New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-10
A SNOW-WHITE BEAVER
ALBINOS OF THIS SPECIES APE
RAREST OF ANIMALS
WHY THEY BUILD DAMS AND THEIR w.
TO MONTANA CATrLEMEN.

From The Portland (Ore.) Press.
II believe am the only white person that a..
trapped or killed an adult albino beaver" w
Thomas GilrOy an ex-ranchman of Mon,ssx
"AIbino beavers are the rarest Of animaIs -
the only specimens ever saw besides the ON ~
trapped were two cubs captured by an InSs
on Wind River more than thirty years ss
There were four young beavers in the nest M
Indian secured, and two OF them were hlsa
The mother of the litter was captured n.y.
them. and she was black. There is another wy
rare beaver in the Northwest region Tb,,
the golden Beaver, and bears the choicest Of :.
fur The golden beaver is almost as rars
the white beaver, the albino being mereiv
freak of nature, while the golden beaver /.
species This beaver was not known In nj
country until about 1880 when the first sns~
men was discovered in the Mink River ree,.
Up to that time Siberia was supposed to be ~
animals only habitat.
Il wasn't in the trapping business whe,
caught the albino beaver, or perhaps WOULD,
have had the chance to bag him and the thjr,
four others | got with him. had heard a ed.I
many wonderful stories ABOUT how beays
chopped down trees, and being anxious 10 a.
how far from the truth some Of these stor
were. found where beavers were at work T.,
piece of cedar woods through which branch,
the Wind River flowed. | chose a bright MOI.
light night to watch the beavers at their Ne
chopping J hid myself before rightfall near ~
spot. Soon after nghtfa!l beaver came out
the water. went straight - good sized ced,,
tree and began work az il with his teeth wiz
out a moments delay. While he was at vos
another beaver appeared from the river and
he drew himself out Of the water to the ban,
where the noon shone full upon him saw th,
he as white as snow. The white bears
selected a tree and went vigorously to yo;
telling it. / don't believe wood hopper vi.
his axe could have felled those trees any qule.,
than those beavers did with their chiseI.II.
teeth
Long before had come into personal conts.
with the beaver ! had read in the books that n.
beavers built dams for the purpose Of making
swimming and fishing pond. After | began tst
ing an interest in beavers found that the bot
explanation was as ridiculous as 1t was lacki,,
In fact. | found that the beaver does not o..
fish or flesh Of any kind. but subssts entire,
on tender roots and barks, which are plen,iti
during the summer, but cease TO provide nutr
tious or hunger allaying qualities when the COLI
season is at hand. So the beaver builds dam
to provide against the pinch Of hunger dur,,
the winter. The instinct Of the beaver teacbs
him that these substances submerged in wa,s
will keep green fresh and nutritious all whit,
long. so he selects spot where this food gron
abundant near the shores. and dams the strear
so that the water will be flooded back over d,
young willows and aspens and cottOnwo0ds All
held there. Thus the bark on them is kept st
juicy and tender. and the beaver has his stc,
Of nutritious food TO draw upon all winter krf
II there is no growth Of such woods convenlr,
cottonwoods or aspens-the cottonwood BEN,
the favorite-hoats them To the dam sinks ,hes
to the bottom. fixes them there below the fresr
ing depth. and they keep as fresh and tender u
il they were growing on the banks and Quit
ened by the spring sunshine and rains.
AS To the colony Of beavers that first attra.
ID my attention. | watched il at its dam bulk.
ing. IN the course OF which the beavers chopIg
down a good many cedar trees. That was a.
very interesting and instructive. but it war,
ro6,. H.. of h. fe-la nh
agent ! was. and as my chief duty was tn
quest Of timber thieves, | concluded that her
were some well worth looking after. and | n
solved to break up that colony without deLy
BY inquiry among the trappers ! learned SOM
thing about how they went To work 10 tai
beavers. AMI set five traps in that colony,
pond. | caught beaver in every trap seyg
consecutive nights. and the last beaver caugs
was the big white one. sold the abno 70 T.
English tourist for $40 IN gold
The share took IN the work Of depopualy
the Northwest Of the beaver after that was CO.
siderable but when | got into the cattle bus.
ness | WaS sorry. and would gladly nave CIV.
back every dollar | received for their pelts az
Il would hay" made "A big sum, if | could tag
put the beavers back again. for found NG
although the beaver wasn't worth a much a.
fat steer in money. there wasn't a catilemsl
Montana tina, wouldn't give up the best steer
his herd t. save the life II a beaver any dag
the year. Just because tho beavers Mere Ia.
buldcrs. That wonderful instinct II the beag
didn't interest the ranchm.n u little hit nor hG
they any sentiment IN their anxiety g. prO,1
the beaver But water was a constant neo&
sity on tn cattle trails IN the dry climate
Montana specially. where 'he sti, ans az.
water holes N" few and FAR between. Tkn
W"r" NOR beavers in Montana ami tire az
Yet. perhaps than any where els. 30 The UnH
states. By building THEN dam, Wherever thg
might they caused tn" water supply - boz hoa:
"a AZ II ouid h' ia 10 other way. That E
.tUI % q 4. IA
other game OF fur-hcaring animal May le IL
terminated without a dissenting voice frE
them. tho beaver j. assured Of tt, fr'nlsa;
ana pirt' 'tlon of the ran cirn.n."