Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-01
THE FAUNA OF COLORADO.
The Buffalo, the Elk, the Little Pra-
frie Dogs, and the Oyyls-Au the
Creatures Which Are Found In
Mountains and on Plains

being cold, tho valleys YARN. and the
intermediate regions moderate, that
nowhere, says The Denver Tribune
Republican, is there d greater diver
sity of animal life thar there is in
this state. That taere are more of
them than there are in the eastern
states is accounted for by the fact that
clvlliZato. is an extermlnator, and
that numerous species Of the various
families SO common here are seldom
seen IN older and more civilized sec
sions of the country. The animals in
this part of the west grow to much
greater size than they do in the east,
and there are greater varieties here
than there are III the most North Am
erican sections.
Mountainous regions are particular
~ we'll adapted to the propagation of
animal life; there are those that can
not exist outside of the rocky fastness
which they inhabit, and there are
those which are native to the soil Of
the plains, burrowing under ground
miles aw1y from water and vegetation.
This singular mode of existence.
which is observed in the cases of
prairie dogs and other animals, is &C
counted for by the supposition that
they find water in the course OF their
borrowings, otherwise they could not
exist.
These little ANIMALS live in villages,
raising the ground high above them
as they burrow, and they can never
be caught save by partial drowning,
scheme which is employed by their
captors in this part of the country.
When their captivity is desired the
water from the irrlgating bitches is
turned on, and they are finally taken
out Of the bitches when too exhausted
to resist.
Burrowing owls are supposed to
share their habitati0n with rattle
snakes, but this is not probable, as
are known TO prey upon
youAg praifie-dogs, and, ike many
other legends pertaining to animals,
this one is known by naturalists to be
untrue.
The buffalo which has long been
known as the noblest native to this
region, has become almost extinct
having been hunted 10 death, and is
now found mostly in portions of Da-
kata and Montana. It is mild, shy
animal, its characteristics being sinai
lar to those Of domestic cattle. The
male is proud, strong-minded api~
NAL, and is famous for it's magnificent
proportions and stately air.
The American elk or wappiti, in
habit the mountains. In very severe |
when driven downward by |
hunger and extreme cold, they de-
scend into the valleys, and may often
be found sleeping with herd OF cat
tie.
The deer, native to Colorado, is
called the black-tailed deer, or mule |
deer, to distinguish it from the eastern |
deer, which is known as the white |
tailed variety. Colorado's native deer
are similar to those in California,
with the exception that their ears are
very large. The horns of these ami
mails are deciduous, and dropof every
spring, growing on again during the
summer. These monster horns drop |
DIFF the same way and grow on again
within five months. While they are |
growing they are covered with hair
and skin, and are spoken of as being
in the velvet" Ia the fall the horns
attain their full growth, and the vel
vet dries ana peals off. The horns
hen come out clean and fresh. When
4 horn has attained it's full growth for
)ne season, ring of knotty protaber-
ances forms around the base of the
lorn, and SO doing checks the supply
Of nourlshment from which emanates
The velvet on the horn. After this
;he velvet peels off like the bark off a
rec. At this period the deer rub their
aorns as if they itched and were glad
% be relieved. The horns are an en-
;irely new growth each season, but
grow larger with every succeeding
year.
The age of a deer can be told by the
number OF prongs on its horns up
20 seven years. The first year of their
existence they have no horns; the |
second they have spike Or one prong |
On each side Of the head; the third |
year they have spike with one prong;
he fourth year they have two prongs,
and SO on up to the age Of six years. |
After that the horns have six points. |
They stop increasing ia number, and |
grow thick, stocky, and strong.
The antelope is found in the noun.
tains and on the plains. They are al !
ways striped, red and white, and are
much smaller than deer. They are
very graceful and beautiful animals, |
and are usually found On the plains |
and IN the mountain parks. During |
cold weather they come down near to- |
the habitations of men, where they |
frequently lose their lives, and are
shipped into Denver by the carloads, |
their flesh being valuable for meat.
These animals also shed their horns
yealy, but do not shed them all at |
once. The prong horn antelope sheds
q black shell in the spring; when the
shell drops off q pithy substance
grows up and developes into another !
Shell, which later developes into an
other big horn.
The big horn or mountain sheep is |
a nobler looking animal, with fine
face and 1io11id brown ewes They