Bobcats and lynx are fairly numerous, however, it is thought 
that loýses of deer from.thii source are, negligible.. Mr. Falconbery

tells of hating seen a cat kill several years ago. LTo others have been 
reported.. 
 
          Golden eagles are present in considerable numbers and are un- 
doubtedly responsible for some losses of fawns and lambs. Tihree bald 
eagles were seen. 
 
          A constant watch was kept for deer kills, however, only 25 
were found. Of these, 12'are attribute d to coyotes and1 4 to cougar. The

remaining nine were so old as to mnrke it impoossible to be sure of the 
predator. It is known that coyotes scavenger to a considerable extent 
on cougar kills. 
 
          Of the coyote kills in which age and sex could be determined, 
60% were fawns, 10% biucks and 30% doom. It is hard to believe that coy-

otes are not selective in.the matter of kills. However, when the number 
of cripples seen is tallied up, it seems that this may be true. 
 
          Two bucks, one doe and one fewn comprise the cougar kills found.

One of these bucks was a cripple, apparently having had his leg broken. 
 
          These figures represent, of course, only a very small per .cent

of.the numbers actually made. Twenty-one hkills have been reported by,. 
local residents. Forty per cent of: the coyote kills found were maxde on'

the ice. 
 
          Three deer were found frozen in the ice between White Creek 
and Marble Creek. 
 
          The best available figures of predatory animals tatken within 
and adjacent to the game preserve, are as follows:* 
 
                             Coyote ...... 29 
                             Cougar .      2 
                             CatS. ..... ...9 
                             Eagle....... 4 
 
             Natural Losses acd General Condition of Deer 
 
          In general, the deer wintered in excellent condition. Weak 
individuals are beginning to show up at this time (early April) although

not in grent numbers. On the trip with Mr. Locke, it was estimated that 
about 10% of the deer are in more or less weakened condition. Of this 
10%, it seems likely that 90% or more will pull through, making the natural

loss 1%lor less. One dead deer was seen on March 29, and since that time

six more that were apparently almost dead, have been noted. 
 
          Ticks and nose fly larvae axe most numerous during the period 
when the vitality of the deer is naturally at its lowest, so it seems likely

 
 
-14-