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

In condition and productiveness. The
calves reared this year number IA, as
against last year in the Mammoth
pasture field. The herd now totals
"A, all in fine condition. Three miles
of strong Montana anchor wire fence
has been built around the new pas
ture and hay meadow during the year
About 100 tons of hay have been
put up for winter use and the herd
transferred to the new pasture of
luxuriant native grass.
The past winter was an exceeding
| ly favorable one for all game in the
park, except the wild herd of buffalo
There is danger that this herd may
! become extinct in the course of time,
and the new herd was started none
| too soon. The remnant of the wild
| herd is located on the head of Pei
lean Creek. This is an exceedingly
unfavOrable country for them to win
| ter in for in that section the snow
!
that they can keep alive is by graz
ing on the few places kept open by
the hot springs Men are sent out
each spring for the purpose of cap
turing the young calves, which are
brought in and raised by domestic
COW, and then turned out in the
| n o yT-ltI h.
capture and transportation of these
animals to a point where they can
| be cared for is an exceedingly diff
cult and somewhat dangerous matter
Last summer lot Of hay was cut
and stacked up for these buffalo at
what was supposed to be the most
convenient point for them, but when
the scouts went out there in the
! spring this stack was so deeply
covered with snow that they were
unable to find it.
It is probably true that the bears
constitute one of the very interest
ing features Of this great park, to
most tourists. 1t is we'll known that
the park is a. home for all animals.
The protection of the Government is
thrown about them, and as a result
the antelope, deer, elk, buffalo, bears
etc, are free to wander as they
please, unrestrained through fear of
men and dogs. The bears especially
seem to recognize the fact that there
is no danger.
At each hotel and lunch station
the refuse from the tables is de-
posted in a pile at a distance from
the buildings or tents. These heaps
are frequented by the bears and be-
come their feeding grounds. AS
regularly as twilight comes so comes
bruin.
Then, too do the tourists troop out,
armed with cameras, to watch the
bears as they eat and scramble and
groWl. There is no danger, for the
animals are very suspicious, and at
the first unusual movement, on the
part of man or woman, will scam
per off.
The larger number of the bears
are Of the black and brown species.
There are, however, few silver tips
or grizzlies.
At the Fountain Hotel the tour
| iStc ho
several of them, most of them large,
and they are very patient with tour
ist photographers. They come down
from the timber and sprawl over the
heap of empty cans and refuse, eat
ing like SO many pigs. They keen
ly watch their audience, and usual
ly at the least suspicious sound or
motion make off into the woods. The,
still continue to be a great source
of interest to the tourists and give
but little trouble, except where peo-
pie fail to obey the few simple rules
concerning them. One man, an en-
ployee of the hotel at the lake, was
slightly injured by bear during the
past summer, but from the best in
formation that could be gotten this
man received simply what he de-
served for his violation of the rules
and regulations, and that his punish
ment by the bear was a good les
son for others.
In almost every case where a bear
has become unruly or troublesome
it has been due to the fact that he
has been fed and petted by some
misguided individual This is a mis-
taken kindness, as sooner or later it
usually results in the death of the
bear, for whenever it is reported
that they have become troublesome
or dangerous a scout is sent out to
investigate the matter, and if he
finds the facts to be as stated he
quietly executes the offender.
We do not wonder that those who