El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-15

fear has been that, owing - the small
', ness of the total number of buffalo now
surviving. the species might become ex.
tinct through in-and-in breeding. As a
result of such breeding, the European
bison are dying out, after being pre-
served in parks for centuries. But such
trouble, 1T is believed. can be prevented
by frequent crosses between the Mon
tana herd and the Oklahoma herd, to in
fuse fresh blood.
The Montana Range.
= The range in Montana is under the
management of the government biologi-
cal survey. and is stocked already with
so head OF pure bred buffalo, which are
smut IN by a very strong fence OF wire
specially woven to order for the pur-
pose. 1t Is an ideal situation-a bio
and beautiful timbered mountain in the
middle, with canyons radiating from it
for the animals to hide in, rich bunch
grass prairie all about the foothills, and
unlimited water
As Tor the Wichis> national forest. il
is under the law a game refuge. desiq-
mated as such by the president in ac-
cordance with the terms of a bill passed
by congress not long ago No killing
OF Wild animals Is allowed within its
limits: The supervisor of the forest is
ex-oftlelo game warden, and the herd
OF buffalo established there is as the
apple of his eye. 1t now occ,rpies an
enclosure of only 5000 acres, in order
that the animals may receive closer at
tentlon, but, as already stated. 10000
acres have been set aside for the range.
over which 1t IS expected that eventually
many thousands of happy bison will
roam.
Small Nucleus of the Herds.
Tho - L.
a bunch of Is buffalo shipped by the
American Bison society from the Bronx
zoo in New York. They were originally
part OF herd of so maintained by Aus
tin Corbin at Newport, y. H.. and which
was dispersed after his death. Two of
them died of Texas fever after their
arrival in Oklahoma, and one from some
unexplained cause. But these have been
the only casualties in three years. and
meanwhile the bunch has been increased
by 10 calves, so that today it numbers
II in all; and two more calves are ex-
pected.
Buffalo under such semi-wiId condi.
lions usually thrive and breed with rea-
sonable rapidity. There is every pros
pect for the success of the enterprise.
In winter the animals are fed alfalfa
hay, and protection from the weather
is furnished by a number of large shell
ter sheds built within the enclosure.
Gradually they will be encouraged to
rustic for themselves" the instinct so
to do having been lost to some extent
during the period of their captivity.
The Wichita national forest being
within the Texas fever belt, that dead
~ malady is a danger to be guarded |
against. Buffalo, it seems, are not less
subject to it than cattle But it is not |
believed that there will be any further |
from this cause, inasmuch as |
the ticks which carry the disease are |
kept off of the animals by spraying with |
crude oil. One continuance used for the /
purpose is a big cage, into which the |
beast is put before turning the oil upon /
him with a hose.
Few Buffalo In World.
1t is believed that at the present time
there. are not more than 100 buffalo
alive in the world, a majority of these
being In captivity In British Columbia, |
N densely wooded region, between the
Peace ana Saskatchewan rivers. still
range some hundreds of wild bison; but
lheir numbers are steadily diminishing,
Is they are kilIedsoff by indians. There
IRE very few wild buffalo left in the
Texas Panhandle, and a score or so in
he Yellowstone National park Twenty
7ears ago there were perhaps 400 in the
bark, but pOaehers have got nearly all |
# them. A mounted head is worth from