Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-11
URGES MOVEMENT. TO PREVENT
SLAUGHTER OF THE ELK HERDS
Biological Survey Warns Convention at
Atlantic City the Animals Are in
Danger of Earl y Extinction.
FREDERICK WILLIAM HOHENZOLLERN.

| The American elk is rapidly going
the way of the buffalo, according to a
bulletin of the United States biolog-
| ical survey and unless steps are
I taken at once to prevent pothunting,
slaughter of elks for their teeth and
hides and similar wanton destruction.
! the remaining herds will be reduced
i to the vanishing point within few
years.
The surveys bulletin. not yet issued
| to the public. was read as part
of the regular program at the
annual convention of the B. p. o. .Elks
! in Atlantic City Brother Elks were
urged to use all their influence with
members of Congress as we'll as In the
leeisla lures of western states to bring
about enactment and enforcement OF
| laws for the preservation of the elk
! that remain.
Few Remain of Vast Herds.
| According to the latest and most &C
curate reports not more than 10000
| elk are left of the vast herds that
used to roam the country from the
! Adirondack mountains to the Paclnc
! coast. or these the biological survey =
1
! in the Lewis and Clark national for
est contains about $500; the Roose-
welt herd in the Olympic national for
est about 1000 and smaller herds in
other national forests. the total OF
| these probably being less than 1900.
| Additional small herds of frorp % TO
| 500 elk. built up by restocking. are
found in other parts of the nations
/. forest domain.
of oil
F; the United States is in the Yellow
stone National Park region. This herd.
the biological surveys bulletin states.
/ is divided into three groups. The
F.! northern group numbers about $4,000
/ elk; the eastern group has about
| 3 900 and the southern group approx
! imately $4,000 That the herd or it's
! three groups are distinct assets to the
! Yellowstone National Park region is
asserted in the bulletin. which de-
! in part attracted to the region by the
| existence of the elk herds, the only
remaining large bodies of native big
game in the United States
More Stringent Laws Needed.
! More stringent laws for safeguard
! ing these herds, the bulletin says, and
! and the issuance of trappers' licenses,
would insure not only that the last
big elk herds shall not become ex-
tinct. but by affording legitimate
| sportsmen opportunity for big game
hunting would attract to the region
scores of men able and willing to
spend money freely for, guides, hunt.
! ing lodges. licenses and supplies of
/ all kinds. Thus the preservation of
! the elk herds. it is pointed out. will
mean an actual and material. influx
of money, as well as preventing ex-
! tinction of one of the most attractive
; and picturesque wild life features of
! the country. -,r-
J elk refugees similar to that in the
| Jackson Hole country is also urged.
| Hay cut from the mountain meadows
| during the summer is stacked in in
! closures for feeding the elk as they
are driven down out of the mountains
during severe winter weather. This
/ winter feeding. done by the govern
rnent. it is asserted. has been the
means of saving thousands of elk
from starvation in recent years.
Refugees Are Recommended.
In addition, the bulletin states. es-
tablishment of such refugees tends
elk killed by tooth hunters. hide
hunters and other wanton slayers.
Elk, the bulletin asserts. have an
unerring instinct for locating such
iei ueeS " o'HeF places "neIe thoy
are safe from hunters, and drift to
them in numbers as great as the for
age and grazing will sustain. Even
shooting along the borders of the
! refugees serves to assist in keeping
the elk within their confines.
ilk around the Jackson Hole coun-
try range over much of the region
made famous by Owen Wister in THE
| Virginian." Wister has summer
home in that region. where he spends
a month or two each year. Maude
| Adams also owns ranch in the
t@Jackson Hole region, where she visits
as often as possible; while Mike
Iokel. the wrestler. is another Jack
son Hole ranch owner. At one time
or another during the year the elk
range over all of these ranches no,
inGIosed in elk-hiigh fences. Buffalo
Bliis nome ranch and the town OF
Cody. established by him, are at ne
great distance from the elk,ranges.
Would Restrict Cattle Grazing.
Restriction of cattle grazing over
ranges particularly suited to elk is
another measure suggested in the