Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-11
ON A BIG PRESERVE
WILD ANIMALS THAT NEED AT
TENTIoN IN WINTER.
The Buffaloes Are Not the Only Ones
That Must Be Fed-Inspecting
the Great Fence.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Last week took a look at the Corbin
game preserve near Newport, n. H., and
how the largest herd of buffa 'oes in
the world was cared for during the winter
months. The successful management of
this rapidly increasing herd is, of course, a
matter of national Importance, and the
most important effort being made at the
present time in the interest of American
big game is the effort directed toward the
permanent preservation of this and the few
remaining herds of buffalo by the federal
government
But there are many other wild creatures
in Corbin Park which need more or less at
tention during the winter. There are elk
and deer and wild boar by hundreds, and
moose nobody knows how many, since
they usually remain deep in the woods and
show themselves only at rare intervals.
Next to the buffaloes, the wild boar are the
first animals requiring the attention of the
superintendent. In the spring, summer
and autumn, these vigorous creatures get
their own living chiefly by roofing IN the
ground but when the earth is frozen hard
as iron and covered with snow besides,
roofing is out of the question The boar
are fed upon whole corn, which in the fail
is stored away in old deserted houses and
barns. or in huge feed boxes, made on pur-
nose, in different sections of the forest.
Each of these sections is in charge OF a
man whose business it is to see that all
the game in his territory have iood enough
to keen them in good condition. FIRST OF
all he selects one more places Tor reed
ing grounds, and here he scatters his corn
But wild boar are shy creatures, and 1t is
the mans duty to see to it that all the
boar in his section are regularly visiting the
feeding grounds. He must tramp over hill
and dale and through the dense woodland
and learn where the different colonies OF
boar are nesting. Then he must show them
hp
trails of corn, sometimes for a mile or
more leading to one of the spots which is
to be a woodland dining room for the rest
of the winter. In some cases this trail
has to be laid over and over again before
the man is sure that all the boar are visit
ing the feeding ground Afterward ne feeds
them ever other day, making ms trips on
snoWshOes of course, since the deep snow
usually makes it impossible to travel III
the forest without them.
Elk, Deer and Moose.
The alternate days are spent in feeding
the elk and deer and moose. The natural
food for these creatures in winter consists
largely of the twigs of certain trees and
shrubs AS most of the suitable twigs with
in reach of the animals have already been
eaten it is necessary to cut browse eSpe-
cially for them. This work is now done
under the supervision of forester, who
sees that no valuable trees art cut for this
the elk are often fed on hay, which is
stored in different parts of the preserve and
distributed as it is needed. few nights
ago | came upon band OF hfty elk IN the
moonlight, quietly feeding on hay in the
deserted barnyard of what had once been
a thriving farm.
As l said before, the moose are not often
seen, though their great tracks, leading TO
and from piles of freshly cut browse, are
frequently seen. Not long ago a man who
was working in the forest had still more
striking evidence of their presence. In the
course of his wanderings he came upon a
fallen tree, the top of which barred his
path He was an agile fellow, and, leaping
over it, he landed almost on the back OF a
big bull moose, which leaped TO Its feet
and charged him on the instant.
He needed no furtaer incentive TO step
livelv' and lodged behind tree after tree
in his efforts 10 escape the wrath OF MS
mighty adversary, whose rest he had I'M
Willingly broken. 1t was half an hour be-
fore he finally succeeded in escaping by
strategy and, in spite of the low tempera-
ture, he was perspirng from every pore.
With the exception of the boar the ami
mails are usually fed early in the day, but
the wild pigs are nervous folk (albelt they
are rough customers when wounded or cor
nered), and unless extremely hungry DO
not like to approach the feeding grounds
until dusk Then it is that their food is
scattered for if it was put out earlier the
deer would pick it up before the arrival of
the boars. Usually, after the wild hogs
have returned to their nests under the
spruces there is more or less corn to be
seen upon the feeding ground, and bright
and early next morning this is picked up by
little army of birds, chief among which
are the ruffed grouse and blue jays.
Inspecting the Fence.
One of the most important matters which
engage the attention of the superintendent
of the Blue mountain forest during the
winter is the inspection of the fence which
incIoses the great tract of 24,0s0 acres. This
fence is eight and half feet high and is
made chiefly of stout wire, stretched taut
on posts set twelve feet apart. In addition
to the wire, there is heavy netting reach
ing to the height of six feet and also
stretched upon the posts. AS matter of
fact, this fence seldom breaks under any
strain which is put upon it, but as its
breaking is among; the possibilities, and
might entail very serious loss. 1t must be
inspected at frequent intervals. especially
in winter. After every severe storm. and