The Washington herald., 1912-01-07
Survey Makes
Thorough Study of the
Situation 1000
Head of Elk Killed An
nuaIIy by Hunters.


making their living wholly or in part
from game. These lawbreahers regard
the elk as their natural prey. But low
est In the scale OF all the enemies OF
the elk is the tooth-hunter-the human
brute who, for the sake Of gaining a dol
lar or two. kills the noble creatures. and.
taking only their tusks. leaves the car
cases to rot. Under cover OF the mail
he forwards his booty undstected 70
dealers IN the cities. who dispose OF II to
thoughtleas purchasers.
From I.o00 TO 5,00o elk habituaiiy
range In the southern part OF the Yellow
stone Park. and most OF them spend the
winter ina region to the south, cons
monty called jackson Hole. and which
y part Of the valley OF Snake River, IN
Northwestern Wyoming Spending the
summer In the mountains, the animals
are forced by cold weather to seek lower
levels, where a lighter snowfall and a
milder climate insure more favorable
forage conditions. Their primitive winter
range has gradually been reduced by the
encroachments OF civilization, until the
basin IN question has become their prin-
cipal stronghold. Here until recent years
they have Jared well. except IN an occa-
sional abnormal winter: but with in
creased settlement IN the valley has
come depletion OF the range by grazing.
The elk have come down In their old. or
even augmented numbers, only to fnd
their former haunts shorn Of forage by
cattle and sheep. and great suffering
and loss Of life have resulted.
One OF the most destructive natural
enemies Of the elk was formerly the
puma, or mountain lion. II no longer
cuts a figure IN the problem, however,
having been practically extermlnated by
hunters in the Jackson Hole region.
On the other hand. wolves. which used
TO be unknown there. are now common
and Increasing in numbers They first
appeared about a.dozen years ago. fol-
lowing the introduction OF stock As they
seem 20 be able to kill elk whenever
they feel ike doing 80. they must destroy
very many-freduently two or more at
tacking the prey IN concert Usually
'they begin by hamstringing the animal,
and thereupon devour the eyes. the I'D
der, and other choice tidbits-seldom re-
turning to the carcass, but preferring q
fresh victim.
VIII start New Herds.
The plans OF the Biological Survey IN
clude the removal OF many OF the elk to
other States. where they VIII be liberated
on suitably protected ranges and wiIi
II Is expected. start new herds 1t II
a difficult matter to transport the ami
mails. because the Teton Range. 1000 feet
higher than the valley Of Snake River.
must be crossed IN order to reach the
railroad. This range Of mountains. bor-
dering the valley on the west. is a series
Of rocky crags with attitudes varying
from 10,o0o to 1900 feet. They rise
abruptly from a level plain. affording a
panorama whose equal in rugged grand
eur Is rarely seen. On the east the val
ley meets the foothills OF the Gros ventrs
Range. some OF whose peaks are as much
as loo feet high.
The problem under consideration IS
somewhat complex. 1t Involves, first OF
all, arrangements whereby the elk shall
be fed IN the winters. in order that they
may not starve. Second Is the question
OF the prevention Of illegal killing. Third
Is the matter Of defense against the
wolves. which, unless something is done
to destroy them. will certainly become
more numerous and Increase their depre-
dations proportionately. Fourth Is the
plan for transferring some OF the ami
mails to game preserves maintained un-
der Federal or State auspices, in other
parts Of the country. And nth is the
establishment Of a winter refuge
The Biologicak- Survey deems absolutely
necessary such refuge, where the nat
ural forage can be preserved by exclud-
ing cattle and sheep during the summer.
II must be OF adequate size. OF course,
and should comprise pasture lands as
well as meadows. An ideal situation
would include also a tract OF somewhat