte and) id) jabretang beobad)ten. .1batte i) bod) W Offict, in einem Rebier jagen p f6mien, in bem bet Banberfaffe an fteiter greWwanb feitten Soo-ift batte. Tiefe 100 Reter bobe aMwanb ftief mit ibrem au5 an einen Streifen 'StangenbolA, ba iteW von (gicbeft)dbern befebt war. Zod webe bem Ddber, bet bic fcbfi enben Stronen bet Stangen bertic5l 'Unfebtbat jaufte ibm bon einer'ber a-efdtippen eina-qlfe in benaden, unb webe bet Zaube, bie, fremb in bet (Begenb, bem greffen bu nabe tam. V6ge un biefer borft nod) red)t tange erbatten bleiben, benn affbu biefe jiub jd)on bier am Vittelrbein berwaift. Oroebel, Mettevnicb. Vue erlibfitter"be %amu4p. 9fm 10. a-ebruar b. a. fcbo id ,in ement medlenburgilcben Rebier nadmittao ein etfid Rotwilb. jc batte mid) enticb1offen, biefem S hict bie Ruget anbutragen, weit 0 unter ben adt Stfiden Oilb, bei benen'6 ftanb, baburd) auffief, baf 0 bell nub ftruppig im aar roar. %ad) tangent beobacbten, bejonbeO jpio bon binten, gtaubte id) 0 aW Scbmattier aniptecben ju Onnen. .3d) mu5te redt weit jcbief en, ba miT jabireid) bajwijd)en-- ftebenbe Rebwilb ein ftberptiricben unm6g[id macbte. Uttgfftdtid)er- weife mad)te W Etfid im Scbu5 eine &wegung, fo baf; 0 bie Ruget etwO TPio bon binten befam. %ad) Beicbnen unb 91bfommen ja5 bie Auget Su tief unb batte einen Zorberfauf in bbbe bO oberen QiefenN gefa t. & tag etwO Scbnee, ic fonnte bie Uunbfd rte W Sur naben 'Zidung batten. Gcbweif tag in bet Vitte bet adbrte, bO Stfid fcbonte ben recbten Zorberlauf. zZie %ad)fude fette id) fftr ben ndd)ften Vorgen an, nadbem id) beint Unticbtagen bO aagen feft, geftefft batte, bat W frante GMd in biefem geblieben roar. an bet %ad)t Icbneite 0, am Vorgen wurbe bann W aagen bon einigen Scbftoen umitelft unb ein ficber auf Scbweit art eitenber Zedef 5ur Nunbfdbrte gelegt. Vit bieten gibergiingen filbrte bie %acbJud)e burd) ba aagen in W ndd)fte unb Aberndcbfte. Zer Sd)vuei5 batteboUtommen aufgebOrt. W14 bie adbtte burd) ficbte Riefern ftanb, fcbien bet Jtunb, bet W babin felt, am Niemen gelegen batte, 5u fafeln. Mit bob'er Tale jud)te er im Sinb unb war unjd)hifjig. Zann bel:Wia ex eini etwO e#64te Steffe im Gdmee nub id)arrte. Za tag ein frijc gefettO NotwitRalb. Zbne 8weifel batte W'bebauern werte franfe etfid infolge Scbmerh nub Wufregung bier bor3eitig gejeot. Icb macbte mir bittere F8orwfirfe, beint GAu5 nid)t nocb borfid)tiger 3u - ------ Tvrt G:' atT pn-jtLfchi- Taa SWD wax f4i --uia wc-it" 4 ittwitrdt' al id) 0 je bei int ebruat 6ur Strode qefomrnenon Tfttiercii feftyftofft I)abe. Wo roar fibet 60 cm favig. (qv Zeit bct 0aud)bcdc wor bitrd) bie 91abefid)nut auggeriffem- Col jd)wci igwdjferige Iiifjigteit, bie bO SMd beim Se aft berloren batte, roar p fiuben. Wm %acb- mittag fam bag Stfid bann nac Tanger! e e bor bem ?unb jur Gtrede. ZO erfte Oeicbot batte ben, Oetefiffnoc en berfett nub puci Rippen gefireift, bem Stfid affo fid)er gro5e Scbmerjen bereitet. '& ivar Sum erfienmal belcb1agen, =5 abet, nacb bet Gtdrfe bo ftaffie Su fcbfie5en, febr Seitig gebrunflet baben. Zie borgefcbrittene (Yrtt,, widlung bO ftalbO bftrfte mit einQ5runb Su bent traurigen greiBnio bO borAdligen SeDen geweJen fein. 8altborn. '3ur %barotteiraftnt ba am bergangenen Vinter VA batte id) reidtid) Oetegenbeit, raid) bon bet bieffeitigen 2eiftung - i fdbigfeit bO ftefmarbeO an fibeqeugen. Zorau jd)iden mu5 id), bat id in einem etwa 100 m loom nddften Valb abliegenben 91eben, geb6ft OeflfigelSucbt betreibe. ?ier oeticbwanben junddft Wnfang Zejember auf unerfIddicbe Beife au4 ben in einem offenen Scbuppen befinblicben %eftern bie ftampfevefteier. eino VorgeO febIte bann eine bon brei Oronjeputen, bie auf emem am (Bebbft ftebenben Cbftbaum an n4d)tigen Pflegten. 9tffi nd)ften Vorgen febtte wieber eine $ute, unb bie aul bet anitofienben Viele umbertiegenben grebern fl ef;en erfennen, ba5 bie $uten bort geriffen waren. In eitter unter ement Zorbacb angebradten Zaubettbbble reiften ein $aar aung, tauben al fettene winte-clicbe Zefifateffe il)rer $eftimmung ent, gegen, abet aW id),'Tie biefer juffibren woffte, waren fie ipurlo ber, id)wunben. Wufffdrung folfte jebod) - balb erfolgen, benn berciO am anberen Zag mu5te i) jeftfieffen, ba ein Varber in ben im !Dau4iebet angebrad)ten Zaubenid)fag eingebrocben roar unb bier bO fiblicbe 58tutbab angericbtet 4atte. an bet ndd)ften %acbt roar er Dom Zacbe au in einem jur Beit feeritebenben Staff eingebrungen, bet abet nod) bon 'einigen tennen al Sd)(afraum' benuot wurbe. Bwei 91bobeldnber ennen tagm obne Ropf am 3vben! I I Za id) mit bet Vieberfor bO Vatber recbnete, tegte id) nun emen ScbwanenbW unb war jebr erftaunt' am anbern Vorgen ftatt bO. bermuteten SteinmarbeO einen ftefmarber barin bor6ufinben. CP war eine nut mittelitarfe ardbe, beren Zrad)t lid) cO uubefrud)te erwie, joweit id biO feftfleffeu ' fonute. W furb batauf Scbneefaff .einttat,, fpfitte id), bat jebe %ad)t ein ? uc]O bie ndd)fte itntgebung, 'be4 (MebbftO befucbte, jo bat icb mir nun, ein filb bom Verfauf bO $uten-Zram0 mqcben founte. Zie $uten waren bo %ad)W, bom Marber fiberfaffen unb mit biefent auf bie anfto eube Viefe geffattert, unt bier boffenN cLbgerofltgt unb mo4t and) teitweife an, geid)nitten in werben. Zet t ucb batte fie bann aW gute %leute in Sicberteit gebracbt. Interegant ift, baf; bet Marbet bie flarl riectenben -Ran-wferAgier berftleppt bat, bean ba5 er lid) biefe ein. berfeibt, bdtte, ift wobt faum, anjunebmen. 91us, bera 11mftanb, ba5 e lid unt red)t Irdftige $uten unb einen berbdItni md5ig ftwad)en Varber banbefte, fann man ermeffen, ba5 bet (9belmarber unferem Wuerwifb recbt gefdbrti) werben fann. 2ubloff. Zom apudp Im (Odpoarpoalb. an ben umflegeiiben %ebieren (Wmt reiburg, 2iffingen) 46rt manoon feiten bet jagbibe4kben, ball lid) bie a-ftcbje beuer ftdrfer M fonft bermebrt baben. ebauerlid,)ev weije mutten einige ftuetn auf einfamen Qie bften bar4ber Mage ffibren, ba bie a-dben wdI)renb bet 3eit bet jungenaujjucbt bon ben Wel)6ften 10 bi 20 I fibner, einige fttenunb fogar Mule weqI)v1teu. Seitbem 'Deumabb unb. Stornernte vorbei finb, b6tt man weniget bon jotd)en Mdubereien. an bielen biefer Rebiere war in anberen aabren bagegen leine a-udpipur in finben. Deinricb fiebrIe. -3ft Ocutptage jo etivad nv) mOglid)?l 'Zie,,torgduer Beitung" (ftrei btatt) bringt unter bem 7. auni 1935 in 94. 131 folgenbe %otij: ,,g.ifcb&ug auf'einen 58od. , (Yine jcbwierige t3offfrage ergab ficl) unfdngft in bet 91dbe bon Zalet an bet beutjcbfcbwei3erifden Oren3c. gijcber, bie am Mbein angetten, bemerften ptbofic -einen Ref)bod, ber ftbbfid) in ben grUnen afuten jcbwamm, fein majeftWicbeg Oerucif) bod) in bie 2flfte itredeub. Zer Ood fc ien in fibettegen, wefcbem Riot er fic butuenbenjoffte. (9nbfid,entfd)Io5 er lid) ffir bO fcbweijeri *, nid)Sabnenb, baf; bier bet Zub auf ibn lauerte. Zenn bie ! ijcf)ey benuoten jojott bie gute @$etegen eit, um'ben faftigen Zraten p erlegen. Tod) nie batten fie jo einen berrliden ,! iid)6ug" au4 bent 90eingetan. Scbon war bet Re4bod &etfegt, f)on war bet faftilc 91fiden gebraten unb bereitg 3um Zeit in. ben jaiicbermagon I)ct- idwunben, aW ficb pl6bficb bie Boffbebbrbe einmifdte, bie irgenbluic bon bem jeftenen a-ang Ginb bet.ommen batte. 'Ziefer $ocf, jagte bic Boffbebbrbe ber'Scbwei3, war gan3 gewi5 ein beutfd)er F8vcf, beffinuat ift er nad) bet Gdwei5 4infibergewecbJelt unb bemnad,) bollpffid)tig. Zie aifder bdtten gern ba Wegenteit beiviefen, abet afte4 Strditben baff nicbM Sie mu ten nod) uacbtrdgfic ben Boff erlegen fftr beit Re4bod, ben fie fojujagen ao bem Rbein,,geangeft" batteu., .'. ." ' I tuq(dfttmq duct WVve. an liebiiq Zaacil bon bev Ruriicficit ao bor 0eqC116 ooll (soquiff awiffe i" &fqijcI)'AORqL) cillen Briof juit ber &itteiluii j, bal; alit 17. ), ftobcr 1934 am goago eine ROwe mit einem gutriag ,Zogetwarte Toffitten 60829" erlegt wurbe. ft ben ftcberu ber 3ogelwarte Noijitten ergab lid), ba5 0 lid) um eine junge exinombwe, Dieffeicbt bon einer Zrutfofonie, g-innlanW ober bo Clri meex ftammenb, banbeft, bie am 8. ftguft 1934 an bet ftfifte bet Sturiften 91ebrung Don Seefifcbetn gefangen, unb inber Bogeftuarte beringt unb freigetaffenworben war. Siewarnad)70Zagen tief im: eqen WfrifO angetroffen wotben. Vie man aO Rfidmetbungen anberer beringter oeting mbwen ficber ittief;en barf, ift biefe Mwe quer burcb ba europdifc e a-eftfanb bon bet Rurifcben %eOtung au an# Mittetmeer unb bon ba ben %it.' auftudrW geffogen, um bann im Queffengebiet W 91iW 6um grtu5- f0ftem bO Rougo iibequvoecbJeln. j8ei einent alug , in bet 2uftfinie bdtte biefer &get Aida 6200 Ritometer in 70 Zagen, am Zage atio burd)fdnittlid 89 Ritometer, geteiftet. Oan3 gewi bat er abet mebt abet weniger gro5e Umwege beidrieben unb 'eine burcbjd)nift[id)e Zagoteiftung bon biettei)t 110 IM 120 kilometer entwideft. $. 9t. (tin fre)ev 3igeuner. Zer adger eineg 9ZAbarbe3irla traf, eino Vorgen einen Bigeuner, bet im Balb freu6 unb quer tierum- ftroIcbte unb Judte. Wuf 91nruf Web bet Biqeuner, ein baumlanger, fiarter ftert, fteben unb erffdtte bann, er gete lpa6ieren. Zet'adger gab ibm abet Su berfteben, ba5 er ibn ffir be4 VilberO I)erbdd)tig bafte unb befabl i4m, bie Wrme bod) p nebmen, bamit er it n nad) Gallen burcbJucben f6nne. ZerBigeuner bagegen meinte, ba faffe ibm, gar nicbt ein. . Wf ibm ver9dublid gemad)t wurbe, bat et bann abgeffibrt werben mRfie, unb aW ba ftommanbo bum Zorau jcbreiten erfofgte, blieb bet Bigeuner getaffen fte4en unb etfldrte, ex werbe and) nicbt einen Scbritt mitgeben. 91ad) einer balben efunbe ftanben beibe and) nod) auf bemielben afed,' nub nad) einer weiteren balben etunbe uerfie5 bet adger ben Ort feiner Jao ofipigewalt a14 Unter- tegener. %un wirb bet adger biet bowegen gebdnieft, bod) wenn er un im Areife bie lt rage borlegt, wag benn jeber ein5etne in feinem aaffe getan bdtte, bann, jiub bie Wnficbten red)t berjc ieben. Zenn beim Vilbern war bet 3igeuner nicbt unmittetbar betroffen worben, bagegen wiberfette er lid) bet' $ofijeigewaft. Seine f6rperticbe JAberlegenbeit fief; eine ptMfif(be @5eftenbmacbung bet $o1i3eigewaft ni'cf)t an, unb ben Red fiber ben I aufen 6u, icbieben, I)dtte bo(b wobt jeber angeii)t? bet burcbao nid)t gefd rficben Sacb1age 58ebenten fietragen. .( Ombe. Z) e u t j c e 3 a b
Sk-u-n gestation period - 63 day (C. Emerson Brown, Jcar. Uawmalogy, 1936)
24. *rif 1936 Z) e u t j c e a g b
81
W reid)ffioen Ztanqefd)mad oatte. - Zie &er bet Sailer,
oflouet jinb fe t woolicomedenb unb ben Ubweneiern qlei)3uftellen,
wean fie fie nicot fogar fibertreffen. Sir oaben un bie (fier fteO oart
fo*n fallen. Za Sei e jiebt wie beim *iionerei aui , ba 05elbe
bat eine inox 6iegeltote ! drbung. Tie ild)er oaben bie Vaiierbulm,
ciet immer gern mitqenommen, too fie fie fanben, ebenio bie Zau*r--
cier, Vir jinb bie &er immer eine willfommene $ereicoerung meiner
ftfid)e geweien. Za Tflorei bon biejen &etn ift bervortagenb. -
Sebt intereifant, toenn and) nicot gan4 ungefdorlid), fit bie 2ie$en,
jagb bom $abbelboot au . I co oabe biefe aaqbart al 2eutnant
auf bem Sotbenberger See Wet auNeiibt. A oatte baSu ein au,4 brei
5brette-rin 3ulammengeicofagene4 &ot, Me 0 bie Uattoeffb er lid)
anfettigen unb am Gd)lu bet %eije mit bem olj Nurfidlafien, 64
foitete bamaO I Vf. &n Jotd0 $oot lie5 id) an bet epio unb am
(inbe mit Raften oetleocn, in bie W n6tige 'Danbroerf%eug lam.
Zor bem Siopla war ein (Yijenqeftelt at?, Oewebrauflage. Za Wevvebr
ruar an bieiO 03efteff jo feitqebunben, ba5 bei Ilmicotagen bO $ootO
bo Oevveor nid)t im Sailer verforenging. $abbelboote beutiger
Oauart faunte man bamal nod) nicot. Vit bielem &ote fubt id)
auf ben See oinau nub, feile pabbetub, an ben Nobrrdnbern entlang.
Zie Valietbfibiler famen faft immet bicot IDor bem Zvot au , bem
C-coilf oerau unb murben bann mit meor ober roeniger &Jolg be--
icooijen. Wllerbinq muf;te man barauf ad)te-n, ba5 man nicot jeit-
rodrO jcoo , benn bet Tftdjto5 bo Oeroebro warf W leicote, 3oot
um, wenn man nicot feor gut balanbierte. Rix ift W $oot ja me
umgcfippt, 'bod) mamomal tuar 0 nooe baran. eelbitoerlidnblid)
mu man fcowimmen f6unen unb jo frei im $oot liten, bat man
nicot baran odngenbleibt. 91n, ben Steffen, wo Saijerl)floner aO bem
ffloor famen, fanb id) bann and meift ba %eft unb fonnte bie (Yier
mitneomen. Wud) ben baubentaud)er babe id mit bem $oote gejagt.
Sao id) auf bem freien Sailer einen Zaud)er, jo ging eg in voller
aort an ion oeran. ZO Oeroebr tag griffbereit. Sowie bet Zaucoer
taucote, fuor id) mit F8ollbampf in bet Ticotung vveiter, in bet er
getaucf)t war, unb war bann meift aul ed)ubwe& beran, wenn bet
Zaucoer vvieber aultaucote. Zann vourbe bO ebenlaW feitgebunbene
$abbetruber id)nelf jortgetuorfen unb bie latinte erqrtffen. $evor
bet Zaucoer bann bon neuem taud)te, tvar bet Gd)ut berau . Bar
bet Zaud)er abet fdmelfer, jo ging ebea bet &rfolgung4ampf Vveiter.
Zieje .3agbart fit ipannenb unb auiregeub. i3on 30cofhOfi.,
ftlebuO mit affld)otteru. err ,91imrob" eridoft 37 bet
,,Teutjcoen agb" ,,3roei &Ie(mijje mit aij*tteru". 9tud)
ico fann
ein ftebnO fcoilbern, wonad) bet fouft jo J*ue Turicoe and) freco
jein faun. Tat er au er aijc oen aud) ftten greift, fit mir befannt.
Wbex ba5 er jico an ben webroaften aifcoreiocr oeranwagt, war mir
neu. (-B war auf bet I)on mir gepad)teten Saijerjagb auf bet
einer gxo eu (Yinbuditung in uniere id)6ne'.3nfel %iigen. 9W icf) mid)
mit meinem !Boot etwa Ritte September 1935 am Moor entlang Jcliob,
fiel mir ein gro er! Ied id)wimmenber gebern, etwa einen Veter uom
9ioorgiirtel entferut, auj. C-ie ruaten weif;gxau, unb ba fie nicot,
brilten fonute. Tamal gab e faum. iteigemdote, unaOqebriltete W,
lege, auco nic t abgemdote 2duicoen ober oon laulnoirticoaftlicoen
Valcoinen !oertette unqvoifb. %a?, Witb oatte Rube but gort-
pilanAung unb bO junge &lf eine uttgeftbrte kinbetifabe mit guter
Zedung. Nurben im Sp4tiommer bie Gcoafe fiber biefe unbearbeiteten
Ader geliibrt, Jo fonute ba nicot mebt itbren unb id)aben, weil bie
, ugenb bereiO oerangewad)fen war. Unb war bet Wbicout im aoie
boroer and noco lo grof;, im neuen yagbjaot gab 0 bod) ivieber
qenfigenb neue4 Sifb, wit ba?, wenig fibicig,, gebtiebene eben bie
Vbglicofeit, %ul)e unb Oelegenoeit batte, lid) reicoli) fortjupflan5en.
Unb b" oat e4 ja and) griinblid) beJorgt. Unb wenn bet 93avex reico-
lid) etallbfinger untergepadt oatte, vuenn unter ben groben Scoolfen
jo oiel etroo lag, ba bie biden Sttol)bfilten I)erau ragten, bann
flab bW ein pxdcotigO, vuarmO Vintertaqcr ffir ben ajen unb ffir
ba %ebouon gute Tedung in 056aor. Zie 3eiten linb and) iftr ba
Vilb anber geworben. Tem 2anbwi-ct iteot ffinittid)er Vinger
but SeOfigung, ben er lid) in beliebigen Vengen anicoaffen faun.
(Yr l4tt baber and) nicot bO fleinite etiidden %der ungemi t liegen.
Za Silb oat bum Se en, bum ftfiten, but Wufaucot feine Tuoe mebr,
ein gro er Zeil be ,13ungwilbe? fommt um. %0gemdbte 05elege werben
ooricitig 'oertaijen, jungivilb wirb butd) lanbmirticoaltlid)e Vaicoinen
qetbtet obet Jo id)wer berfe0t, ba 0 leid)t eine Zeute be Raub,
wilba wirb. So oat lid) bet ffinftlide Unger in bi oer nod) nid)t
erbrterter Veiie ungeoeuer udcoteilig ffir ben fiilbbeja duAgeivirft.
Zer Silbbalm wirb ja in ben leoten 3abrpbuten biet mebr Vi(b
entiogen al irliber. Tie oollfommeneren Saijen macoen, bie (Yr-
beutu ng W SOO immer leid)ter. Wud burd) bie weit " , grb ere
ftbaljl bet !3dger tvirb bet flilbbelao mebr qeAebntet. Witt An-
te t tragen and) bie b6beren $cuotpreije An bem ltdrfexeWblcou
bei, rveit loiefe 3dger burco gr6tere .3agbbeitte ben 5bettag roenigilen
einigermaten tuieber bereinbefommen wollen, um ben fie -lid bei
bet aqbDcrjteigerung iWer iore Zerbdltnijfe oinaO 'oerftiegen oaben.
Scolief;fid) bewirfen and) bie fortgeicorittenen, immer jaf)lreid)a
werbenben %erfeor mittel wie &ienbaon, %uto, 'Notorrab, wetcoe
intmer meor bi4 in bie entlegetiften 03egenben i3orbringen unb lid)
mit fteU gefteigerter (Meicovvinbigfeit beroegen, eine immer grb ere
Wilboernicotunq. 3u bicler Zernicotung tommt mut nod) bie $e-
oinberung Pe?, Silbe in bet j8ermeorunq burd) bie borfteoenb ge-
Jcoilberte ounbertpro6entige bobenbewitti; aftunq, fenter buid) bic
icoon oft loe-rutteitte Wukottuug bet eden, Zrodenlegung Don ftuco-
Idnbern nub vietem anberen. (B tann jonad) nicot vermunberlid) lein,
wenn bet 58efa an %iebervvitb, oor atlem an Tebofibnern, bauernb
ifarf buriidgebt. Zie forticoreitenbe %u belmunq bev etdbte,
eieblungen unb 5nbuitrieftdtten barf and) nicot vergeiien werben.
Veine Udnbe fcomfiden b-iaDe Oeoftne, bie icb in frii0er augenb
bort erbeutete, wo bereiO Jeit :jaotAebnten un6dotige %dber lurren,
b mmet itampfen unb oicle tauienb Venld)en emjig aTbeiten, bort,
wo oeute Siemen jtabt fteot. (Earl Rabenalt.
*eljt ben Wilbentei! 3um sXrtifel be terrn i3on Cex en in
91r, 45, btejO Vatje ertallue tu) In t
folgeubO An ja en' 9tuf iniferen
Fagben im VarOebrud) wurben tiele
Waijerofioner, oict 2jeten genannt,
qeic oljen, bie entroeber mit 20 Wq-
betfauft ober an ben giid)er Derlcoenft
murben, bet un jeine Adlme but &v
ftigung geftelft batte. Zie grrau be
gijcber oat un bO 6fteren auco
Salierofioner gebratenunb fie icomed,
ten recot gut, vvenn and) nicoi wie
Silbenten. Tie Zorbereitung bet
fiajjer fitner bum !Braten beftaub
nicot im Wb3ieoen bet ( aut, vuie *err
oon Cetoen 'poricoldgt, foubern nut im
9lbbtftoen mit focoenbem Sailer, wa
abet qriinblid) geid)eoen mu . 'tie
gjjd)er frau itanb auf bem Stanb,
punft, baf; bet tranige Weicomad nicot
in bet I aut liegt, jonbern auf bet--
jelben, ba ba Zx i4enf ett in bie grebern
gerieben wirb unb bon ba au and)
auj bie Daut fomntt- IN tuirb ja auco
!oon bet Sitbqan bebauptet, man
16nne fie nut nad) abge5ogetter aut
ellen. A oabe abet i(oon mand)e
Silbgan mit 03enu Deripeift, obie
bie I aut ab5u6ieoeu- Tie abet babe
id) o unterlagen, bie 05an , vor bem
$taten abbrfioen bu talieu., 91ur eine
ein5ige ojan ift mir al ungeniet,
bat in &intterung, bie im Pdra
geidpifen roar. JIDier banbelte 0
lid) vuo4l um ein uralte# C-tfid,-
(pbot. ecjocaftiider, 3c ffn)
(Fr ift witber b4l
82 Z)eutjc e 3dgb Nr. 4 bon unferen enien ftammen Yonnten, bie (Wenten in biefer 13eit abet nvc nicf)t bier finb, fo ftanb id borlduJig bor einem 91dtfel. Wber bie 26jung jolite i) balb aben. ac idob mid) W 91ol)r unb beffte mid) leiblid. 91id)t lange banad, bet fioc jef)r gutem %iic jenlid% I)brte i) ein 6ftereg knaden bon afie'm Nof;r, jo baf; ic anna m, a pflrfc t fic ein Venid) langJam burc g Nol r. $fboli) 6rte id) ein fldgli)eg Gd)reien, bann ein aufgexegteg afilgeli)Iagen, unb barauf ftieg ein 9-ifd)tei4er aW ben Oinfen unb fief etwa 15 Meter bor meinem ftot auf bag of fene Oaf f er ein. 2(ug f einem Oebaren tonnte id) jeot jc lief;en' bat er etroag beobad)tete, benn er dugfe aufgeregt in bie finN bon Mir ffel)enben Zinfen. Vid) bemertteer fiber aupt nid)t, obtuol)l er gerabe bor bet !oon mir freigelaifenen S)uf;6ffnung itanb. Wfg and) id) biefe Wegenb beobac tete, famen au ben Nnfen, ettua'10 Meter neben meinem . &ot, gwei aifdotter erau4ejc ojfen unb ftrebten . bireft auf ben 9ifc rei er an. Zer aij)rei er ftieg wieber auf, fhid) nur etroa 30 Meter lintg ab unb ftellte lid) tviebet in bag 25 cra f)o e 9affer. Zie aifd)otter rannen nun unter me rmaligem Spielen wieber in bag 91ol)r 6urfid. Raum: waren abet ivieber einiqe Vinuten bergangen, aIg ettvag abjeitg beim aifd)rei4er bie .beiben 2 ijc otter Vvieber etfd)ie, nen unb auf ben aijc reiber 3u. iatmen. Za er im offenen Uaffer loar, fonnte er ficl) and) jett wieber erbeben unb " wieber bireft bor mein $oot. 'Zie aijdy otter, benen eg abermal nid)t gelungen roar, feiner ab aft Su Iverben, rannen tvieber langfam ing i)fitenbe 91o t jurad, Vel)v maIg bbrte id) nod) bag knaden bom %obr, bann Wurbe eg itiff Unt mic . Zer aifd)teiber ftieg langJam gut Geite unb tuar bann binter einent %o rborjpxung nieinen Viden entid)wunben. aett geba)te id) bet id)tvimmen, ben aebern unb 1vu5te nun auc , baf; eg '91eifierfebern tvaren. Sal)rjdeinlic atten bie beiben 9ijd)otter ben %eiber jd)vn ein, mal gegriffen. Zieg mat and anjunebmen, benn afg gefunber %ei4er tudre er jebenfallg fofort nad bem erften Wngriff ab, geffrid)en. So flog er abet nur Etreden bon ettva 30 Meter. (finen lierenbeten %ei er abe id) fPdter tor bem %obr nid)t gefun, ben. Za id) in meinem NeDier bie luenigen Weiler fd)one, entjdfo5 icb mid) nid)t aum Wbjd)u . Wfler, bingg tudre eg ffir mid) intereffant gemefen, bie ettvaige $erfebung feftSufteffen. Martin Vintfer, jbaabe, anjef 91figen. (Yg ift nid)t gefegt, Mit bem Ofafe abet beutfid in erfennen. Zie &v erbung bet 91idenift olme 8tveifelrec t gut. Ziegiftleidt5uerfennen, wenn fie mit i4ren laoridbrigen Ooditen sujammenfte en. 81vitter, bilbung abe ic nie feftfleffen t6nnen; ic I)alte bie Qle ftno bitbung be3figli) bet Zeterbung unbebingt fitr gut nub erfldre mir baraug bie fiber bem Zurd)f)nitt gute ge- bbrnbilbung bet Bbde in meinem Rei)ier. lbolbt. Sic part jinb bit Gcoedc unjere# WaOlvilbcb? 2aut Wu tveW meineg I agbbud)eg ja id) am 30. Mai 1896 im: Staatgtualbe bon ftatten ofen (2otbringen) bei bet $flrf eine (gbefmarberfdbe mit bier ungen. Morgeng gegen 5 Ubr traf id) bie Oefellfd)aft auf einer Heinen Walbbf6te an. WIg bie ad4e mid) erdugte, baumte fie an einer ftdrferen ftc e auf, gefolgt bon ben Dier jungen, tuorauf alle in einem %aumlod) berid)rvanben. 3d) fette mid) gebedt an, wartete einige Beit unb qudfte bann auf bet bloten Danb. 91e gierig fte(fte bie ? ben Ropf aug bem 2od), baumte ab unb fam auf mid) Su. W14 fie mic ' erdugte, faud)te unb federte fie, unb i) mutte fie jc lie5fid) mit bent NgonUip avroe renf ba fie Mi. tenb an mir lio) ivollte. Zie 9W ftuttexlie e I)atte fie jebenfalig bu biefem utauOrud) getrieben.' ftel) fdgt itber bie Oel)ecte bet Varber: ,Zie 3ungen, beren Saf l ex eblid, fo bielman tvei5, Atuifd)en gvei unb se4n jc rvanft, tommen blinb gut Beftunb mfiffen lange geldugt nub gepflegt iver, ben." Riefentf)al i)reibt in fei- nem !3agbIqifon: ,Zer (9bel- marber ranSt ld)on im 3anuar, tvobei eg in biffigen $a1gereien jvvifc en ben Tfiben tommt. %ad) neun God)en bringt bie ItN4e bfei big bier ettva awei Goden I)inburd) bfinbe .3ungen, welde fie mit groger 2iebe unb Surge I)egt: unb jdugt." - Bag bie 91angeit beg (9belmarberg be. trifft, jo lefen roir ja in bet %r. 41/1936 loom 10. aanuar, ba5 bet ejfenjdger am 17-3uni 1935 ein ebelmarberpaar fter. rajcljte, afg bet 9Wbe bie adl)e bedte. 3agbbijc of. ,%ved)e SeVellen. 9fn einem trfiben, nebefigen Sonutagmittag, furA !oor Gei nad)ten I)origen 3a*g- befanb ic mid) brau ett, too eine aic tettbidung an etn $udenaItI)vfa beg Tadbarrebierg grenAt. A ftanb neben einer $p)e, ben j unb angel eint neben mir afg in ber "Didun - - f U " . ard)iv Soolog(fd)er Oarten Zerffn) ,gel)edJelt fam unb ein audo feine brei Sc ritt neben mir er, jd)ien. Mein fedg Ponate after RUTAaat fuf)r 2aut gebenb nac bem audo, abet anflatt ba biefer f)leunigft bie afud)t eroff, fette er jic unb Seigte bem i)unb federub bag Oebi . eft ofg id) mit bem Stod nac il)m jc lug, aoq fic bet !aud5g, nod) immer fecfetnb in bie 'Zidung 6urfid unb 13ev id)roanb bor bem geiclmallten iunb in einem ftu. ,13n einem 9?ad)barre!oier jd)vt bet orftbeamte im September auf einem fta fjcl)lag einen lbod, bet nad) ruenigen afuc ten t)or bet Zidung 3ujammenbrac . Reine jel)n'Sdritt!oon bem Ood erjc ien barauf ein ucbg 'auf bem Edlage unb dugte Wereffiert nacl) bem nod) idtegelnbett Ood. Zer ecf)fl e, wefd)er ungebedt ettua 1)unbert Sdnitt an bem Gd)fage ftanb, jdob eine neue Rugelpatrone in ben 2auf feiner ftc je unb J* ben aud)g loorbei. Ziefer ergriff abet nidt etrva bie jonbern jc lid lid immer nd4er an ben $od beran, big ibn bie ndd)fte Rugel neben bem F8od #erenben lief . Sie li) eraugjtellte, war eg nid)t ettva ein ungfuc g, Jonbern ein aftet 91fibe I W. OleiUmanv. 3u: ,Sic (auge bauett bic ffic4brunft, unb ivc(A)c Wde be- Vd)tagen bic mciften Widen?" Jr. 43 bet ,'Zeutfc en aagb"). In memem, agbbu)e finbe ic folgenbe 91otig: ,14. Utober 1890. I eute nadmittag 3 11 r beobac tete id auf ben Giefen einen 0abelbod, bet in bem 8eitraum I)on 12 Vinuten eine jef)x ftarfe 91ide breimat beftfuq. 91ad) jebem 911t 5og bet $ocf, obne lid) inguifd)en nieber3utun, m1t: bem Winbfanq am aeuclitbfatt bet 91ide f)inter biefer er, big eg jum nacVten $efd)fag fam. erft nad bent brittm &JdIag taten lid beibe C-tiide nieber." 2anbrat a. Z. b u n V e p e r, ct ranffurt (Cber).' Gcobrotte 911den. ftber biefeg 6wenfffiberzOeftdt (Zifbe Vema tann i( auofiljrlic be, rid)ten, benn Wit I)aben immer einige im 91euier gegam, 10 lange C benten lann, unb id I)abe aud) I)eute nod) einige., 0 ejc ojjen babe id) felber im gangen bier. Veine ierbei gemad)ten (Frfal)rungen will id) gern Sur FSerifigung ftellen, obgteid) fie 5um Zeil ffir mid) jd)m erili) unb peintid) gewefen jiub, abet gerabe begbalb roiff ic fie befannt-- geben, benn baburc bftrften biele 8weifef Sum Wuten beg 91e ftanbO beboben iverben. Zie erfte gel)brnte 91ide fcf)o5 id) afg folde im SOW erbft 1912, nub bwarmit 13offer Uberfegung, benn fie ftanb affein, unb in ber, agbliteratur wurbe'bamalg allgemein bie 9fnlid)t oertreten ba biefe 91iden meift geft feien unb baf)er abgej)vjfen vuerben mfi5ten' &im 9fujbreden roar id) fel)r erftaunt, baf; bie Ride Mild batte, affo aud)'Oefiibrt baben muf;te. Im Mat 1913 fd)of; ic meiner Veinung nac auf einen bet jo loerpbnten ftnopfipie5er unb fteffte beim Wuj' brec en tief befddmt eine bod)bejdlagene geb6rnte Tide mit 3tuei gefunben ftbt o feft. Sie itanb auf einer Viefe in jo obem Orafe, bafi,'id i ren 3uftaub nic t erfennen fonnte unb mid) nur auf bag Oebbrn berlie5. Zon nun an war i) febr boxjic tig, unb fonnte'jabr ffir'.3abr ge4brute Riden mit Rio fefftelfen. (Yelegentlid) eineg aelb- urfaub fc ot id) bann im Woloember beg 3abre4 1916 eine ftart ab, getommene, gebbrnte 91ide aug einem Sprung gefbrebe. Sie war fonft anjc einenb 6efunb, abet jic er fiber Atubtf : a4re aft. Zie fe te qe brnte 91ide jd)v5 ic ebenjaffg in ftart abgetommenem 3uftanb im Ze5ember 1935. Sie vuar gfeid)fafIg fel)r aft unbbatte aufierbem einen jcf)fec t ber eiften, boppeften kieferbru), bet meinego. &- ad)teng nur burc einen Bufammenpraff mit einem Wuto entitanben fein founte. 'Zie 91iden aben affe faft genau bag gfeid)e Oebbrn.
I 4f 0 - Au IeWAA-W C/ /tailtw -4AIL q
C9 /.a& ao-t-4-~*/ti __ _ 6
Muskrat Gestation period - 21 days (T. H. Patton, St. Louis) (C. kerson Brown, Jour. Ma ., 1936)
CORNELL UNIVERSITY ZOOLOGICAL LABORATORY ITHACA, N. Y. November 3, 1936 Professor Aldo Leopold, 1532 University Avenue Madison, Wisconsin. Dear Professor Leopold: There is no manner of determining the number of fisher taken in New York annually, but rest assured they are far from extinct. The Annual Report of the New York Conserva- tion Department for 1930 list 66 fisher taken in the Adiron- dack region in 1928. In the 1935 report there were recorded 31 fisher taken in the 1933-34 season. As I have pointed out elsewhere (Scientific Monthly, Feb. 1935, pp. 182-187) such returns are notoriously inaccurate, and alwals too Jowl At present I am working on a manuscript of the fur re- sources of the state. Many of my Adirondack trapper friends whom I know personally, have given me no end of valuable data on t~ie fisher and marten and their present status in the big woods. One writes that during the past 2 years fisher and marten have been driven out of certain sections by the use of dynamite in the hands of CCC gangs cutting fiffe roads into the remote sections. That may be one reason they were caught more frequently last season in comparative- ly settled sections. Fisher are not difficult to take, and are frequently caught in fox sets. Others chase them into hollow trees, smoke them out and thus capture a few. One of my advanced students, while returning to his home at Axton, New York, during the Thanksgiving recessI,1"imade a cubby set for fox or marten. He used a deer paunch for bait. The trap was left set, and when he returned to it a month later, held a fine, well furred female fisher, for which he received $40. It's skeleton is now in our collection. Current low prices of the past 5 years have taken some of the pressure from marten and fisher trapping, but with rising prices, in spite of a now closed season on marten and fisher in New York, a number will be taken and bootlegged into Quebec.
2. It is difficult to essay how many fisher are annually taken. It probably runs between 100 and 200. As a matter of fact, I really think marten are now scarcer than fisher, contrary to reports of the Conservation Department's Annual Report. WJH: EB
So p Cycle folder ' Weasel folder ,,," STATE OF WISCONSIN Conservation Department Laysmith, Wisconsin March 16, 1937 To the Director Wis. Conservation Dept. Madison, Wisconsin Attention P. G. Wilson Dear Sir: Frequent observations during the winter show that field mice have hit a new low. Iast winter there were thousands of field mice that did damage to field and forest crops on a large scale. This year there are very few mice and no damae noticeable. The cause of this rapid decline (not figuring possible disease ravage) is due to the extreme nmbers of weasel this year that were not present last year. On a sample plot of young maple where there was much girdling damage last winter, I saw tracks of two mice and six weasel this winter. Trappers in Ruask and adjoining counties have caught hundreds of weasel this winter. The mice were done away with but I think too many weasel were taken to insure future control of the mice. Rabbits seem to be on the increase so maybe it is their turn to gnaw. Very truly yours, Kenneth Beechel Area Forester
Iowa's Muskrats Are Travelers Some idea of the distance a muskrat will travel is given in a report of Dr. Paul L. Errington, Research Assistant Professor of the Iowa State College. A tag was placed on a muskrat when 8 days old on July 5, 1935, and was releatsed on the northwest shore of Round Lake in Clay County. The same animal was killed in a hog house owned by J. W. Zerfoss of near Superior in Dickinson County and near Swan Lake in the early part of the winter of 1936- 1937. The distance between these points is about 21 miles. Dr. Errington has one other report of a tagged muskrat which was taken 4 miles from the place it was tagged. C~CA
r K "~ (A ~AA Ix m A?' ~\ / /
Copies for Buss Sowls Skunk foldert.- Extract from note, "Feeding Behavior of a Skunk," by A. M. Stebler, in Jour. Mamalogy, Vol. 19, No. 3, August, 1938, p. 374: "Probably the most interesting mannerism observed concerned the way in which he obtained the contents of hens' eggs. First he tried to open an egg by biting it vogorously, but his mouth was too small to permit him to secure an effective purchase upon it. He then walked around the egg several times, cuffing it with a front foot as he encircled it. This method was likewise of no avail. Eventually he straddled the egg, grasping it with his front feet in a manner not unlike that assumed by the center of a football team while waiting for the signal to snap back the ball. Now he forcibly passed the egg between his hind legs, apparently in an attempt to strike an object with it. Immediately upon snapping the egg, he would look or turn around as if to locate the egg or to see if it was broken. After a few trials he broke it against a stone window sill. Then he lapped up the con- tents."
TE FISHER The fisher, one of the largest members of the weasel tribe, and the
N ote in Journalof Ms !ma , Vol. 20, Jo. 3, August 13,p 7 wae n 0 etfrom the shore LaeSperio, to fin, anoter (i hooks Th t a isigfo hae be agto okw~l hooks, and the ott ~e bait or a larger to release itself. Thnis fishing s done throghhoes in the ice which covers ildwaesdrigtisesnA.togteswmigpowers of th ttrae well kon hsdfnt eodo et n 4.stance taeeuneieisunusul.-.~ot icni servation Dep artment, Madso..isonin
AUTUMN, 19*9 U A typical trappers' village on Harvey Canal No. 2 in Jefferson Parish. Louisiana Furs to the Fore ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE JEFFFR SON PARISfI YEARLY REVIEW. The season of fur coats is upon us! A royal pageant of glorious womankind clothed in lustrous, luxurient furs will soon be charming the eyes of - the nation; new and vastly becoming styles, fashioned by experts, are now displayed in the shops, and sad, indeed, is the fate of her who cannot afford one of these beautiful coats or jackets. What a wealth of gorgeous furs to choose from! Chinese and Persian lamb, Jap and Chinese mink, Russian squirrel, muskrat, kid, caracul, silver fox, Hudson seal, pointed skunk-all are shown in attractive modes, chic and new. History tells us there was a time when animal pelts were used for utilitarian purposes only, but now milady bedecks herself in furs both in summer and win- ter, to add to her beauty and allurement. Some student of feminine psychology has said that there should be a clause in the Constitution of the United States de- claring that once in her life, at least, every woman should own a fur coat. We are quite sure that most women would vote for this amendment! In the shops there seems to be a fur garment suited to every purse and per- son. There are several distinctly new features that characterize the latest styles, but the most outstanding one is the "built up" shoulder. Collars are not large this season; in fact, many coats are collarless. Even fur collars on cloth coats are small. Sleeves offer many new ideas such as the spiral treatment, the comfortable width at the wrist and the overtrim above the elbow. Louisiana furs are among the most popular. Natural and dyed mink are featured in some of the most beautiful coats. Muskrats are shown in dark sil- vertone, natural ombre and in silver, the last with the pelts interlocking in wonder- ful designs. Short coats in pointed skunk, dark with an occasional white hair showing, are very attractive. The shops are also showing handsome neck- pieces in silver and red fox. TRADING IN PELTS So common is the wearing of furs to- day that we are apt to forget the im- portance that early trapping and fur barter had in the history of our country. We forget that trading in pelts was the beginning of commercial enterprise in Estelle Verjie Cottman America. While the countries of the Old World were jockeying for territory in the New, huge fur trading companies were formed, trading posts established, and trappers and explorers were pene- trating deeper and deeper into the wilderness for pelts. The Old World had nothing to com- pare with the abundance of wildlife in North America. Such a supply was almost unbelievable, and trappers could not conceive of any decline in the mil- lions of fur animals. That such a decline was possible be- came evident with the building of the railroads that made these wildlife havens easily accessible. Newly settled towns and cities encroached upon the natural habitat of these wild creatures, driving them back, depleting their numbers and limiting their breeding areas. The invention of the steel trap was a boon to the trapper, enabling him to in- crease his take, and, automatically his income, but it was a tragedy for the furbearers. Before this invention the trapper depended upon the uncertain results of nets, snares and deadfalls, but now his catch was almost a certainty. 03 --W- - - ------------- I .. . ...... . ... , .... ...... We5p"" X 4 7 , 1A.0
0 Home at the end of the day. The day's catch may be seen in the bow of the boat. LOUISIANA CONSERVATION REVIEW With such easy trapping methods, wise men soon realized that there would come a time when fur animals would be very scarce or even extinct, so steps were taken to provide legal protection for them during their unprime season and to regulate and supervise methods of trapping. Today Federal and state laws insure a permanent breeding supply of furbearers, guarantying a continued oc- cupation for trappers and an additional source of revenue for state and nation. Louisiana occupies an important posi- tion in the fur industry and holds it chiefly because of the millions of muskrats produced each year. During the season of 1929-30 the total catch of rats reported in the United States was 8,435,583, of which Louisiana was credited with 6,296,556. LOUISIANA LEADS IN FUR TAKE This catch is remarkable. The musk- rat area in North America spreads from Newfoundland to Alaska and from Louisi- ana to California, while in Louisiana their producing area is limited to lower Louisi- ana; yet in a single year this State con- tributed 75% of the entire catch of North America. It appears that the best fur pelts come from animals that weather severe winters and grow a heavy pelage for protection. M A trapper's cabin on the edge of the marsh. On the rack to the right may be seen muskrat pelts, hanging out to dry.
AUTUMN, 1939 Naturally, the mild climate of Louisiana does not necessitate such a thick hair growth yet our furs are steadily gaining a reputation for duribility and strength. A typical rat skin is "silver" on the belly, "gold" on the sides and brown on the back. Silver skins make the most beautiful coats, with gold ranking next in value. In making a coat, several thousand pelts may be examined for color and quality before some seventy-five are finally matched. The natural pelts have long guard hairs that protrude from the soft under fur. When these hairs are plucked out, the pelt is sold under the name of "moleskin". When this plucked fur is dyed seal or black its trade name is "Hudson seal". The wearing quality of this fur is excellent and garments made from it are beautiful and satisfactory. The undyed muskrat pelts make hand- some and durable coats and wear much better than some more expensive furs. Often the skins are blended, dyed a rich brown and sold as mink. The true Louisiana mink is skillfully blended into a dark brown and compares favorably with northern pelts. Modern methods have lifted the cheaper furs into the higher priced class. By ingenious methods of plucking, dying E The trappers' children some- times catch and raise y o u n g muskrats as pets. "'Jacko", on the arm of Carl Zar, is two months old. 0 Fur buyers grading hides. The hides are bought at trapping posts and sorted out according to species and grades.
LOUISIANA CONSERVATION REVIEW 0 The regal lines and lustrous sheen of this muskrat coat worn by Callista Clancy, daughter of Sheriff and Mrs. Frank J. Clancy, of Kenner, would make it a fashion favorite for well- dressed women anywhere. 5 This silver muskrat coat worn by Rita Mae Gegenheimer, of Gretna, (Miss New Orleans 1937), is only one of the many styles possible in muskrat fur, a fur that is not only smart, but remarkably serviceable. and trimming, cheap skins are made to resemble more costly furs. The clever manufacturer produces what is known as black fox by dying the gray fox pelt. Even the beautiful silver fox fur is some- times imitated by dying the common gray pelt black, gluing on white tips from the skin of a badger and adding the white tail-tip from a skunk. The pelts of Louisiana's bay lynx and opossum are cleverly manipulated and sold under at- tractive trade names. However, there is a growing demand for these skins in their natural pelage. THE SKUNK IN POLITE SOCIETY Under proper treatment the despised skunk enters polite society. The natural skin is black and white and to make the attractive black fur so much admired, the white hairs are cut out and the skin carefully sewed together again. The re- sult is a fur of unusual beauty and luster, which gives a more beautiful effect than by simply dying the white hairs black as is sometimes done. The finest furbearer in Louisiana is the otter, whose pelt in the palmy days of the last decade brought the trapper the top price of thirty-five dollars. Our largest pelt is that of the raccoon and the manufacturers do marvelous things to add to its beauty; but even i'as is" it is a handsome, sturdy fur and very popu- lar, especially for collars, cuffs and trimmings. Fur coats should be given good care, no matter what the pelage. If accidently wet, they should be brushed, hung care- fully and dried-but not by artificial heat. They should be kept in good re- pair by experts-this is not an expensive service-and should be sent to the clean- ers often enough to keep them soft and glossy. Of course they should be kept in cold storage in summer. The wearer should loosen them seated and avoid carrying her purse in such a manner as to rub them shiney or wear off the hair. Last but certainly not least, women should remember that if they MUST purchase a cheap fur coat their best bargain will be one fashioned from Louisi- ana muskrat pelts, either the natural or the moleskin! -04- Timber wolves still occur in various parts of Louisiana, being of the black timber wolf variety. Apparently they do no appreciable damage to domestic stock in this State, since they keep to wild and remote areas, but undoubtedly they destroy deer. "Pressure maintenance" is defined as the practice of returning gas from flush production to the oil formation for the purpose of keeping oil reservoir pressure and energy as near initial conditions as possible for the purpose of increasing the ultimate oil recovery of the field.
April 12, 1940 Mr, L, Butler, Biologist Fur Trade -ommiesionorts Office HUdsonfa Bay Company Winnipeg, Manitoba Dear Mr. Butlert I have your letter of April 4 and will be glad to pass on to you the thoughts that come to my mind upon readin your recent paper on muskrat foods, The Inclosure Is my file copy of a manuscript that I had gone over for the last time the before I reeived my opy of the Canadian Field-Naturalist in ih your paper appearedj you will observe that I have made some late hanges to include references to your findings., Your discovery of m be s importnt as a food plant surprised me, especially wFf the following original(nov amended) passage on page 8 of my MS|Norsetal1..,... sems to be the only waterside growth of which utilization for food has not been recorded in the Iowa field notes...." Insofar as I have known cottontails simply to mow down Z setum about as your muskrats did, my guess is that there is very attverative about the plant that causes ani- lt started, to onsume it selectively, t that its 0 da e, ittinesi, serve as a strong initial barrier to utilization, One might pos ate regional differences In silica andHON content - which may very well exist - but the faot that animels of not dissimilar feeding tendencies may relish Eand eat it without ararent detriment (it may, however, e a source of stoo, poisoni g In both regions seems to point mere to the establishment of local habits. Frua the published acoounts of your experiments, I would say that your approach has potentialities far in excess of prosent re- sult, Iwould like to see you try some Inferior - perhaps slowly lethpaldiets on captive muskrats$ under conditions designed to *imlate winter food shortages, for it is certainly true that mus- krats En stay alive for varying lengthe of time on foods Uhat are by no *-na in the category of bulrush and cat-tail underpats. In other s, there may be tremendous differences In optimum and mere- ly sub7sitence diets, and apprisals of the Immediate food resources
Mr. L. Butler, Biologist of marshes must take into consideration the supply of a much larger part of the available organic matter than the most palatable or nu- tritious plnts. With your facilities, could you carry on a series of experiments - using, of mrse, adequate controls, etc. - to dete-? mine just about what a muskrat needs to squeeze through a winter? When we try to consider the role of psychic factors in rela- tion to food utilization and population our interpretations of data become still more hazardous, and I can better refer you to the latter part; of the Inclosed MS than to attempt elaboration of this subject by letter. It is especially baffling t try to explain how mus- krats react strongly to differences in food during summer, when their regular foods may not only be generally abundant beyond visible needs but also constantly replenished by new growths; -thout Imputing too much in the way of Intelligence or foresight to the muskrat, one may suspect that gradations in ease of living may thus be reflected In the behavior of local populations. In the event that you plan further experiments, I would be pleased to help you in ai y way that I can. Would there be any chance of your spending a few days with me here in Iowa? I expect to submit my paper, "Versatility in feeding and popu- lation maintenance of the muskrat, to the Journal of Wildlife Manage. ment, but It has a number of bands to go through, and I cannot say when It will be published, Ydu may return my file copy at your con- venience no hurry. Sincerely yours, Paul L. Errington Research Associate Professor PLE:JH CC: Prof. Leopold Page 2
File: Badger Fox Anton Novy of Manitowoc tells me that he has found evidence that a badger may dig aut and kill a fox in an underground den. He found a dug-out den with the remains of a fox and evidence that a badger had done the work. A.L. 5/23/io
MUSKRAT FOLDER December 9. 1941 Frederic Leopold tells me that on a 3-acre pond Just west of the Chrysta. Lake Club House in Henderson County, Illinois, 40 muskrats were trapped this fall bringing $2.00 each, or $80 for the year's crop. There were 7 houses in this pond, but a large number of additional rats inhabited bank burrows. The pond is bordered on one side by the road and on the other side by the railroad bank, hence opportunities for bank burrows are especially good. cc Zrrington
to~~~ e t ren U 4 w dpets wer d.veveo4 in a CrT1pit. wh*h ws Woa K *arlY &S 191a paovols, *In* that tiee hae. left a pit about two weeo in &ea and partly suronddby a 10fo bek. At the not-onrft oe4 of the pit, mdow the rooets of 24-inc Wv olde stunr three *'Tts" of shell were exopo4 by -okw rmviar gravel, The upnor voi w abu IA Inaba "Nwth tba .1oy surfae of th* ground, the s.oon alot tw fet fsepew, Pni the third ebeeut 14IS~o baeineea the siooinE. %w*t v we from two to for nc* vid SM4 from 1/2 ta*e to two inoe* I l oiniss At not loe tha two plates al the -value, lUrger *abee t she wr disew d, All #hal frgtet obeorm* wT pmao by smal tree ro~se trvier to the time ofthRio imetigati~m ceiidable rfotwbeoo had Oewvrre4 at the site .mE likely rmn~ awge ablieovidonso ubikh miott h- Ye boonused to olsrlf4 the picture Am entire e*ioom eg *n an ram4 wo r-Ao during oarly Soeebr mn h r nom 4wt utwhamo wa.t found whii* poolu4os an iatm depoit or a depost over five y*raide4 4.thou# the up.r voin of shells we only ah ut 10 Iaes bwath the ground tarfee *ad the bm older .,o there. "oreno larg root. g"4W tru~ the volnoo F-sa voi had ,M~ em. rotet.ronUhoq it showig t the Iooat ",* -reint durln the troe'o loot yoar of grw. Rmroeho t* tRrv no #Ow@t the stum shovd that the two. hed bo out three yetrs ago* Slag. the khol.s wee nt doos, .54 sinmes at least mwo ob ewas still isat,*A ioofnal tod*fslmvor Aftodonyvth on-errolt Prom theo box elder tree, it tow loi...1 to emoud thet Re dopcsite art from three to fou years 4, now 4 -* hell glot w *a rwn box olde tro. m *mto tbur yeoars eo
The fomer on th* N*kv ftrau told C,. B v that s eg aholl we ove deposted in this pZ*" ka forme orcharp by his f~1y. hw. ies oviene o tho sod efa refue pit bevin boon 4% no the atwV, rutoroo v.fis rite ou rto sho s~ tratao eposts in nre md sh11em vina. evit s~wthat P.wwa o t r hq~nIbe tor their .oowurenes, v~e tho stwV, Thors are no reptiles in this s tato that woul **rr hmrodsof oh ick *W~0 throe block*sand thon dwvoit them i Ia rrwi that to n t . f tear@0 b1.wo the surfac of th. gon. if'-m thre to tou years or the only nearb snuw.. of chian one wne. bhatery thre oo e rtn the de, or on the rpoito .14.t of a Tmv4 street)* If reptiles had boon Interested In eshi *lockem ogg ftoi this hatchery, It Is very Likely that thsW wul he*. toikes them to the oppoeite iroation Uard vwter -ma woas s Moo the itehory as th* gravel. pit, lainistl a" and retloe, tbar remin onlys a twmrals that could howe made this **ohs tripid o hers, ?ronlia', p~oun squrre, rats# or *1pmk OM" toosalsl to ..rry chicken o wihu breakin or petering the, ohl1, Of the remanin momlo who isat W~ #n4 buw, In the grouns. oly the skun, m)nk, wodouink, and oem Inabite this vii', A atat woul not o&M the *W awa from *&tor, nor would he store Ute. this 4*4P, A wooee a to a diunl*-ae that wwmld "st ea"*s the pav*4 stree In dayligh to got the egs It Is uniely that it aUd emrr a hundwed to five hudred es this dietme without being seon by sa one, Opoae wid nt earr the o this diotae nor would they burrw into fQi~ly the ku rewins, an It soeeo there is no evt*.ee vokiat 4litine this speolee, - tho otorhad the *un ti--a inte th pictur very voU ma all evident poits towar the skw. Ieing of netinlheat, unafrad of seaeses.o sa boing tond of egs# all label the .km on guly k4&ofsei Invostigtlao within and a..wr th pit itioen4 that suk still Inhabt the
im5 I more ~ *$otonter tas *III hl4 it Io no ln~oibl to bell~m t theyvmud 6"sitha for oa 4wria wnter zow/1 i-3-g
2 - ~424 University Farm Place December 23, I9i Mr. eorge C. Moore, Leader inventory of Wildlife Ba"res Deprmt of Cosation Dear Mr. Moorei Tor decline in Mobile By rte to Intensely Interesting. I certainly had no Impesio that recessions occu within three years. I know the re ession of pheasants in low bMaand took twenty years. I m&Wt remmber how long the recession of pheasants in the Williasett* Val.r to, but you could find ct from Art!= Einaraen, Wildlie bsesarh Unit, Corvallis, Or.gon. I know of no oas in which sctual etinction followe the recession. In all the cases I knov, a low level of poplation persisted. It will, of course, be imossible to disti !ush a recession from an ordinary cycle until time enough has elapsed to show whether the* rste stae a reeover. It would be interesting to find a violent cyle so far mouth. The best thinker in this particular regionaon the problem of emskts Is PaulX Erriton at the State College# Ames, Iowa. Rs might contribute something to you~r problem. Tore ztive ma ts abeent from Mobile By when these Ioumsianr ats were utreodued I amnot quit@ clear on thi qstion. With best regard , Aldo Leopold Professor of Wildlife M~aagment
ALBERT W. GILL DIRECTOR J. M. WHITE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT THOS. A. FORD DIRECTOR CONSERVATION PLANNING NEILSEN B. O'REAR EDITOR OF PUBLICATIONS BEN C. MORGAN. CHIEF GAME. FISH AND SEAFOODS W. G. LUNSFORD. CHIEF PARKS. MONUMENTS AND HISTORICAL BITES J. BROOKS TOLER. STATE FORESTER FORESTRY DIVISION DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION MONTGOMERY. ALABAMA December 18, 1941 kr. Aldo Leopold Professor of Game Management University of Pisconsin Ladison, 'isconsisn Dear .:jr. Leopold: h:e have a peculiar situation in the obile Bay Delta that has us "stumped." About 1928, a few pair of muskrats probably the Louisiana type were planted in the Diobile Bay Delta. Up un- til this time there had never been any renort of the Louisiana 'rat being found east of the mobile Bay or the 7 obile ?iver. From all available reports, there were about fifteen pair put in about this time. These 'rats ultiplied to a point that by 1934, there were tvienty or thirty thousand 'rats being removed. By 1936, the peak, reports show that there was at least one-hundred thousand 'rats removed from this area. During the 1937 trappin! season, these 'rats had fallen off to a noint where it was found unprofitable to trap. The trapping season in this area was closed in 1938, and has been closed ever since. 'hen the trapping season was closed, there were at least several hundred 'rats left on the area for breeding stock. In each successive year since then the 'rats have tended to decrease. -aecently the State Department of Conserv.ation with the assis- tance of the Federal Aid Project has undertaken to determiine the reason for this decline. After having iade several preliminary surveys in coapany 'ith several authorities on rauskrats., we are still unable to definitely put our finger on any 1 4itini factor. One factor that I have had in mind is t-e so-called "recessive establishm entu .hich usuaLly appears to beco e distinct x ithin three fears. Do you have any records or know of any instances vhere a species increased vwiorously for a period of :ore than three years before the decline started, . d finally extincti n ) e into effect? , efore I rite finQ re ort, I wish to check all factors and try to eliminate those that see most likely to have little or no effect
Decenber 14, 1941 on a sudden decrease. Then we will try to determine what effect other factors might have on the 'rat population in the Mobile Bay Delta. I would appreciate your opinion on the possibility of this, that is "recessive establishment", being a factor in the sudden decline in the muskrat population. You will notice that from the time these 'rats were released until the peak was reached, it was a period of approximately nine years. During the last four years, the 'rat population has de- creased at least eighty per cent more. However, there are more 'rats there now than was suppose to have been planted in the beginning. I understand from Dr. Herbert L. Dozier, of the Fish and 7ildlife Service, and other interested persons that there has been a sharp decrease in 'rats in general over much of the east coast and the Louisiana marshes. I do not know whether this is the downward trend of a cycle or some other factor that has caused a decrease in the 'rat population. Dr. Dozier is under the impression that there is a possibility of a disease being the major factor in this decrease. It seems to me that since the 'rat population is so low in the Mobile Bay area, the disease factor should have a minor influence on any continuous decrease. hny suggestions that you ni.'ht be able to pive me will be appreciated. Sincerely yours, DEA!-A*T 7 T OF CONSERVATION George C. Moore, Leader Inventory of Wildlife Resources In ;labama GC :al 1,1r. Uido Leopold -2-
' Morocco, Indiana March 10, 1942 Mr. Aldo Leopold 1532-Univer s ity Afenue Madison, Wisconsin Dear Mr. Leopold: It has been over four years since I left southwesteri Wisconsin to take a position of project bilogist with the Soil Conservation Service. Much has happened in that time but I always look forward to returning to the Badger state. I am writing to you in re!ard to an idea I have been working on for the past two years. I would like to have your opinion on the plan. At college we were taught that a diversified farm is the best pay- iq one. With that thought in mind, I have planned for what I term a dfversified "biological farm" with honey, furs, and woodland products as the main products. If the bee pasture were owned by me, legume seeds could be a by-product. Professor H. F. Wilson has told me that a good beekeeper with 500 colonies of bees could expect a gross annual return of $5000. During the past year (without a fall honey flaw-due to the surmer drought and excessive fall rains) I experimented with 25 colonies of bees which returned an average gross receipt of $10.00 per colony. This was in territory where the honey flora is notnearly as cood as in most parts of Wiscons in. As to the income from furs, I have been following ir. Erringtons/ work and believe that a surplus of at least two muskrats per acre could be taken from a well managed marsh. During the winter of 1938-39, while I was working in southeastern Ohio I started a trapping project on a small pasture marsh. I had hopes stayinp at that work unit for five years, but was transfered before I could run a second years study of the marsh. Enclosed is an extra copy of the report which you may keep if you like. It was interestin7 to note that the owner of the marsh knew very little about trapp in marsh rats(he preferred trapping bank-rats which he said was much easier work). Specialized woodland products suchA as Christmas trees, wreath mat- erial, fire lo s, fence posts, pulp wood would bring in the rreatest re- turnwith timbr as a lo1n time objective. I believe that these special- ized products would bring in as large a net return per acre as some of the crops I have seen grvwing on farms of southeastern Ohio and northwestern Indiana. That list of forest products looks larvae, however with my seven years experience in proper land use and woodland management I am sure that I would still have a fine looking woodlot after following a proper manage- ment system. What's !iore it would give me an opportunity to manage wild- life on my own land, particularly deer and ruffed grouse. The location of such an enterprise, I've set up temporarily as some- where in northeastern Wisconsin, near my home. The main factors deter- mining the location would be a good honey flora(naturally sweeet soils) near a marshf about 500 acres. About 200 acres of spruce,balsam, aspen, and white cedar would make up the woodland. - . I-
Seasonal work on a farm of this type would be as follows: January to March or April- Taking fur surplus and sore forest products. April to November - Beekeeping November to January- Woods work, Christmas trees, wreath material, etc. About a A5,000 to ,10,000 investment would be necessary which I think I could be able to raise somewhere. My experience in SCS has given ,ie an insite on so called "land wslues". Particularly here in northwestern Indiana, I have seen land sold for from l60 to $125. per acre, which will take the buyer(if he is lucky) a life- time to pay for it. Much of it is farmed in such a way that the owner might have some top soil left to farm after twenty or thirty years of farmin-, just when he needs to have the land workin - more for him. If low-priced woodland and mrshland such we have in parts of hisconsin could be put to some honest to goodnesssustained yield ,manacement, I believe that our wood- land and wildlife products would show as Sreat a net return per acre as sono of the land now being farmed, and at the sa-m ti-e preserve the natural beauty of the land. About two years a-o mzany of the sl ecialized technicians in our sorvi~e were made over into diversified farm planners. In T'hc past two years I have been workin7 up farm plans for a complete soil and moisture conservation program and have been doin as good a job of it as men who havo been doing the work for seven years. You may wonder whj, with my present status of P-2 Ass't. Soil Conservationist, I would even think of the possibility of be- comin - what I term a bi&oogical farmer. It is not that I am dissatisfied with my job- on the contrary I like extension mork and enjoy reetin- and talking< over problems of proper land use with the farmers. However, I don't enjoy the gypsy life ,hat we are leading, three different states and seven different work units in seven years. M,1ost of my friends in the service have moved more often than that. Ve Fet nicely quainted in a neighborhood and then we are on the move again. For a sin'le man this mi'ht be all ri it, but I don't think a family should be on the move continually with no place they can really call home. Do you think that such a farm as I have described is feasible? Invest- ment in the land (200 acres woodland and 500 acres rarshland) would be snall; the bi-gest investment would be in bees and supplies. Some hired help would be neea during harvest time of honey and Christnas trees and possibly for some of the other woodland products. Sincerely yours, George Stanek
OF ARIA OR? TW SK UIMU vhere~ ~ ~ this rMA Jossae iv n of Section 33,W At the Inte of this F~o" Vef Awho ow o t~e. bowmr, tim wbd mppaw alow 17 -aK of th seat maskles"by Jame ~Wyrw. Thug both mase we owwd by th. -tkaa Consevny Distic, Usn -w wa " 1 4"by.a tr.W ?bo -yeo arsh ha been at41 by that fouly *we tha ffty yop. 4pproxztely, forty-five rar a, or about 1M&. this tmony *or mars had bow tilo drain" an outvd Evidently the tiling w"no greaOt e. so the gon vwted bk topstr t a" or tW *or~ of own3 so * Mw 4l-Imer, said a *rp at 85 buhel of "m to the &o*vgo from this grm end aloago -on of aprxtel tty- *rs - m eab. The preent fmr .sad tha th mrh has been cou44m4e a mas o the pot te yers Ditchee ha b w du thoghte podwdt Yokw *rook but ths prove inffeotiv for drinp A deais waeav suve w not take, du to se hd*M u bor owvr, a suve will be tae during te sprin of 1M* A sa1ioa of~ p @4p spooodnity idt the meisty of imka houee v~11 be n"ia
sa1.o), Oner we (Pwaioeria op.), Spk na (Sosoi s,), 3040 (Cavm op,), uWo grs (karp oprns . *t~ (!Tuka *wd brho grosoo thaore maws by@ two 1. b~twk~ ftt-~ sr p 3a to lived In tbo xU7~ s y ow bec borderedM am abu -m hurt. fetb tho wat lm Siths -boo me sips of bowUdvouin uIo $tt Cols, h a bern delf a grea daof wef 13 mtb ft mosarh, a too~qu for estimating uwFa poplatim with LV asws ha o boomdevised* 1rW be states th wt mprrwat rat mase baw* y~ld aaa~l 4 to6ws per sr over oxom siv grss*zp in bad ys, ai -s a roethe mallor mrebas y1o* ocoabPt mo po nif &roe* Wit tha in =. ow estiae ot. viha -pef th brodn stck ftr the Mysre mas for th Igo* rapig oem t be 4 mshe t , ora, total of IM Di to loo of t~and maeias house peu1st&o .mwt*a 40 a #0
00*~ Us 4 eas -as Or9~ LY& OPry sh vill be inludd in th of the zwnt hose, .ah i lw bein a hue M* hoses wl bU h wber Duin F brwuey 1939, duo torts umw v4.te, eovering nor to half of the mws lad". at efftot this ba an the mukrt populaion walayn to b SaW urin the toal of 1939, With the floodin of Sonm at$ thns 0 oes of peaeba1a mskat mwt* vin be ertod Mukat hw buid.- in -ov frm praa pad to inw. shallowsaer Bot - mase we" pobo vi4sgn bofer. th trapin -W~ by Wr yoavr we ouse is 1. e moo - that mash rh. C~vridg an tb a prt t aol Cutlos patrolle the ma.so go .vione of pahngo repsine noe in tho Wyearvr mas but atpt ow mad to trap the -sma mars by outw .1m." Tho m wesqul stope by sprin the tmp *1.bh diawwas qp4 ~~ th Wdb*tap vo 3 w
"'rt Not I rte traps wer set on Nvmbe 17, 1939 byth projeot biologist i the flzae mash An trap wer got at 1&s -~a of thes. trps pr y set, wer oftt iv1 , killer trap will b# usdi the futre Whr rmV we of atuh dept to allow mmskrc to swim fvge- ly owo th* tr~s stoe an ri weus to elvte th* trap# Most of th rt we sauht wea fodn bd wd in ru s lost of the -akrt wa ot*fr ws oAt whe the pon ~ from.n Sm e~ drae qm1ok1y in sets une the iov. Only fiv vw nuats me by shvv off a log. Tv we eauht by' thi~r tall*, fehow daily ms pet on the tra linq bogimang lawmer %so 193A8~mhJm: 14. 1939# on"?~ inzDeeer 25, -,* 1938 am jovr I wid Jwar 13, I939* The .omayn ohw shows the 4a11y %=h of It itrto .muist.d of roots of ths swet flog -rp-ain of th . hies r m~I w me by the pr.Jeat biologist, v*0 the tmro th et ove to th farw for makt% Flobfta skl too fro a hal to t4ro-uarmr of anhw *we abou flssn is write under fr valus ?we esrtN onbwmt wire stoow -o froi be 9 tomoo wivo Xw. atstim 40 4 Alk
S. fter drn rr no&fo rapi sale of fwe If roosay N*Its mir turned ovrt the fame ftw mre ii eight lets botin sw r 6, 193n to Jamu 16, l939 .a shor n a rt too I* There vee ume of places tht he could gell the furs,, rw hose, mal orde hoses, loea delr and local byr, oa -vw ax*lie Ima4 fur dole2~ut in ad Miti tromwl from fsm to ta buin apo furs For th enire seson. local buer meepy in fite 0,15) cnts, or mo, Is tha local delers, sothat 100#1 buwes weo dhooked fr the list. Th first thre s e m gol,W to a local dealer, an to a mail order hmsse and one to a fu h~w*, Th fort sale wen to a local 4.m3.w, All of the first fou saes *amw tained pelts poely skined thmughly fleshed. &M prpewly strqt*WA. Althogh N~ houes paid me for am particular pelt in a shipmn of furs# their ww4 pric per furwa no t as high as tht p.U 'by a lool Aosar*Ina 4iftono th leei dele stated that fur pteotloa M4 z 1t tkninUoni.rto of fu ta he bouht Tb reIii four lots of fur we sold toa lewd dele witf fleshing or stthin -V- pelts, RIU*t (4*90) asmts va the top pria paid by th ot Aoa~r howo, b~s gaing dam s~~l asa fur hm or mai orde hose fur gads va nt sodataada a reslt, he pal4 the bt avrg few prioso Thm~ mail aro houses and fur homs advrtise -roim hr well prpae furs, theirverg fu prie pai did no sho It* For that r*= th las fou lots of furs we" sold to a loaldaler ver soratly aftr skm th 'katwith so labor 1st in flashin *~ streohn~
104 O You hour wre spn ca Noede 17, 1939 In setting the fifty four daily isits v mad* spndnga hour per visit to the trap . lie Th ajority of th mo*.t oaught we skiwe only* (n strn the tra--".v4 4~t six ($.76) orntsor &w tota valu of 5@. Or* o m fo 66 Itukrto 54 Sous -of lkkfo te 2MMUS Seting the trw 4j Uwe ?eb. hewn 64 haws ?b rturn per ho *P tiore - $5.2 $0.78 T~ rtunper how of var of seetyep lot istw *a, also, th tim va oxoso in a s.1k seso of the reguar tam (Six~ix umaras wa msgt ontet moe, a catsbof 3.3 muskrt per ace Th Vw. 1nm fr fr of 45* ntw mre ah ida xwu f 2 per ero.
16 m-f egA W! UA or atbytet.,Ou £~kTe fir t 14R1et =.lrs maugt were litd unra**. e RaulyJ hi secton of Ohio, th trawq.n bya~ or uUSrat5 opened memonth befor furs wwo ptwt utiThs sas ?ivv peltsh of t the failst to mokscthsoe o&*b te~N. U ali duw i*4e te ihitam a.Tog ~ams fthse flf e Sim be otutfodas o kt. by lt the trMo Ol awf Tw a skatis erdme I the %* by o9the mukas a* bigsashed alhi w all not wotretn. lbo*yAs wwra h ho& to t tl vw.a thll beask*n b e to tbe deeine byt fmut isit toth arh - 7 -
tru.i wSrt an*a a asxs
Cambidge ObS. Dat wee Sol Av aa o O e 10wew.10 0IFO sa et *U l NNl r- $1 Y2N2tyAS oaOAAOO -- 22/LO,,'" 6 1 - - Del - - -Ord" a50 -63 0 Dalr --L -- - - - - Deal"
Obat I I S~~kQmt taoa !R! * as
AN Y&W*VIO OF TWO SMALL~ XAS As mined i i field wok of this prj s a&eint ha nt b" devsed Uowt* a mas vit maymsrt hus" Walk -a this sas bo, shoul -i a harest of six to si~ re pew sov th-at nohing owm ba ap~d or the suka poeulstio Wee -rnngo tho habtbility of the uuh fj -t th field -* " em -wahb.ros twe taw Is the, or&hae -se hei they soul handle #m of thi w 3.and flow the purpos of rasin msrt* Wo os £eak* flood to normal pool stag. hundreds of other farme. mill be intereted inanaging worh. Janis for ama wildlife Oerp of furs A throg eooet* s y of the tw marshes will be ta~a duig the "vi at 19w.* With *learvatinl stuion of unkat foding habits. it so be dewle vht pat a" taen iarest quantities andibe are - of littl use. To enoua pro-o lea use an~ tin frm A std of th ~itn mase. vth ti preset population of mukrts, *so the ~we leve .&age -ih the flodn of Sea L~ wMl thro -oo ligh an muskrt makp u of th are.
*mftat Xoem Pe uit Are anT ml)asbo ja"W 15 I,94 tw *as -Qitf Aft hIt TOW41 hrOMA SO44 wo W&t etho J:"twf estoA O pi. . es loo rer t t P" *a or adwl f ts*inw t"NOy I~q twg, t -~ 41y qpe durif hr =o adfUom th on teste ti it OW hlq stes h - aae a e to keep al rcts a~ uu t uw*, reur -rQ the s twb iy-40re mt. Ah sean mask ift y fiehS4 n of~ th ?Ms v M 1ar * ba be -rpe rmtewu7det h 0 xv " L%04 attepwao
The o*nd suve o t & fam in f the yee i93. It byrfwaOs liesoo Me 2be inl& la the omwwle mawa The ~ ~ __ m.ta ?~ wMmsIr *13 am Imm b 64po '"- ab I Ows th ond ure sap totmammI rpadotwIa e al w h
Uoncd Suvo anU V"P oft a 19m ,ta Nobo Cwk, Mio o Aw~p ins perso froin am (fur) a Th- v~usSV oow "tknfo .-e -wro *ra -ro fo er TWA Value Taluo ?or Total per Duo psr ToW Cask lialawo j grSM Amg TUU or Too Awo- t1me 2jffigK Not com is 50 9w Ife 31 -W WoOD 4T*38 510oft 25 150 *34 8*50 5LOO 32-0e 19-98 2S 2 tm 50 9,0 M.56 466oo 66,oo yA,,oo Womm(posturO4 ge *W G"w 050 11000 11000 Pasture 220 low 1,50 19"00 190*00 Rl"OlUnlod"s 5 24*414 3.96 12Q- 14" ilig.6o 07 le 12 1
an a 19-Ae Pam. Avep 1wm pa -ws of farm frm fus 04T ftresewoer mgu)*? farm inom. by exim fur Wo - - - - - - - -w -w -O 5w4*w8 p grm4. so 7 2* 160*30 MII.A
4 rea dral." OWNER- 0415KIA16LIM Coyvseqv4Nc1y Dls7-Alc-r 4oopEs5- New PY144DELPHIA, OA11O. ORFqA-TOY- -TA-1,55 W15CARVER 4DDR4755- 5A-fE5VILL5, CHIO 4fqAl. DeSC,91,07-ION- A 0915 C.OUIV7-Y WA 11,le rOWA15HIP 5. W44 -5ec7loN 33 DA7-E- Fe,6PUAAIY 1959 ,4cAF5 IN 017 .5r qeo - 57-,jVe1<-
IAnc' Area drP.,1cP7 es LEGEND OF VEGETATION SURVEY iBur-reed Sparaganium sp. Sedge Carex op. Smartweed Polygonum sp. Sedge Carax sp. Sedge Carex ep. Wool grass Scirpus cynerinus Cat-tail Typha. laitfolia #4 OWNER-A'k/.KIN&LIM CONSZ-AVANCY .Z)S7/i'ICT ,400PE55 V,/7L PHwuL -PHIA, CA/la. (QP-AT0,Y_ -AME5 /C.~E A4DD Pt55_ - 5A755VILLE, OH/0 LtcqAL D5SC/,F1P7roN_ Mc5g5 C OUNT17Y WA rN, /' TWiNSUP 5 W.~ 5c~w3 DA4r. EMe- /R /939 4AcAPE 5N /C'A /1 - /. 7 .5r4y, 57ga.5T ,tg-
excerpt from the 7lamebeaun-- Plambeau wildlife is of a character to pleae both tyro and ex We saw 52 deer in the river during a day an a half afot. Th stz deer-line on all white cedar, and the heavy nipping o striped apI &ogwood, and pine seedlings suggests that there are too man deer fc own good, and that an increase in the remnat of wolves would be sal to all concerned. Ma mergansers an some blackducks and woodduck. along the river. There are still ospreys and bald eagles. The most Wisconsin outpost of ravens ip foun here. Aspen is scarce, hence scarce, but m ias ts thrive on the river's abundat mossels, and mi thrive on the mskrats. The F&ambeaiu's real thrill for the more experienced wildlifer possible existence of a remnant of martens in one of the blocks of u tibe. The last known marten skin came out of the Plabeau in 190 and the species has been considered exterminated, not only from thus but from the state. In 19 0, however, a deer hutrwo is also a t de st d naturalist reports seeing a live mart n, and a meliable taprswtracks in the same locality during th same winter. He saw I trak in another ~locality $ix years ago. If rtens still liva the lambeau, the creation \f a wild area with lar blocks of uct my eregarded as 'velvet".,
Cue ~ '~ ~ IN REPLY REFER TO iII IT1l 'TATF5q DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Columbus, Ohio July 26, 19I4 Prof. Aldo Leopold College of Agriculture 424 University Farm Place University of Wisconsin Madison 5, Wisconsin Dear Aldo: Glad to hear of your interest in our Ohio wolverine record. Anl this time I have been trying to get more information. Haven't seen the animal as yet, but as nearly as I can learn it is a wolverine. Undoubtedly, it is an escapted animal - but from where no one knows. It is unfortunate that it was published without more data, as such reports are misleading. We've also has a number of badger turn up outside their range - ortgin puszling. The numerous coyote records we've been able to trace as to their source* Best of luck. We surely enjoy the Wisconsin News Letter. Sincerely, Lawrence 3. H1 s, Leader Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Ohio State University LJIH: gb
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(C 0 P Y) Feb. 5 - 45 Mr. W. Grimmer Madison, Wis. Dear Mr. Grimmer: For many years 1 have been watching birds and animals and feeding them in winter and trying to find out just what they like to eat, but last week I found out what muskrats like the best, and maybe you found this out long before I did. But anyhow I thought I would pass it on to you. I always knew that muskratslike vegetables, but you just can't ehase 5them away from brs Aels-.souts. It happened that last year one of my next door neighbo F-lanted more brussels sprouts than he could use, and a lot of them are still standing in the garden and in spite of the cold and snow they are pretty green. All last week our dogs that we have in a wire fence in the back yard were doing a lot of extra barking, and the other morning they almost tore the fence down so I went out to see what it was all about and there were three big muskrats eating the brussel sprouts as fast as they could. I started over to them and they soon disappeared in the snow. When I looked I found they had a regular network of tunnels under the snow which run all the way down to the creek which runs past the back end of our lots, and is about 100 feet from the garden. Now I find that they come up even in broad daylight with all the dogs in the neighborhood howling at them. I just thought this might interest some of the fellows that might want to feed muskrats sometime. Yours, (s) W. J. Femal 1585 Franz Ave. Green Bay, Wis. Copied ab 2-7-45
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Jun.19. 19 15 Badger reported at Menominee Indian Reservation, Jun 13, by T. P. Kouba.
Wisconsin Conservation Department INTRA-0FFICE - MEMORANDUM Date__t_ ber 01_ 5 TO; Aldo Leopold FROM: S. Paul Jones SUBJECT: Data on Muskrat House building. Records on muskrat house building are rather scarce here at Horicon marsh but the information below may be of some use to you. William H. Field, warden at Beaver Dam: Mr. Field states that he noticed definite building in 1945 about a week before the opening of the waterfowl hunting season on September 20. He also points out that the muskrats drag food up on to the houses all the year except when they are frozen in. Barney Wanie, fish division at Horicon: Mr. Wanie states that he observed building for a week previous to September 25 and that some building is done up to the freeze-up. He belives that the heaviest building is about October 15. Franklin W. Burrow,HMWA: Some building done all year except when the muskrats are frozen in. Most of the building is done Oct. 1-15 and continues to the freeze-up. Harold A. Mathiak, HMWA; States there was definite house building about August 20, 1943. On September 6 1945, some houses were completed S. Paul Jones, HMWA;On September 16, 1943, many houses were observed well along in construction and fresh material was observed on most of them. On September 1, 1945, definite evidence of building was noted. V Definite dates are a little difficult to establish since there is activity in house building over a considerable period of time. This is agreed to by all the observers consulted. S. Paul Jo s cc: Ralph C. Conway
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CLYDE B. TERRELL WILDLIFE CONSULTANT PLACES MADE ATTRACTIVE TO FINS, FURS. FEATHERS ,AND FOLKS SINCE 1908 OSHKOSH, WIS. October 30, 1945 Ooncerning: Muskrat cycles Prof. Aldo Leopold 424 University-Farm Place University of Wisconsin Madison, 5, Wisconsin Dear Aldo: At our camp on Terrell's Island we keep a journal, or log book, in which anyone going there can record any informa- tion or comments that they desire. It is of interest to note in this log book a quotation of November 17, 1939, recorded by Jack Spanbauer and Alex Gorr, who trapped the muskrats there that fall: "Muskrats are plentiful this year at Terrell's Island-1,S1 caught this season to date--- best record of any fall trapping on Terrell's Island marsh." I believe that the fall of 1939 represented the high point in the muskrat cycle and that the fall of 194 represented the low point in the muskrat cycle and that the cycle has now definitely taken an upturn,. In 1944, the first fourxdayys October 2b, 27,28, and 29, 19441, a total of 196 muskrats were taken on our muskrat farm. This year, 1945, on the same four dates, the first four days that we trapped, a total of 430 muskrats and 1 coon were taken. The same marsh and the same number of men, namely, 2, trapped the property in the fpll of 1944, and the fall of 1945. The coon was*caughtffathe first caught in several years. We have two tracts of marsh in this area, the Spring Brook Marsh, of 120 acres, and the Terrell Island Marsh, of 200 acres. It used to be that the Spring Brook Marsh would produce the most muskrats during early fall trapping. During the fall of 1943, we dredged 6,100 feet of ditch on the west half of the Terrell Island Marsh. This ditch runs from 4 to 6 feet deep, 16 to 18 feet wide, and a bank was (OVER PLEASE-SAVE PAPER PHONE 3347
Mr. Aldo Leopold--Page 2--October 31, 1945 thrown up on one side of the ditch. This ditch and bank have many things to recommend it, two of the chief things being that it is deep enough to proVide water, when the water is lowered at the Neenah-Menasha dam effe9ting this marsh, so that the muskrats can live through freeze- outs. Secondly, the banks that are thrown up make excellent places for dens and sites for the muskrats to raise their young and to keep them above water during flood periods in the spring breeding season. It used to be that the Spring Brook Marsh produced more muskrats in the early fall trapping,'as heretofore stated, than the Terrell Island Marsh. This year, of the 430 muskrats taken on the first four days of the open season, 1279 muskrats were taken from the Terrell Island Marsh, the majority of which came from the area improved by the ditches and banks, while 151 were taken from the Spring Brook Marsh. We observed that the muskrats from the area where they live largely in dens in the banks that have been thrown up, run larger and are better furred.) I am passing this on as a matter of informat1on and record. With best wishes. C B. TERRELL CBT: jgw
Noveber3*194 Mr. 017 S. fero1 the hMso44a da and oat figurs vhio yo soM sohv ra alea nMn I "go heuit o f a~ 4c andI .tin MR1 t. "k4V &bti qetos uptoat& ageq~.
900 iay Bullding dlison, SISoonsin fWn Wl na. k-1 I, W. Mr. Oiyde 0. ?Terrell 240 Winnebago *treet 'shkosh, Aleonsaln Dear Clyde; I have & opy of the letter you *rote to bill "rimter on otober loth, oono-rning perilssion for muskrat farmers to harvest mnaer rate. I agree with you thorroghtly that we should utilize this resouroe. It is another Instance where 4dherence to old established regulations produaes an illo~ioal result. Another sugestlon In your letter is one whioh Aldo Leopold and I have talked about a good deal, and whioh we Intend to put through, and thnt is employment of a capable fur man in the 4e Department. To date, It Aas tbeen impossibie because of lac1 of jersonnel, but aany of the good boys are ooming bao f rome servioe, and we should be able to g t a man in the near future. In Ue t -ast, there 4as been too muob of tis wort done by tue nforoeaent Department, and unfortunately they tre rit trarned in tile needs of same Vanae ement. Not only that, but their entire approaob Is ac In- elastic one as.4 upon a riid poAoe type enforcement of tte law. These thlns ll oo~ae lth ti.s ith kind riatrds, I am ilnoerely yours, m. J. ?. Aberg
CLYDE B. TERRELL WILDLIFE CONSULTANT OSHKOSH, WI October 27, 1945 Mr. -w-n J. k-. Aberg, Ofmirmasn Wtsoonsin Conservation Ooituassion 900 Gay £$ulding Aadison, Wisoonsin Dear fr. Aberg: PLACES MADE ATTRACTIVE TO FINS, FURS, FEATHERS AND FOLKS SINCE 1908 S. COPY Thank you for your good letter of Occ ber 23, 19*1). I a glad to know that you feel that the runner rts, ghioh -re frozen and starved out as the water is oere y the mills, should be utilised. I am ?utting 1n an application to take iuch runner rats on top of the ice a they freeze out, between December 15, and the usual limits. We never knoe juit ahen thi to ha-pen because much depends upon how fast the lowering of the water 13, how cold the weather is and how much snow there is in the rrh. I have tried to save our muskrats on our EUsprmt fa by diedt4ri 6100 feet of ditch so the water will stay deep ewugh so the rats can live hen these freeze-out periods occur. I have another ditch about 500 feet long that was drA,,,,ed et>ui 3- ¥e-el afo. As finanaes 1 t i tnel to d - more of such work to partly off-et the freeze-out and try to put our marsh in suln shape that the rats can live th, over winter, or at least a great percenta.e of them. I am much interested to read that you and Aldo Leopold faivor e-ployent of a capable fur man. It se s to me that -uch a zwn should hve notul experience a a trapper and fur taan, and if he al'o was some eduation in gae '\V naweent, such as being tawht today by our friend, I feel that it ould make a most excellent combina- Lion. lie needs both types of education nd ezerience justai much a he needs to le, to stand on. I am hopi' to 'ee you at the annual metn of the lza!k dton League in tiwu~ee, on 4ovemb 3. 1 notice t you are on the prokran. In observi nf different m!ukrat ane-s, recently I have observed that there re certain apots here there a-Le a great many houses and many spots hbre there -re no aicns of them. It leems to me th t state fur man should try to PHONE 3347 11 e I
deteroine tha reaisonis why there isa a good crop jin so1me plcswhen they FrO screa in othlers. Oni my own lioen- _d mus krat panoh, where wehaVe been aoIR,,,tiqing _ mu: Krqt (nanaemcnt, i have,. 3everal tipeoi a;_, -n,,ny mukr t er , sorp Is On adHoinin,, msr~h, ow.ned by tlhe Butte de.- Aort,,Zn;, ;mnpany and tra.pped by the Benediot'e of Hiutte, do aowtt1 The prope rty touctiee our land. on the aortho eeast, ,,nd onec tract join-3 us on the southaest. iart of tite abiund-Ance of m x- rr,, t o -,r itarsh may be Jue to good fiuntinp oflditlonis aind part due to cur ditche-t anid management. 6vtther at t eitle vill g *of. !trka, vtlong. th* I'ox River,(3uit &6'eI:in" full of i~~oue ore than anothier ,.,ot that I viiited on a trip ye.-terday. 'ANAIs ma nrs3h 1is 1oet ed 0t the wesit edge of thAe 'Fureka imi At North pond du Lao,0 ailong Lake innebR)ro, the niprih owned by tie supple rhes w~hich you hpve pr-o7-bIy see;n on the ibybtwnFnduta -nd Osksh ult -I yo'U get out of Fond,-I Av Lac, is flill of mukr-4t ho~uss. P-erhiips youi havei noticed anothe: little like and las ~ong thef [hhwa-y, abrut a, -nile northi of Sun Pare Ih-,ve nlt beeni ny that pliae this, yeanr, but there sesto be ,t-ni nousual umber of muskrats,- there- eve-ry fall1 since I can Uenme.Iow is it now? I thinkt that a proi-pectivp -,tlte fur mn,or posibl soe o~f Lepod'a tndent,- -hoild try to teemies ewit makp, toa usraS abunelant in tlie - -pots vha they ae~eeal cre C)ur ;stpte 'u:skrA 1 I'eaver Fatrmerlq As-iociation 1s 3uat a s miuch inte.res4ted in these thimn-s -as good fmrsin the 3t-te are interestedI in better methodsi of iroduciing better live- qtock. I ami ta~kingr the libe--rty to enclose a copy of this-, le-tter in a letter to kido Leooold, for his3 informa,-tion. I hon, e to ,3ee you both in Mi~ueon ioverber 3 8increlyyours', C,~l 13. T: ~ J 00 Alfio -ol nd Ha, rry 'F,
11oer~or34 94 ur. 01f hTl QO'hmbhf, to a D*r Clyd IAa u xwa '"Lehistricl Ul an OAWfl&-mm hic you$ou ma hqx geat~ value and a&~ filing
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y..rtin iht ng ito orqutgial hriae Te coitions Oo t#imere ofM.*~n rpVmi~t e ~ fite of ~ o r whertl r ofV th In1t$o wsyr# Aarh hte.n* 04r. '1Vphramo 11 ~ J& h ~br ~;h aot fifty'4v yeary h~ ~&tnra. near~ he ltn~re In 193~r #sti~n otherth Northon L mavh tim I have not hear of any bein '~~~~~h rilds' lie the fla1OQQ orminq mth sI*V ~f4 ~ gteat the time wh~en they w, ;r# y~o About
Ne one knuw th rea ts surprise visit. e~ are trying to find the ara e for theas rasons: First, because the pesum is one of the most interecting animals; Second, begause it is an exceptional phenomnon of naturj and Third, beause * Is a very real Probably o better gnrl short des iptlon Is qiven tian in the referncm I)hve used ,,hich quote Purchas (eoie say it vas Captain John Omi h) in 161: "The op&ra hth a, head like a swine, a tayle like a Rat, as biga an. Cat, and hath under belly a b, -herein she carriath Aer youn.. Slils slow, thick, short legged possum has a white pointed fae -tIth large bare cars, and: a scnly pr.Mnsilc tail. -'any all it a "silly, artnnin1 idiot." -Cin ye-:, a i.alfis. rveryone knotw about h1'48 'lplay- Ing poss~ue trick w7hicli is actually a faintincl pell. 'does not consciousely play possum. As bed qoes Limp, the hcart tt.. iot ceases to~ bat and thc. body; temptsrat-are goea don. The disgusted offender gives a final shake, ,,nd leaves 4flilly Ilosm to brush himself off. an(I go in march of a supper of fish worms beetles, and apples, or anythtnq else that ha~ippens to be in the w, ay. The p),gsuma Is ounlvorouvp beinq fond of fruit, insects$ l1ive met or carrion. ry(qu ted by eton) even ilvea strong evidence that the p csew is cwnibalietic. It is hard to believe that such a mild nered ani.al is so vicious.
devloj, i vry fsr as a aiatott but hequta TonenM n Bhal- az saying that it !:aslies islf, qatliket ater a mcl and that It takes rjn batha. Thi ad tlae videnoe Inicate that -,-hen un4ioturb.4, th p-ysew ntot ekl 1eyA a4nigt prwlor, J'al on! awftron In Febru~ary., 1'23 , u rT oaurht in a W94#od nea~r hee At the sam tMaG of the diy In D caber, 196 nte va soc~an a chort 41 .tanee from a far )ous#. deiourin bees at a hive. Themajrity of posswmm "Is rayO ells saye tha -"--on the asual gray,- n. small po-otjo o)f olawt spectmnh (up to 10Q ar to be oud w41.l in other regonsa aml percntafte of cirsrdn-oord animls Seton says that tl POnSUn is al'wIya Solitary; but he quoe a ntory rtten, to hisn -hicht is contra- 4#tVr. A pet posaix o-wnc by a neqr, tuiil diaa pearecJ] hiin ver col~ weather aA reune few dasltr f olo-4el f llgromn possmi. Cons14ering the> brain capacity of the poeesum (as ms seta by &4Zly, i~eon which hol40 aout Vt~ny4fiv beww.g a. zotnpate. ith 15J hold~ by -a oqir.ilar @674 con It is highly Improbable that anwosua7ould leav. a --armnUn to !o out Into the cold to brino bAip fta back to shrc it wi4th him. Despite the fact that the possit- is an able climbr, he is too lazy to climb exopTt for a hmeal of
fruits or to eacape frow rI.jht U,, u-i hims, in whiah hardly ever ncatv htvh jr, t1he ground or a 710110,,-.,, 10 lOftVQ8 -and T'ass, trlanapo the tail. After thirtee" ja-o, the voun. , is that all wvxaupiala in and the warsup size at birth. They at)ln to place, elqllteen jo teaepoon, 'Naturallys If must be vtIll very embryo are Y,,iell wothe into the POUCA, 7-here it a 4,-at. are woria j in the pouch. !he rest, to el#htean oun3j, The y heres qro-viw and "'evelop Then for the firet time i the sixth Vacy rGall ridinct 011 Vic motherlt ba, nvoimd hars. After Vio, m althou.1-h th-cy ire nnt ent femnle produces younil It Mr4 ~ ~ ~ ~~r tre.t ~g .n& e, Preer.-iliq e hole in ~au, t~#rtel to the .ngi site by t~4ren aysdth nole kanao I th peu ~~xla4 areoe#1k ~~ a1-pr,.xijw-,tely --th s aia ath~r, Tey e so tha~t Lttringr neas wi rO~euin nori-r the. ); 7pa# atetee thssie V1 gu mu~~~~~~t t~wilvr m~~ he frr*t leRs and ~w ~e .Z .~1 inablinp It to. 01,Ilb wV,*itu aeI iti~# Trrd r. up OQ4r the. abdooinl1 ~#4 ~h poah, *rIt in4e an4l attachea ite4l to raue thnat4 Ther be re 4od, ~Qt~~# ot h ng opoeau rean attahed Ing, for~aIv* fouar Y,-ees firth ~t*. t relaxes its hol-4 it~e the * nd~m~ on-- Ir- th7 (,itb ee> In th .~4 wekt~y veny~oture u. n travel abu r14ia~ the ~w~herlw * their ti a~4~~~ onths the 3 Ow Ir*1e the qAilt is not knprih00 it Icrjt potr~
The nspe ai on rLia e notn ble amn-A~ enwei 1.t4n sf. (in contaictn te, Anthony) of the~ -lst two ,etoe re olsc no instInc;@ C., its hiavin~ 1-en U,4 f by til ridv rth-f,. rr ingqt o oatote dafkiitel, ta te red fox eats possu. .,t all its #n~fAz4.: thcB IQ813ic=flftS 1,0 kee i*oeon oal the four zuost iwpertaxit reavo*pa re t~iu it la n.- iaujy proVlie.c it is elenerally Amet-laU al olmr muaropil are found in '3ouati America anO A-fitr4nW. "Ter arq is t1~ ~o~ie adant eatrerU1ik .arsuptI, ecw them1 - oven ha paoraaW.a of zkin eolnneetlnq the,or ~.Ind hini limbs toIthr o VThat It Carl plmci thrmrh th6 Pi~r like r.Mbby thekiaersa~an posswa lo the virirtlor )f an -naient aw;d iveraiflel jroup w, ioh Y)81l s preaci ae far Fast as Asia. This 7ava rise t, t6 ,Awerimin wrsupial *o4i fstalia oarn1 vfru maEptr tral. The n is kn,)m to nv U-ited homue
27- rango atiioufh it eoclimes moVe as mucloh -,, t O iles a rliqht. hyis this "rat of~ the woodeilltc.adily i.c i vn a n r t",.- x It 4oes not, and ann ot -.-o~ve as birdI-s dot but m4ust take years t,,, ever lot anywherco, even if' it moed, ateadily, hg it doesn't- In Debr, 11935. one of the Lion vorlkInq on th1s farm came upon tvo 4e.-I posawaap in tw.,o fields ad~acent to the wooda her . Ona l In thei shallow snow- in) a hay! field, and the oth~er he fndin a corn filel . The tiau thought th.-1y were either dAleaze4 or hiad frozen to dai.Tebod~eo w ere at lewat one hundred yad.apA a there e(.iethin?, about the citnt wh,"ich tiie~poes~te iiv iAcVuoabat2i Prha os~ fcQQd wa arope. -Io we think of tie conolnic mora of anythingr ,, ;e Ajowilly Conaider thie foond aind clothin! angle (XL ,~us i~al a~ho~ i t Xeeie~epci a 1ly In Clie 3o-Ut, sothglprz I)Ssua; fur is the. foart-h ifoat vvlua ble in the United 'Aates. ktis nsot partioul-arly hsoeor dIurable, 00god many nen although1 tkipy don't know it, are int- de btc:d t~o thepisAc ~ ' their fur oots tior furs w,,ould be aut ,>14 their rcachi financially,: 'n decr ':., Soundino, zs ucd Lis A-Zsral in Ghoil, ,uvcA:-n iiirten, and stofle uirethle good kl u fur cc ,t makes thousandle hay eoa se the )Iossui!4 is just as ezpunsi ve to ra-ioe ao themoeiiubl 7inas it 13
improfitable to; have poemn~ ftxms; so the aniiwis musT, ,rw ,n L,, trap ed in the w1Z4,d found deiil susceptible to tular.*4*n ina fta f orm, The .. 4Q*ae o nt fluihi the o-t f b-,nintg its or atlst frprevet4ing Its be#oAn toonui-ros.Ti1'L best w." can do Is to --acswls and see.
PLAN3 AN S 8TIMATES FOR WfLLIdFE EESEARQo1 PROJECT - WJSKRAT (l.t Revision) WI$OONSIN' S MUSKRAT PROBL : "isconsiln needs management procedures necessary for producing maximum yields of iuskrats. However, it is futile to -roduce such m ximum yields unless they are adequately hravested. High muskrat "orulations not adequately harvested result in wholesale die-offs. It is not important whether these die-offs eare the result of diseases, severe winters, intra-snecific strife, or other known causes. It is important, financially speaking, if such a die-off occurs! Unless man reduces a dense popalation which he has helped create, nature will reduce it to the carrying capacity of the range and at man's expense. It is necessary, therefore, to know something about carrying oapacity of Wisconsin marshes. An intensive st dy of carrying opaoity of any marsh involves detailed study of reproduction, limit- ing factors, food requirements, territorial requirements, movements and wanderings, census methods, time of harvest, and competition with other interests. It is impossible to set down an outline that can be closely followed that will result in conclusive findings for all these intrictely-involved problems, especially when one resenrcher with a shaved budget is faced with all of them. It is possible, however, to begin intensive study of at least the most important rroblems and work toward conclusions of the others. WORK 7LAN: (A) DIetails of progray for first and only year under this rroject statetent: (1) The leader will headquarter at Horicon unless a more favorable station is known. He will cooperate and work together with the i-eader of the waterfowl project and other personnel of the state department.
(2) Literature pertLirii to mskrat studies, eaoecially those that nave been conducted in neighboring states, will be reviewed and studied. (3) A study of reproduction will be started. Vuskrats will be traovred, taged, and retrapped to determine: potential number of young per year per female, average number of young produced nor fenale under various conditions and ropulation densities, survival of young ner fe ale under different ecological conditions and poulatlon densities, and tne population density of breeding stock at which the greatest number of harvestable young are obtained. (4) A census method will be developed that can be used to determine the harvestable "surplusw on the area before traping starts and that can redict at an ezrly date the approx.mate crop that will be available for harvesting. This census method will be based on the number of muskrats per house per acre. To develop such a method trarping and tagging will be necessary. (5) Winter and predation losses will be studied to give information on the proper time of harvest under specific and various conditions. In such studies weather, water stability, topograp-hy, soil type, pelt primness, and rarket conditions will be carefully analysed. (6) Limiting factors will be studied. This term is intended to include: (1) effects of a given population on plant succession and the survival of the better foods (recent evidence from Canada not only shows the importance of muskrats in affecting plant succession, but it shows the i~ivrortnce of openings created by muskrats for the benefit of wildlowl), (2) which plants are required to carry a colony of maskrats through the winter, (3) the problems of weather that affect the environment rather than having a direct effect on the animal, and -a -
how many more rat- ,hould be et~ected on an acre of -iarsh in southeastern Wisconsin as oomared to northern 4isconsin. (7) Physiological studies will be a definite part of the program. During the trappin: seasons, and at certain other seasons, muskrat carcasees will be salva,"ed for study. The most important endocrine glands, especially the gon.ds, will be fixed ad preserved in F.A.A. (10 parts formaldehyde, 0 parts glAcial acetic, 20 rarts 95 alcohol, ;nd 60 parts water). These glands will be carefully examined in th-e laboratory when field stuiiesi permit to determine p- sible influences of various endocrines on reproduction and other population problems. In adition to the glands preservedt, the leader will crefuly examine the genital traot of all females recording observations on placental sites, periodic pigmentation, -md muscular collapse of the ovidacts. In some caqes these oviduotm will be preserved for further stxiy. (8) Throughout the year the leader will study may rout ine but pertinent problems relating to proper rmuskrat management, especially where such problems are recliar to isconsin conditions. It will be necessary for the mn working on this rroject to have pood physiological traiinin. l3ich training seldom goes with under graduate training. Tvysiolorical training shoild not be confused with -zthological training or ability. It is not conceivable that a uman studyin, reproduction could go far without introducing physiological work into his studies. - 3-
ETI ATXD X DI U e Per iod 1 July 1946 to 30 June 1947 (A) Salaries and wages: 1,an-,e Dthies : Period : MIte : Tota= P-roject leIder iSu-ervise project : I year : o.: 2 .00 Total: (salariee a)d wages) (B) Travel expenses: N ame !ut e riod Rate Tota Project leader : upervise -project I 1 ear ; 0Q o. 60F). 00 Total: (travel expenses) (a) Materil and supplies: I tem .. .. .h..r Un no xit cost : Total U1j'sc. eauipmrent Conaier ~ ae,., unknown: unknown : 8.0 sta.tionary, filra, printing, ae.)::: Contingency fund 5 00 Total: (materials and supplies) 7 140 frand total: (salaries, travel, supolies) 3,500. 00 Respeotfully submitted, Irven 0. Buss IoB/5-33-46 - 4-a
F4ct1AL 1 1%U/ rc,,'7/ tA -e-
I I IOWA STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS AMES, IOWA V, DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY January 8, 1947 Professor Aldo Leopold 424 University Farm Place Madison 5, Wisconsin Dear Aldo: I am sending under separate cover a half-dozen reprints of the fox-muskrat paper. Vie could spare a few more if you happen to need them. Concerning imprisonment of muskrats in frozen lodges, I have no evidence that such things occur very often at the latitude of Iowa and southern Wisconsin, and probably then largely during the occasional very severe winter when northern conditions do, in effect, prevail. I am mindful of Seton's (Lives of Game An