The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-07
BEAVERS INCREASING
IN THE NORTHWEST
Minnesota Protects Them After
Nearly All Werc
Killed.
ONE PARK COLONY OF 800
Those at Largo Throughout the
State Multiplying
Rapidly.

MfNNpAroLis, June t.--Beavers are in.
creasing In Itasca Park 80 rapidly that
the busy little animals are crowdinE each
otner out OF the park over to privately
owned lands, and II In reasonable 10 ex-
poct that Minnesota some day may pro-
duce as many beaver pelts as in the days
when the North Woods were the happy
hunting grounds OF the trapper and pot
hunter. At present there IL n closed sea-
son on beavers. and who're game wardens
or forest rangers are near the highly
priced little animals are almost as safe
an In the ltasca preserve. Some day
they will DO ~ numsrous that trapping
may be permitted under certain restric-
lions without any danger OF extermina-
ton.
The beaver colony In Itasca Park began
about fifteen years ago with q group OF
three presented by the Government of
Manitoba TO the state Of Minnesota, and
the animals promptly were liberated In
Itasca Park In the hope that they woull
multiply and assist In the movement to
restore their kind which was all but ex-
tlnot In the State because OF the rapaclty
OF the white trappers.
For some time II was not known
whether the little family was alive or
not, as their natural timidity was In
creased many fold by their strange sur
roundings, and not glimpse was OBJ
tained OF them for long time.
At the approach of winter a beaver
house was reared and then the forester
In charge OF the park knew that the
little animals were safe. Since then they
have multiplied year by year and II IL
estimated that there are now more than
400 full grown animals In tho park. while
that many more probably have formed
colonies outside.
Meanwhile beaver colonies are increas-
Ing rapidly In several parts OF the State.
L At
game laws by settlers. Game wardens
and forest rangers have explicit instruc-
! tons to exercise the greatest vigilance
I IN protecting the beaver colonies. but the
poachers are watchful themselves and
know well when wardens are far away.
/ For some years tho forest service man
ct Northorne have watched q hne colony
on one OF the tributaries OF the DE Fork
River. The house was one OF the largest
/ ever known In Minnesota and undoubt-
| edly contained a large family The rang
ers had to be far away for some days
and when one Of the number. Henry
! Winslow, visited the spot he found thai
the big house had been dynamlted and oil
course every beaver had been killed.
| ut was n white man who committed
this act" declared n r. Terncy. Assist
ant State Forester, and we would Tx
to get our clutches on him. 40 Indian
at least no Chippewa. ever would hav,
]
slaughter. I don't mean that they OBJ
serve the game laws any more than tn
white man. but long before tho whlteI
came into Minnesota the Chippewss wer.
practising conservation OF natural re-
sources. II was law among them whs'
hunting fur bearing animals to leav,
some members OF the fmily or COLONY
else OF course theit supply would hav,
been exhausted with no source OF replen
lshment. The white trappers. on ;h'
other hand. went In and took everythin,
clean. the males. the females the young
every animal that would bring any price
whatever.
Practically the beaver had become sx
tInct In Minnesota owing TO the ruthless
methods OF the white trappers. hut ther,
Ia good chance beaver trapping agar
may become profitable industry In THU
State A. any rate there is no DANCE
OF extinction and the beaver colonies a
Itasca Park are among the sights OF THU
beautiful forest. We have knowledge o
other colonies which survived tho earl,
| SLAUGHTER and we believe that whe'
greater protection Ia afforded these vii
multiply rapidly. particularly II othe
State parks may be created"