Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-30
YELLOWSTONE WILD LIFE
Considerable Increase In Number In
spite of Severe Weather

YELLOWSTONE WILD LIFE
Considerable Increase In Number In
Spite of Severe Weather
The high cost Of wild animals occa-
stoned by the World War, has had q
serious effect on the collection in the
parks Of most American cities.
but a recent census of wild life in the
greatest game preserve In the United
states, Yellowstone National Park,
proves that the elk. bear. deer and
beaver families are in no sense fearful
Of the future. according to n bulletin is
sued to-day from the Washington head
quarters Of the National Geographic
Society
"A splendid increase In the number OF
young Wild animals in this preserve has
been observed this year by National
Park Service officials. who early in the
spring feared that the abnormally Sc
we're winter would cut down seriously the
newborn Of the many species which
make the park their home" says the bull
letin.
Among the elk especially. the calves
are more than fifteen per cent of the
total herds, as compared with yearly
average Of about fourteen per cent Of
ficials are more gratifisd at the increase
in elk than any other animal because
of the terrible slaughter which occurred
when some herds wandered out Of the
park into Montana last winter and were
killed by hunters.
Bear cubs have received almost as
warm a welcome the young elk.
While adult bears suffered little from
the winter which they slept through.
probably not knowing snow was on the
ground. scores persisted at the hands Of
hunters before the alternating season
began. when early fall storms drove
them out of the park. Bears are among
the most interesting survivale of wild
American game and are not dangerous
II unmolested, SO that Yellowstone Off
Gals believe that a closed season In the
adjacent States should be established to
prevent determination. No animals give
more pleasure to the thousands Of Amer
leans who visit Yellowstone each year
than the bears, especially the playful
cubs, which already are learning the
begging habits Of their mothers and
wheeling candy and other sweets from
tourists.
Deer suffered from the hard winter
which buried their pasturage under
rather than grazing animals like the
elk. they came through with less dam
age. Fawns have been seen frequently
by summer visitors, one especially on the
terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs be.
coming quite tame and being photo
graphed almost as much as the bear
cubs or Old Faithful geyser.
THE indefatgable beaver. who can
nily stores his food for the winter sea
son, was not disturbed by the hard
times while his pantry was well stock
ed Yellowstone Park boasts some OF
the finest examples of beaver architec-
ture In existence. notably the houses
and dam on the road from Tower Fails
to Mammoth Hot Springs. where a large
and growing community is sheltered.
"Porcupines, having adjusted their
digestion to bark and twigs of trees. had
food within reach all winter. even though
the snow covered the more toothsoms
grasses which they love. The tame
buffalo were bontifully fed from the
time the grass was covered until spring
came. and the wild herd likewise obtain.
ed ample food somehow. for they have
shown satisfactory increase. Hibernat
ing animals other than bears, such al
ground squirrels, groundhogs. gophers
chickmunks and skunks, likewise sui.
fered little from the lengthy winter, bu,
animals that do not sleep probably per.
ished In numbers.
Zone effect Of the hard weather bsns.
ficial to the animals was the improve
ment of the park vegetation. Abundant
moisture and the late spring worked to-
yether to make grass and herds unusual
ly luxuriant; visitors have commented or
the rare beauty Of the flowers this sea
son, but perhaps failed to notice thai
the less ornamental plants. which sus
tain animal life. also were developing ir
great profusion, Elk and deer which
came through the winter weak ant
emacisted have filled out on the flint
pasturage until their condition 10 now
said to be excellent
"A general survey of wild animals ir
the park recently has been completed
insofar as census of this sort can bs
taken OF creatures which roam a terri,
tory three times larger than tho State
! of Rhode Island and many parts Of
which rarely know human footsteps
However. comparatively accurate ssti'
mates can be made on, the basis Of OBJ
servations by rangers experienced In sucf
work
1T Ia possible that there remain ir
Yellowstone Park and the Teton game
preserve Immediately south about Is, 00'
elk, including this seasons calves. Loss
60 during the winter included about s.00'
killed and others starved outside thu
park In Montana, and fully 1000 wers
lost in wyoming and Idaho. Moose ir
the park number perhaps 800; mule deel
commonly called blacktaiD, 1000; white
tail, 100; and proghorn antelope, 800.
wild bison have increased to NOR,
than 100 animals: they are rarely seer
except by rangers. as they keep to tn,
most unfreQuented regions. Mountain
sheep are another species seldom observ
ed; there are about 200 in the park
| their sure-footed characteristics enablin,
them to inhabit cliffs and peaks wher
men cannot easilv go.
Bears are seen frequently by tourists
especially near the large hotels, wher,
they 60 to find scraps of food and I,
lick clean the strip and preserve tins
For that reason, 1t IL erroneousl,
thought that there are hundreds Of bear,
In the park, many times as many bear
as there really are. The number O
Grizzlies probably is not greater thar
25, while black bears total around 10
individuals, strong argument for ade
quate protection to keep them from be
Ing exterminated II they wander OUTSIDE
| the protection of the park
SAFE GUARDED