The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-07-09
The OBSERVATORY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3
WILD LIFE

Those who cross the Boise river
bridge north of town, and turn up the
Canyon road remember that north of
the bend in the river as it turns to-
wards the railway bridge there is A
growth of balms; last fall their owner
was quite surprised to discover that
some one had cut a dozen or more of
them, cut them into various lengths
of from six to ten and more feet:
and on examination saw they had NOT
been cut with an axe, but gnawed
around, as though cut with a gouge
chisel; and noticing that each had
been cut off about a foot to fifteen
inches from the ground, discovered
who had been trespassing on his land
1t was beavers; their sharp teeth had
gnawed, as with sharp chisel; sitting
on their launches they cut the trees
off at the height of their jaws; then
they drug the heavy lengths to and
into the water, sank them, and drag
some to their nests. | am not sure,
but suppose the bark is used for food.
| am told there are so many along
the river that they are becoming a
real nuisance to the abutting farmers.
| am told that several people driving
along the Canyon road have this sum-
mer seen ANIMALS swimming in the
river that looked as large as a good
sized dog, who would suddenly dive
head-fore-most, and as he went under
the water would slap his broad flat
tail on the surface They are now
protected by law; but it is pretty well
known that some have been trapped
in not distant time. 1t is interesting
to note how soon protected" animals
will multiply, as in this case, no beav-
ers having been seen for years in the
Boise river.
The handsome Chinese pheasants
are multiplying. 1t is not five years
since l saw the first in a coop at
Ontario, ready to liberate in this re-
gion. Now | frequently see the gaily
bedecked cock with his mate as
soberly dressed as a Quaker lady; it
is interesting to watch them; they run
swiftly five or six feet at time, per-
haps longer distance; pause and pick
simething, and then glide along again
they have been quite close to my cor
raj and garden; l have seen them in
some wide fields, apparently not very
tmid; but mostly in willows along
creeks.
Then the "Bob-White" quail: to see
them run to cover with a brood fol-
lowing is delightful sight; and later
in the season to hear their whir as
you come suddenly on flock is an
attractive incident. | have come on
a nest with moving machine which
had white eggs, and have heard Of
twenty-five eggs in a nest. | have not
the slightest desire to shoot one of
them; they are great pest destroyers;
and if | should catch a man shooting
them on my land | should-well, be
very angry. A year or two ago | saw
several sportsmen get off the electric
car just above the Boise river bridge
and begin shooting over a ranch that
was well posted with mo shooting
signs; when the owner demonstrated
they just laughed at him and went
right on. 1t made the owner "hot'
and me too.
The passing of sheep annoy me
most. Along comes big bunch, ant
hundreds are soon through the wire
fence into my PASTURE the wire is
fastened on the outside of the posts
the herder sends his dog to drive
them out and fifty or hundred strike
the lower wire at the same moment
their wool catches, they drive harder
and out flies lot of staples, otter
rods of wire down at once Possibly
you discover it when your cattle hav,
found it ahead of you and are estray
if you tack up your "two-mile limit
notices the herders laugh at you; anC
before we had "herd law" in ou
state | knew of a case where a poo
fence had allowed stray cattle to ge
into a mans field, and one got en-
tangled and injured in wire, and tn
owner of those stray animals actual,
threatened to sue that fence owne
for damages, because his fence did no
turn the cattle!
And speaking of herd laws" re
minds me of some of the yarns the
used to tell in Utah about sue
things. have been told that a lay
was passed by the Territorial legis
lature regarding city limits, and pro
vision made forbidding stray cattle
then along the routes used by Gen
tile or Mormon emigrants the
stretched the city limits from on
settlement to another, and no EN-
grant was allowed to turn out hi