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

a e becoming very rare, and are diff
| ficult to find in any section of the
country. 1t is therefore desirable
! that the few in the park should be
carefully preserved and their number
increased as rapidly as possible.
| There are now about 100 of these
animals that make their home at all
times entirely within the limits of
the park
The band Of mountain sheep, which
winters on Mount Everts, was fed
quite literally and therefore passed
through the winter in good shape. A
few have been seen during the sum
mer in the vicinity of their feeding
corral, but as yet they have been I'M
able to determine the increase in
this band. A new band of about
100 was seen last winter near the
northwestern corner of the park
/ 1t seems difficult problem to pro-
tect the game with the few scouts
allowed to be employed. The two ad
/ ditional scouts authorized for tenn
porary service make a material diff
ference, but as it is, one or two
soldiers are detailed to go with each
scout into the regions difficult Of ac-
cess, and this severe and dangerous
work in the very cold weather is an
imposition on men with such meager
pay, and when these men take in
terest and do good work they GER
tainly should receive some extra
compensation. During the seven
months Of winter when this duty
compeis them to undergo such severe
hardships, $13 per month with food
and clothing is meagre wages now
adays."
| 1t is the general impression that
coyotes are protected in the park, bu
this is far from true, for it is a
wel[known fact that they are very
destructive to the young game Of all
kinds, and they therefore use every
means to get rid of them The
game warden, scouts and certain
good shots among the soldiers are
| directed to kill them whenever the
opportunity is offered. They are also
destroyed by the use Of traps and
poison, and during the winter be-
tween Is and 100 of these animals
were killed.
Next to the mountain sheep the
antelope are probably the most in
] tereSting and attractive animals in
the park, and, like the sheep, they
are rapidly disappearing throughol
the west. Judging from the number
Of young seen, and from reports OF
scouts and patrols, the increase in
/ antelope appears to be normal. 1t is
estimated that per cent of the herd
are killed by coyotes during the win
ter and spring.
1t is a difficult matter to keep the
/ coyotes down Since the last an
nual report (Which showed SO coyotes
killed in that year, 81 more have
been killed. The growing scarcity of
antelope, deer and sheep in the
State bordering on the park and the
+ increase of these animals in the
park causes the coyotes to gather
here for their meat.
With the increase Of horned game
in the park, a corresponding increase
! took place in the carnivOrs Noun
! tain lions or panthers are now quite
common though rarely seen. They
prey chiefly upon the elk, but are
known to be very destructive also to
deer and mountain sheep. Deer and
elk are so abundant that the num-
Der killed by the panthers could per
haps be spared, but the case is very
different with the mountain sheep
which, on account of their small
numbers, should be carefully pro
tected.
1t therefore seemed necessary TIC
destroy the panthers, and a pack OF
hounds were procured which renderet
good services and enabled the game
warden and scouts to kill Is OF
these animals.
The mountain lions have been al
most eXterminated So of these ami
mails were destroyed during the win
ters of 1904, 1904-5, and 1866.
The mountain sheep which winter
near the Mammoth Hot Springs rang
chiefly on Mount Everts, and this :
therefore a favorite winter hunting
ground for the panthers. After each
fresh snow during the winter hunt
ers with the dogs are sent around
Mount Everets, and if a panther has
visited it the hounds take up the
fresh trail and usually bring the ami
NAL TO lay.
4 u-ira fnnco a1O1o +bo north line