The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-01-22

April / the female was sitting on TWO
eggs, and on May the young were
Matched out.
An eagle intent on capturing a prai-
RE dog floats leisurely above the
town" at a medium height on mo-
tionless wings. Preliminary inspec.
ton of the hunting ground IS
accomplished in wide circles or long
sweeps, perhaps two or three miles
each way, so as not unduly to alarm
the game, Passing over at long
intervals, the bird scans the dog-town
and judges of the prospect for sue
cessful stoop. The prairie dogs are
of course, Immediately on the ALERT
but can only see their enemy for
short time on account OF the hlgn sur
rounding pine hills, and, indeed, most
dog-towns are too extensive Tor inc
denizens at one end to notice an eagle
passing over at the other. Moreover,
an unsuccessful eagle will keep on the
wing for several hours, and 1t is al
most certain that the hungry pralrle
dogs will relax their vigilance at last'
When the eagle considers that a Ia
vorable chance has arrived 1t SINKS
lower, so as to bring the distance De-
tween itself and the animals to some
thing like Is yards or 100 yards.
Should the latter still remain above
the ground, the royal bird suddenly
folds it's wings, and, with meteorlc
rush. falls head first toward the as
founded prairie dogs. These scamper
for their holes; but about three yards
from the ground the eagle spreads
it's wings and, swiftly following the
intended victim, darts out cruel foot
to grasp it. If the attack fails, as
sometimes happens, the eagle mounts
in a slow, reluctant manner.
The winter of 1867 was the most
severe in my IS years Montana ex-
perience. The famished eagles were
compelled to unusual effort, and Mr..
R. l.. Anderson (who has a ranch in
this locality, most kindly sent me
full account of the following remark
able incident. In the middle of jan
uary he was riding two miles below
his ranch on the south fork of Cot
tonwood creek and suddenly came
close upon three golden eagles, which
were devouring an adult buck ante
lope (Antilocapra Americana) in a
little draw" Upon his appearance
the eagles endeavored to take wing.
but all found great difficulty in do
ing so, land hoped and fluttered
he fny
distance before being able to rise"
Despite the bitterly cold weather, the
antelope was warm and timber when
found, as it had only been quite re-
Gently killed. The eagles had torn a
large hole in it's back with their ter
rible talons, and were feasting on the
kidneys and entrails. Mr.. Anderson
at once investigated the scene Of the
struggle and could easily read the
grewsome details on the deep, crusted
snow. The eagles had obviously STAN
peded a bunch of antelope, and then
cut out victim by combined attack.
Leaving the herd, the latter endeav
ored to escape down small right
hand draw" but after covering about
100 yards was beaten back by the
eagles. 1t then crossed ridge on
which the main antelope trail ran at
right angles to it's own, and, hard
pressed by it's assailants, struggled
down a narrow left-hand draw" to
the place where it succumbed. AL
together, the antelope could barely
have covered 800 yards after the first
attack by the eagles. The victim,
which had evidently offered a gallant
resistance, seems to have made
stand in three places, chiefly where
found, but also at points along the
trail. The crimson-stained snow and
thickly-strewn hair, added to the WELL
defined wing prints of the Tapping
and dragging eagles, sufficiently re-
vealed this prairie tragedy.