El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-17
WASHINGTON, D. C.. April H.
v One Of Uncle Sans most DIFF

AlN O4le OF Uncle sam most DIFF
ficult problems, relating to
the preservation Of wild game in this
country, is that Of dealing with preda-
tory creatures, such as wolves ard
wildcats. To keep down their numbers
the government for a number Of years
past has employed professional hunt
ers and trappers-
1t is mainly a forest problem; for
most kinds Of wild game are forest
products. Probably Uhree-fourths Of
all the important game animals OF the
western states dwell within the Dor
Gcrs Of the national forests, and the
question OF their proper management
ana perpetuatiOn is one that has to be
reckOned with by the forest service.
The national forests are great ma
tural game preserves, maintained By
the government Not only is il sought
10 encourage the breeding and in
crease Of the desirable wild animals
within their boz 7ers, but plants" are
being made in them Of buffalo, elk,
prong horned antelope and other val
liable species now threatened with ex-
termination.
An Oklahoma Game Refuge.
The Wichita game refuge is one Of
the show places OF Oklahoma-famous
Tor its scenic beauty and, with its
forest cover and rare game animals,
attracting visitors form far and wide.
a herd of buffalo has been established
there, and already numbering As, is
Increasing rapidly Also there are elk,
antelope and wild turkeys.
The elk come from the Yellowstone
region, where there are actually too
many elk. There is not grass enough
&c feed them. and they perish in large
numbers Of starvation uence, the
plan, first adopted four years ago, OF
shipping punches Of them to the ma
Iionsl forests in Colorado, Wyoming
and elsewhere. Already more than 500
have been planted in this way, and the
success Of the enterprise is marked.
Elk Eaten out.
1t, Is popularity supposed that the elk
in this country have been killed off
by huuters-the result being that
q farminEly few OF hem are left As
been eaten out In other words, the
sheep and cattle have consumed their
food supply. In winter. when they
come down into the valleys, they no
longer find plenty OF grass natural
hay cured on the stem-to feed upon
Cattle and sheep have been before
them, and the land is cropped bare.
Suffering from hunger. they gather
about the farmers haystacks, climbing
on each others backs TO get at the
hay. which is so protected thar they
cannot reach it. Consequently. they
starye and die.
There are now in the Grand Canyon
game refuge at least 10000 deer. the
increase Of their numbers being largely
due 20 an active campaign Waged by
The forest service against their natural
enemies, especially the mountain lion
and "bObcaL" In this kind Of work
all over the west, the government for
esters work in cooperation with the
biological survey, which is the branch
Of the department Of agriculture that
Eas special supervision over all mat
l. rs relating to birds and mammals.
War on Prednfors Animals.
Predatory animals destroy not only
game Dut also domestic stOck-sheep,
cattle hogs and chickens. But the
number of them grows smaller each
J car, and the damage they do is cor
TespondinEly less. During the last
J Var there We're killed in the national
forests u wolves, go pumas, 81 lynzes. {
5s5 bobcats, 240 bears and sI66