, 1900-12-03
BEARS FOR HUNTERS
MANY CINNAMON BEASTS IN
COLORADO.
Many Depredations Committed by These
Shaggy, Brown Dsnizons OF the Noun
tains Recently Prowier Often Takes
II Calf or a Pig.

Cinnamon bears are causing con
sternation among the farmers and
ranChmen in the vicinity of the Span
ish Peaks. south of La Neta. along
the border of Las Animas and Huer-
fano counties. says the Denver Even
ing Post. Denver and Rio Grande
railway officials have lately received
many reports of the depredations of
these shaggy brown denizens of the
mountains. Winter has cast its cold
white mantle over the lofty peaks and
the presence of the glistening snow
has convinced bruin that the sum
mer is zone.
The keen, penetrating air has
sharpened the appetites of the huge
animals. and now that the berries
have disappeared they are seeking
flesh and blood for food. Down from
the lonely defles and rock-strcwn
canons come the furry creatures with
snft-fOOted. ~tlreless tread. Their
keen noses scent the %barnyards from
affair. Instinct tells those which have
never seen IA calf that it must be gOOl
to eat from its very smell. Over the
ha. wild pastures along the cattle
trail. md rough roads rot the bears
in sea. of food. A single night usU-
ally $ ices for the journey. as a
healthy bear-and all bears are
healthy except when locked up in
menageries-can travel many miles
between shutdown and daylight
Quietly and full OF purpose, the
strong. supple fellows enter the farm
yards.
Usually they hunt alone. but sever
al ranchmen have found the tracks of
four different bears in the morning
their places have been visited. Noise
lessly they pick their way about the
corrals and barns while the owner
and his household lie wrapped in
slumber. Suddenly a pair of those
piercing eyes espies a pet calf. He
trots hurriedly over to it and sticks
his sharp claws into the u~nsuspecting
sleeper. AS the startled calf Snorts
and sCrambles to it's feet the savagery
of the bear becomes manifest. For
centuries Bruin has subsisted on what
he could find. and many a feeling of
suspicion and fear has been overcome
by that cruel sensation of hunger. In
a moment he strikes down the tremb-
ling calf with swift and powerful
blows. He seizes 1t in his great jaws
and easily carries it away some dis
lance. There he makes a meal. or
perhaps, takes his prey far back in
the mountains before devouring it. 1t
depends upon his hunger. the size
of the slain ANNA and the strength
of the bear. When there are several
bears they feast close to the spot
where their victim was killed. and
they always quarrel over the division
of spoils and sometimes their fierce
growing awakens a member of the
household and results in a dead Bruin.
Several bears have recently been kill
ed near La Veta. Sometimes the watch
dog gives warning. and the bear fees
away into the night. Sometimes he
stays and is shot. But often the
prowler secures the calf, pig or sheep
without alarming the household. Dc
Casiona!ly bears are seen in the day
time. \ few days ago. Jim Edwards,
a well known hunter, lost a valuable
f%oxhound. A large brown bear killed
the dog before Edwards eyes, and as
he was armed with only a small shot
gun for squirrel shooting he could not
prevent the escape of the animal. The
hound insisted on following the bear
and nipping at its TANKS. Suddenly
the huge bear turned and, with a sin
gle angry blow. felled the hound life
less. Hurriedly stumbling off il dis
appeared in the timber. An older and
wiser hound knew better than to at
tack the bear. Returning home Ed
wards secured a rife. and with a com
panion and a couple of hounds, retrac-
ed his steps in search of the bear. FL
nally they found the trail and followed
1t all night. Camping hat night they
resumed the chase next day and final
ly tracked the bear to a hole in the
rocks. This den. high up on the noun
tain side. amid the most rugged seen
cry, bore the signs of many bears.
There were numerous tracks of vary
ing size. and evidently more than one
D'eA i''u "Ilu4h - piS / llS IllF
was kindled at the hole and as far in
side as possible. All day long the
smoke poured into the den. and late
in the afternoon Edwards and his
companion noticed the smoke issuing
from the rocks some distance away.
Hasty investigation revealed to the
disappointed hunters the presence Of
another hole. The den had two en-
frances, and the bears had quietly es-
capped. The numerous bears that have
been seen close to the towns and the
extent of their depredations have
aroused local hunters. and an active
campaign has begun. Before Christ
mas many of the large furry animals
will doubtless have paid the penalty
for their rash inyaSiOns.