The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-04-04
FINS, FURS AND FEATHERS


Forest rangers report that bears
have done considerable damage to
young timber in the upper Wind river
valley, on the Columbia National For
est, by peeling the bark for sap. The
trees attacked range from four to Y
inches in diameter, and the damaged
portion is usually near the ground.
Occasionally Mr. Bear shins up larg-
er tree and peels out the top and
branches. Douglas fir. white fir, west
ern white pine and lodgepole pine are
attacked Unfortunately while west.
ern yellow pine and hemlock occasion.
ally receive attention.
Ranger II. j. Lickel, of euler, Wn.,
has observed the peeling of bark on
young growth by bears for eight years.
He says:
"Mr. Bear peels the trees only when
the sap is running, and his reasons for
doing so are very apparent. All sap
contains more or less sugar, of which
bears are very fond Therefore. it is
natural that he should peel trees to get
the sweet taste, Just as his two-legged
brother taps the maple for the sugar.
After stripping off the bark the
bear licks the inside of the bark and
also the peeled trunk of the tree until
the sap is gone. Then he hunts an
other tree. The damage done this way
ranges from mere scratches to the
peeling of several square feet of bark.
Sometimes the trees are completely
girdled, in which case they soon die.
In other cases, where the girdling is
not complete, the trees eXude a coat Of
pitch over the scar, making fine fuel
for the first forest fire that comes
along, which either burns the tree
down or leaves a eat face.
'The fresh wounds made by the
bears also offer a point of attack for
fungi and insects. "
In travelling one mile through second
growth timber where bears were plen-
tifu, Ranger Llckel observed more
than 100 fresh scars made by the ami
mails in their quest for sap.
Never more will a rabbit be consid.
cred tmid animal by Hood River
residents residing on West Columbia
street, for the hero worshippers of
that neighborhood are all agog over
the victory, in open battle, of a Bel
glan-Flemish Giant buck, owned by s.
A. Veach, over a Fox TERROR dog of
Chas. T. Foster, neighbour.
The hare, gaining his liberty, tempt
ed the dog. But the big rabbit stood
his ground, munching clover and CO.
verify eyeing his tormenter. This pro-
cedure startled the terrier and checked
his onrush. He began circling around
the hare. Some children. fearing for
the life of the rabbit, gave an alarm.
and members of households Of the
community arrived just in time to see
the dog close in.
And they saw one of the most disa-
greeably surprised terriers that ever
existed in Hood River. The big rab.
bit seemed to turn half somersault
backwards, driving both of his feet into
the ribs of his attacker. The terrier
rolled over three times, and yelping
dragged himself home, while the ra bbit
returned to his dinner.
They have named the rabbit General
Petan.
A dead mother rabbit and nest of
newborn babies was the sight that
met F. H. Blackman, East Side orch
ardist, when he visited his hutch the
other day When the family was told
OF the unfortunate orphans, Miss Lot
tie kinnaird, who teaches at the Pine
Grove school and boards at the Black
mans, suggested that the little rabbits
be raised on bottle. Their tinv
mouths were too small for rubber
nipple, but milk was administered by
a medicine dropper.
The little rabbits have now been
graduated to tin pan, and all are
thriving.
Have you been fishing yet? They
say the trout are biting greedily.