The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-09-04
BEARS BECOMING PLENTIFUL.


Bears are getting thicker every year
in the Adirondacks. and In few years.
II the woods have proper care. there
ought to be good sport bear hunting
again" said one of the guides at the
recent sportsman's show.
''The same Is true of Pennsylvania"
he continued. "and they are thicker
there In the mountain country now
than they have been before in years"
How do you account for it?' the
guide was asked.
'Its mostly matter of fires" he
replied. "Of late years there's been
special attention paid in Pennsylvania,
and up in the north woods. to pre-
venting any burning over of the
ground. whether it has been numbered
or not. and this Is the best thing that
could happen for the bears.
There's nothing win put bears out
Of business like n forest fire. and some
years ago. when nobody cared much
whether the woods were burned out or
not, these animals were mostly wiped
out.
"Nou see. a fire can't he lodged nor
run away from once 1t gets a-going.
and when she bear and a couple of
cubs get caught in patch of woods
that's ON fire. it's good-by Bruin The
old one might have sense enough to
get 10 n stream or a lake if there's one
handy. and live through it. but the cubs
get da2ed, aud are as liable to run
iUh nj ite
don't have much sense, anyhow, and
some of the old ones, however much
cunning they have in some things, are
about the easiest fooled of any animal
alive
when fire is coming an old bear
will sometimes make for hollow log
or hole under rock, and then. If it's
much of a fire. the chances are that he
gets SO suffocated with smoke that he
makes break for the open. only to
get singed and finally roasted I've
seen bears fight a swarm of bees or
big snake and get away with them,
but I've seen lots of bear carcases ON
fresh-burned patches of woods.
Another thing, which goes to show
have no end of curiosity, which is what
used to do for the deer when they had
jack hunting up in the North Woods.
You take a long, square box. heavily
built, and drive spikes through into
one end, which Is left open. with the
spikes slanted downward somewhat.
and then fasten a piece of meat in the
other end of the box, and you've got
first-class bear trap. Along comes old
Mr.. Bruin. who shifts the box and
pokes in his head as far as he can. one
end which is left open. with the spikes.
catch him In the neck, get tangled In
his hair and all he can do is to waddle
and roll and go backward. If the box
is chained, he's in for life,' and it's
easy to go and finish him.
you'd be surprised how fast bear
will travel. Take it In the woods that
have been numbered, so there are open
spaces and plenty of room in the un-
dergrowth. and an old bear will make
eight or ten miles an hour, while cub
will make six without painting a bit.
I've sighted bears when the first snow
came and chased them for two days.
they gaining all the time. OF course
when there's much snow they can't
make such good time.
II was out a few days in the Penn
sylvanla woods and helped get an old
bear and two cubs this year l was
told that not less than fifty to seventy
five had been killed in the northern line
of counties next to New York State
this year. IL the fires can only be
prevented there ought to be as good
sport bear hunting In few years as
there ever was. They'll never get
back to the AdlrOndacks so thick as
they We're forty years ago. There's
too many camps. s."-Philadelphla Timer