The sun., 1903-05-03
INFANCY or WILD THINGS.
IIelpiessness or Hear Cubs-sOlicitudc OF
the Doc for Her Fawn

ROULETTE, Pa, May Bear cubs are
tiny creatures at birth, often no longer than
rats" said an observant hemIock-beit
woodsman. "A friend Of mine had one that
although alive and lively when he found II
with it's mother, which he had thcughtless'y
killed, was less than four inches long.
1T was perfectly formed. but soon died
as bear cubs are sure TO do II they are less
than a month old when taken from their
mothers Cubs grow very fast in nature.
and when they appear in the spring with
their mothers they are as big as half-grown
lambs.
II know many an old hunter who not only
will not kill she bears that have cubs, but
will take every measure to protect them.
This is from no prompting of humanity
however. II is simply with an eye out for
the main chance in the future. when those
cubs have grown to bears, Tat and in fine
fur.
a motheress bear cub is poor property,
and bear mother nursing her young is OF
no use either as meat or for fur. But her
cubs in year will be worth from $40 to SIS
apiece. and she will herself be worth more
than that by the time she is ready to hole up
the next winter.
at Is not an uncommon thing for bear
TO have four cubs at birth. have heard
OF five at birth. Three are common, two
more common, but one may be counted on
rs being the most common. "
-The instance of five bear cubs at a birth
can't vouch for from psrsonal knowledge.
although | saw the old bear. and the man
who Killed her had five cubs, which he
declared were all with her when he shot
her. The man was known as person
of veracity, but have my own ideas about
a man who could find it in his heart to Kill
a bear that had five helpless little cubs
at her side. But that DOESN'T make him
out a liar.
Il have personal knowledge. nevorthe-.
less, of bear that had eight cubs with her
when | came across her in the woods. and
ssness SAs ssHk khai 9' was s AFTER m N had 0 heard
of the one with five cubs, and l felt that
| had come to a conclusion too hasty as to
the veracity of the man who had exhibited
them.
This bear with eight cubs was such an
extraordinary and unheard-of thing that
| resolved To capture the whole family
alive If could When the old bear saw mo
she withdrew. with great show OF fierce
ness. to the refuge Of fallen tree top,
hustling the cubs along in advance OF her,
, "Whilc reconnoitring 10 see how 1t might
be possible for me to carry out my designs
on the bear fairly, ! stumbled over dead
one and the eight cubs had thcir quarters.
: 1t was a big bear, and she had had her
| cubs.
| What killed her do not know, but !
! thought | had clear explanation of the
other bears remarkable family. She had
four cubs of her own and having come
, across the orphaned cubs whining on the
dead body of their mother, she had adopted
! them and was rearing them with her own.
| | made no further effort to capture that
| bear family, and the live she bear undoubt-
' edly dined on the carcas of the dead mother
I OF her foster cubs.
at is curious about fawns and their
mother. fawn when first born is for
! some hours unable to stand. The doe
/ does not remain beside it, but PAGES slowly
| around at a considerable distance.
! Every little while she gives tremulous
| low bleating call. At the sound the fawn
| lifts it's head and tries to struggle to its
feet
| approach Of sofne one in the woods. she
!! runs away In straight line but laggingly
and haltngly, as thoug gh she were badly hurt;
When she is satisfied that she has turned
| the enemy far enough away. she gives
! three great flying leaps. which quickly
take her out of sight, and she returns speed
| lily to her helpless young,
'"lf she is not disturbed she keeps up the
pacing about and the bleatng until she sees
! the fawn able to rise and keep its feet
/ Then she prances daintily away in straight
! line, choosing always the easiest thorough
| fare
"As she goes she calls family, stopping
! every few yards oOk over her shoulder
to see that the 1 wn is following She
conducts the little one TO a hiding place
and she can and does hide her fawn from
sight, although one may be almost upon
| il as absolutely as the hen pheasant cucks
her brood into concealmcnt at sign ol
| danger"