The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-01-18
THE CARIBoU BACK.
Exciting News From the Maine
 Mofntain.

Exciting News From the Maine
 Mofntain.
 tBangor Letter to Boston Transcript
 Hunters from the Mount Katahdin region report thaE drove of caribou, the first seen in Maine in many years, are roaming the slopes of the noun tain. Rumors of 4he return of the cari- bou have been cdming in from various parts of northern Maine this fall, and sportsmen are hoping that the reports are true. The caribou deserted Maine about ten years ago, going it is sup posed to Canada perhaps as far as Labrador Many theories have been ad- vanced in explanation of the migration of these animals, but experts disagree as to the cause Of their departure. In 1899 a law was enacted providing for a six years close time on caribou in Maine; and the last legislature extend- ed the time six years, to October 15, 1911.
 The caribou, Or American reindeer, roams from the north shore of the Hudson Bay to the coast of Labrador, and as far south as the forty-fifth par alel of latitude on the eastern part of the continent, Sometimes in mountain ous sections they will go even farther south They are not as large as their European cousin, and unlike them will not live in captivity. A moose or deer can easily be tanned and become a do- mestic animal, but the caribou is like the partridge if confined, he dies; if given his liberty he wanders away Caribou care little for grass. leaves or | browse, on which the moose and deer subsist. They live principally on moss lichen, rotten wood, toadstools, and mushrooms, and the Wood-stools and fungus growth on decaying trees. They l like hilly, rocky place and do not re. main long in one place unless the ground is broken and uneven.
 They will roam, however, all over level woodland and even go into the fields, but when they have devoured the moss and toadstools they move on in any direction the leaders nose is pointed. Sometimes they travel alone and sometimes in little droves. One old hunter says that the caribou do not like deer and will not stay long where the deer abound in great numbers. The 1 deer whip them, The caribou will not fight, and partridge with 8 brood O chicks will drive one. They care not ing for the deep snow; in fact they like 1 it, as it enables them to reach higher up the trees after their favorite moss. They never yard like moose and deer, Their feet are large, the hoofs divided very high. Big claws protrude from behind, thus forming a sort of snow shoe for each foot. As winter approach es, the hair grows long and thick and becomes almost white. Their hides are valuable for filling snowshoes, as it tightens up instead of bagging down l when it becomes wet. The flesh in the opinion of some, Is far superior to that of the deer or moose It has wild, gamey flavor of it's own that is not found in any other animal. They do not breed as fast as the deer. They have habit of hiding their young when small and going off and leaving them, consequently many of them are de- stroyed by foxes, wildcats and other ani mals, while deer will not let her lawn get rod away from her nose until 1t Is able to care for itself.
 l The caribou has great speed and can run ten miles ali hour all day, and nc dog, wolf. or other animal can catch them; their scent is keen, and wher