The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-09-02
QfEE1VONZE DllzAIN0

Frarie II typical OF the socalled 'praries OF the
swamp These prairics essentially arshes
with more less open water. but practically
hiied with "A luxurnnt growth OF aquatic plants.
These Include water lilies. maiden cane, pitcher
plants, arrowhead, arrow arim, grass fern.
paint root and sphagnum They are the favored
resort OF waterfowl Here and there the
pralres stand picturesque clumps heads Of
cypress and pine. Yet abundant crops Of corn
AMI sweet potatoes are raised In the swamp and
much of IL may be- wnded.
Francis Harper, assistant biologist Of the Uni.
ted States biological survey, contributes inter
esi'ng article on "okehnokec Swamp ms Reser-
vnton' To Natural History. or Its animal and
plant life he says, In part;
There probably between one and two hun.
dred black hears In the swamp aud Its immediate
environs. the Florida deer IN rather common
and well.distributed species the islands and in
other parts of the swamp. the Florida otter IN
furry common denizen of this Wilderness;
crn pnnthers have been recorded about the Dor.
ders within the past few years u Florida wolf
was killed near the edge of the swamp about 1910:
nnd some animal believed tn be n wolf was heard
IN the swamp several times In 1919 This species
Is virtually extinct, and there are only one or
two specimens IN the museums OF The country.
That curious little animal, the Florida water rat
or round tailed muskrat tNeonher allen), has
lust recently been discovered In the swamp II
Is very abundant here In It's only known habitat
In Georgia.
The NorNbiti, our greatest and most magnln-
cent woodpecker, now on the very verge OF extlnc.
tion, has maintained In the okehnokcc one Of It's
last stronkhods. The great pileated woodpecker
scarcely less splendid than the ivorsblit Is aston
ishtneiy abundant. It's numbers here PERHAPS sur
passing thoS. of any other part of the country
The American cgret. once nearly extermlnated
for its planes, has been found breeding in the
cnyirons OF the swamp II also has hero a safe
winter refuge The okennokee Is the only place
In Georgia wher. may lind the sand,hlll crane
and the impkin. The former Is a resident aud
quite common species but only one two Of the
curious and fast.dsappcaring lmpklns have been
observed In the swamp, which doubtless repre-
SCENTS the northern limit Ut their breeding rnny.
The wood duck Is resident species OF which
there probably hundreds of individuals In the
swamp, In the entire country there is perhaps
no other equally favorable habitat for this rnre
and beautiful little duck.
As wintering ground for migratory waterfowl
the okefnokre Is OF very considerable Importance,
ElcScn species OF interest To game conservation.
lists found winteriug la int6lT Ia numbers
ioosrly estimated follows; hosidcd meryanScr
several hundred, maar,l several thousand; hlack
duck 1000. winged teal - pintnr 80;
wstd duck. $40. ring nccked duck. several hun.
dr,d sandhIn crane 100, woodCock. toa, Wi.
sous snre, 40; killdeer. ion Altogether about
~ species nt birds have been recorded from the
swamp In summer, aud about 80 la winter A,
the latter season Il attracts grcat numbers u
iAerry and fruit eating birds
At present considerable amount Of hunting
Is carried on. chiefly by residents In and about
TIA" swamp. Deer. bears and wildcats are hunted
with hounds at virtually all SEASONS ~ the year
Not only the ordinary game birds but also such
species the wood Ibis, Wari's heron sand hin
erune. aud occasionally even a cormorant or A
water turkey. killed and eaten The woai
duck although protected bs both state aud fed