Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-04-18

E. A. Cleasby at the County
Normal.

Normal.
E. A CIeasb-, Deputy Game War
den in the Education Department is
filling a two day engagement at the
County Normal. Mr. CIeasby gives
a regular course in the study Of pro-
tected birds and animals. The term
Game Warden" has stood for de
lection Of and punishment for break
ing the law. The State nov propos-
es to instruct the public in the value
Of protected birds and animals so
that the future citizen will not want
to break the law.
The State Game Warden Depart
ment, this year, is taking up this mat
ter Of education, in an effort to show
the value Of fish, mammals, and birds
to the state. This is rot a new work
in the United States. Orc. F. Hodge
of Clark University, has done much Y
work anolng this line in Massachusetts
His valuable book, entitled Nature
and Life" is being used in many
schools Of the country.
In the Yearbook of the Depart
ment of Agriculture for 1906 is the
following:
An officer, (meaning game war
DEM, who realizes the responsible
ity of his position can do much to
bring game protection into popular
favor. He may easily become an ed
ucator, however circumscribed his
field. Much of the wanton destruc-
ton of animal Life proceeds from
thoughtIessness and few persons once
Impressed with the Importance Of
preserving wild creatures, continue to
destroy them. In North Carolina the
bird and game wardens, in addition
to their official duties, spend a CON
siderable portion of their time edu-
eating the public as to the value Of
BIRDS and game to the State. During
the closed seasons, they visit farm
ers, explain and discuss the game
laws and their object, and hear com
plants. Each warden is supplied
with a selection of standard books
on birds, and is required to familiar
ize himself with them, so as to be
able to answer the numerous ques-
tions propounded."
In Wisconsin we realize there is
need of education land the fish and
game warden department is undertake
ing this work through the schools,
the farmers institutes, school board
conventions, teachers Institutes and
with the people generally.
Some Benefits of the Protection of
Animal Life.
The benefits of the protection of
animal life may be briefly stated as
follows; to increase useful species
for the benefit of the people in gen.
eral, to protect those species that
are beneficial as scayengers, to pro-
hibit the introduction into this coun-
try, those species known to be in
furious, to preserve those species that
are Of interest to the student of ma
ture, and to conserve our mammals,
birds and fish so that those who
come after us may enjoy some of
the things We enjoy.
Birds Act As scavengers.
A great deal has been said of late
about the conservation of our re-
sources, but l know of no conser-
walton more important to the Ameri-
can people than that of conserving
our bird life. While by no means in
sensible to the aesthetic value of
birds the farmer who is asked to ala
in their protection is entitled to know
the practical purposes they subserve,
and how far they may be expected
to return his outlay of time trouble
and expense.
Since most birds eat insects and
since many eat practically nothing
else, it is their insect-eating habits
that chiefly invited inquiry.
In the Agricultural Yearbook for
1907 is the following:
When birds are permitted to la
Dor undisturbed they thoroughly po-
lice both earth and air. The thrush
es, sparrows, laFks and wrens, search
the surface of the earth for insects
and their larvae, or hunt among the
leaves and peer under logs and refuse
for them The warblers, yireos, creep
ers, and nuthatches with their mi
croscopie eyes sean every part Of
the tree or shrub-trunk, branches,
and Ieaxes-aRd few hidden creatures
escape them. The woodpeckers not
content with carefully scrutinizing
the bark and limbs of trees, dig in
to the decayed and worm-eaten wood
and drag forth the burrowing larvae.
which in their hidden retreats are
safe from other enemies.
The flycatchers, aided by the warb-
lers are ever on the alert to snap.
up insects when flying among trees
and branches; while the swallows and
nighthawks skim over the pastures
and patrol the high air above the
tree tops for such of the enemy as
have escaped pursuit below T hus
each hird-family plays its part in
the neyer-ending warfare and the mum
Der of insects annually consumed oy
the combined hosts is simply meal
culable. 1t is we'll that this is so,
for so vast is the number of insects
and so great is the quantity Of vege-
tation required for their subsistence
that the existence of every green
thing would be threatened were il
not for birds and other agents spe