The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-08-29
NIL WAUkEE HERD Of DEER
Washington Park Animals Pros
per and Are Popular.
BEGIN MING OF A ZOO.
Feature OF One OF the Prettiest Parks
il the Milwaukee System-Di-
versihed Beauty.

About six years ago the board OF park
commissioners of the city of Mil~a,l
kce procured four deer and placed
them in Washington park rs Il nucleus
for Il great %UOlo%i>'al garden. To-Day
there are tWrrty-thrce deer but rs yet
ibis constitutes all there is Of the Wash
ingtnn park 700. Eventually garden
will he established for the eAiticu,on anu
elurutirn of visitors. but for :. time.
perhaps 1 lon. time, The deer will .1'un-
1inur to be III" pnly species Of the ami
Elal kingdom to be exhibited
Deer Thrive in Captivity.
The a"imais seem to thrive in captivity
in Sp,tr Of the fact that in their na1urul
state l;lt> roam the boun,lrS4 forests
browse and craze where they will AMI
1--we L lie free ~ hr air. In their eli
closure III" 'irrr II Washington park get
LITTLE "t ;h" rN,'i'l:e that is SO essential
to their w:;1ars however in the six
years that 'ts'r?' nave been kept 1T WASH
lngti,n lark disease has not cllin,rl on;'
ot the herd. Sometimes, through lr;'i-
dent, pn,' is lost. l,lrin" the winter
months; G'it' deer t.",l!c together as close
" a. they can :;n'i il Frequently happens
t;!a' tht iu% laW!t.t are crushed 10 DEATH
Several Of the drco nave fallen unl
hroA'n ,inl@s base resulted. Ii has been
1"on=!,' !''St /" dispatch these thar are
injured in This Way. rather than to al
t':np1 20 ~. The broken bones.
Interest the Park Visitors.
The enclosure which surrounds the
denr quarters, Is surrounded by Il cement
walk and it is seldom that several
groups of people are not peerinS through
the grating at the beautiful animals.
The deer eat the offerings of bread and
cake which prn!" parties give them and
they have learned to respond to the calls
and whistles Of those who wish to feed
them. Well as they like the food that
is given them through the grating: how
ever. they love the fresh grass that is
brought 20 them daily when it is possible
t. get it and it requires bat the noise Of
the gate latch TO send the animals scain-
perlng out Of their quarters TO get their
ratioES.
The enclosure covers fully an acre of
ground and is divided into three parts,
one Of which is used also for storing
some of the work wagons of the park.
A. pool Of water is provided in the front
yard and shelter OF branches has been
erected for tn" deer under Which they may
retire from the heat OF the sun and rest.
Beauty of Washington Park.
There is no doubt that the deer add
much to the attrnctivenps>> of the park
although with its beautiful drives. hills,
abundant growth Of trees and shrubbrry
and it, artificial lake it would St be
one Of til" Ho<r beautiful and most i'm
portant l'.,rks of the city.
IN" start toward breeding Il herd OF
deer ut Washington park was made
through tho ilstrumcntllity of t'oinlnis-
sioneiS i;"bhan and ManeSo'sl. They
took personal interest in the matter
and II WAS through their efforts that the
feature W;S eStuiyliSIrtl
from time to time the park board To-
celves offers Of animals. but oil are re-
fused. as it has never been determined
to attempt to maintain Il 700 of any ac-
count. Patriotic Wisconsin people have
frequently offered to send to the urin-
cipul city Of the state the native animals
OF the state. such as bears ami badgers.
One futile attempt WAS made to keep !,
badger at West park.--Eveniny Wiscon-
sin.