Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-08-05

position and concern for their preser-
walton and protection A number of
people visit the town Of Gardiner,
at the northern entrance to the park,
during the winter months to see the
antelope. Many drive up the Gard
liner Canyon and to Mammoth Hot
Springs to see the mountain sheep
and deer.
! The elk are by far the most num-
erous of all the large game in the
park, and it is a very difficult matter
to determine exactly, or even approx
lmately how many there are. During
! the summer nearly all of the elk per-
! tanning to the neighboring sections
Of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana
range entirely within the limits Of
the park. but during the winter it is
probable that at least one-half of
/ this entire number goes out into the
neighboring states but, owing to the
rapid settlement of the country and
the consequent decrease in the
amount of feed, their outside or win
ter range is decreasing from year to
year, and each year they show a
greater inclination to remain within
Or near the borders of the park.
Information from all available
sources seems to justify a conserva-
tive estimate of between 5000 and
$4,000 elk in the park Mr. Wells, in
charge of the buffalo farm, an ex-
perienced hunter and a man Of good
judgment, estimates the number of
! elk to be between 10000 and $4,000
During the summer they are not in
frequently seen by the tourists from
the coaches. They seclude them
selves more or less however in the
va leys and timber | have found
them by hundreds around ShOshone
lake and in Hayden valley, and there
are bands of them that frequent the
Upper parts of Mount Washburn and
Dunraven peak. Those who wish to
see large bodies of elk, young and
Old can easily do so by riding on
horseback a few miles up Alum creek
from either the Grand canon or the
Yellowstone Lake hotel The bull
elk begin shedding their horns usual
| Iy about the 1st Of March, but some
4
and others carry them until some
time in May. During the period when
they are shedding and while the new
horns are growing, the bulls are
usually found in bands of various
sizes, separated entirely from the
COWS, and living peaceably among
themselves. Later on, when their
horns become fully developed, which
is about the last of September, a
change comes over their peaceful
natures; they separate and are ready
for a fight at any time.
The moose are gradually increas-
! ing on the marshes of the upper
Yellowstone River in the southeast
and the Bechler river marshy areas
in the southwest. On June &c bull
moose was seen miles south Of
| Upper Basin Station, so yards from
the road, and one was sighted on
| Blacktail These animals are seen
frequently by patrols from Snake
River Station. Moose signs are re-
ported in several other sections of
the park
The blacktaiI or mule deer are al
SO undoubtedly increasing in num-
bers, and are becoming more tame
and fearless each year.
The white-tailed deer keep apart
from their bigger brothers and sis
ters, yet they feed in close proximity
to the barracks and stables of Fort
/ Yellowstone during the severe winter
family is quite perceptible. The
beautiful creatures are seen more anC
more each year along the roads and
around the hotels During the fall,
winter, and spring, like the sheep
and antelopes, they become a very
familiar feature of the hills and par
ade ground at Fort Yellowstone, or
Mammoth Hot Springs.
The beaver are certainly increas-
ing rapidly throughout the park, and
today the signs of their work can be
seen along every stream. These ex-
ceedingly interesting and valuable
little fur-bearing animals have be-
come desirable to restock any sec
ton a sufficient number of these ami.
mails can, with the permission of the
Interior Department, be provided for
the purpose. Perhaps the point where
these Industrious animals may most
conveniently be seen by visitors to
the park is at Yancey's, where there
are several colonies Of them. Here,