Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-28
"PETE," TAME BADGER,
ALMOST CREATES PANIC
PARK VISITOR THINKS ANIMAL
is MAD
Pet Of the New York Zoo Is Pessi'
mist and His Manner Misleads
the Uninitlated at Bronx
Geological Gardens

NEW YORK, June 27.-Pete, the
badger. one of the ugliest specimens In
the Bronx park geological gardens,
came near causing riot
Pete, in spite of his ugliness, is the
favorite pet of Raymond l.. Dittmars,
curator of the reptile house, and OF two
keepers, Kane and Londsberg. of the
small mammal house. He is allowed
the privilege of the zoo, and only at
night is he held prisoner in his cage.
All the keepers receive almost daily
visits from Pete. He Is a general Ia
vorite of all who know him.
But there are some visitors at the
park who do not know Pete. They have
seen him now and then in his cage,
and they all agree that Pete is about
the most vlllainous looking animal
they ever came across, with the possible
exception of the hyenas. 1t Is not so
much Petes looks, but his manner,
which give strangers this impression of
villainy. Pete is a pessimist. He is
constantly growing and showing his
teeth. He does not look one squarely
in the eye. He holds his head low and
glares up through half closed lids.
So much for Pete's unprepossessing
personal appearance. Pete was let loose
from his cage in the small mammal
house and started on his visit to the
administration building to see his
friend. Mr.. Dittmars. He was duly re-
ceived and patted and got cake to
nibble on, then departed, bent appar-
emily upon other calls. Half an hour
elapsed. Mr.. Dittmars was busy with
some correspondence, when he heard
some one pounding on the door and
yelling: Let me in, let me In"
Man Was Frightened
The tone was distinctly inspired by
great fear. Mr.. Dittmars hustled down
to the door and opened it. An elderly
man sprang inside and banged the door.
There's a mad animal out there and
he's chasing q lot of children" ex-
claimed the intruder. His face was
blanched and he was breathing fast.
Hes gone mad sure, and If you don't
hurry he will kill somebody" added the
elderly man, excitedly.
Mr.. Dittmars ran for the door and
bolted out followed by the stranger.
There he is up the path" yelled the
elderly man, pointing toward the small
mammal house.
In the middle of the path stood Pete,
his bristles up, growing and champing
his teeth. Several children were sour
rying out of his way, and two or three
men were standing off at a safe dis
lance, looking on. They, too, appar-
emily thought Pete had gone mad.
"Why, that's only our pet badger"
said Mr.. Dittmars. HE wouldn't hurt
a baby. Why, he is just as gentle as a
pet dog"
Come here, Pete" he said raising
his voice. Pete glanced at his friend
and started for him.
Hold on here" yelled the elderly
man. IF you have such things run
ming loose around here I'm going to
beat it for the subway"
He turned and ran as fast as his legs
would carry him for the exit, and that
was the last Mr. Dittmars saw of him.
Pete came over and rubbed his head
against the curator's legs. He was still
growing, though, and showing his
teeth.
''It is habit of his, and he doesn't
mean a thing by It," said Mr.. Dittmars
to those gathered timidly about to see
what was going to happen.
There are several other animals
which are so tame that they are al
lowed out of their cages in the Bronx
park zoo. Two of the young wolves are
allowed free range now and then, and
one Of the wild dogs also has the privi-
lege of wandering at will about the
park.
"They never try to escape" said
Mr.. Dittmars. "Pete was not born here,
but the others were, and don't believe
they know they are wild at all. Pete
came here when he was only a few
weeks old. He is the gentlest animal in
the place, and we all think a lot of
him. Of course he does look a bit VIC
ious to some people who do not under
stand animals and their ways"