The Cordova daily times., 1922-10-06
ANTELOPE IS
 VANISHING IN
 NATIONAL PIX,

ASetAA horn, as he is more accurately called is making precarious stand against extinction in Yellowstone National Park, and efforts are being launched to save this real American" animal to the great west.
 It is established that there are not more than 5000 antelope in the United States altogether, including about $50 within the confines of Yellowstone Park.
 One of the largest of the herds that remain scattered through the west a remnant of the vast numbers that once grazed over all the country be- tween the Mississippi River and the Pacific Coast-has for forty years or more had refuge in Yellowstone Park, but recent census of the antelope baads here shows that they are bare. ly holding their own against adverse conditions, and it is feared that, un- less extensive and intensive measures are quickly taken for their preserva- tion, this attractive, prettily colored representative of the once abundant American wild life will be seen only as a Fstuffed and mounted specimen" in natural history museums.
 HERDS DECREASING
 A careful count of the antelope bands on their various summer ranges in Yellowstone Park showed this sum- mer total of $50 head, while there were estimated to be 2,O00 in the park fifteen years ago. Much of the coun- try th the valley of the Yellowstone north of the park lying in lower alti- tudes, was available for winter range in 1908 and 1909, but is now occupied by human settlers, resulting in many of the animals dying off from starva- tion.
 Last winter nearly third of the Yellowstone Park herds were lost as a result of heavy snows and the depre- dations of coyotes, wolves and noun tain lions. Most of this loss, however it appear from the recent census, was made up by the birth of new kids, but each winter presents the risk of ante lope extermination.
 The possible winter range for the Yellowstone antelope at present is a scant 5000 acres, and this area he must share with the deer, elk and and other grazing animals, for which some cut forage is also provided
 The necessary provision for the preservation of the antelope would be the establishment of an extensive win ter range at a lower altitude outside the park. At present if any of the an telope bands, escaping the vigilance of the park rangers, make their way dur ing winter down to lower country out side the park they are listed as Host, for sooner or later, in spite of protec tive laws, they are certain to fall prey to the hunters rifle or to predatory animals
 PREDATORY ENEMIES
 Within the park a constant warfare is conducted against the antelope g natural enemies, but coyotes are nu merous, and bands of wolves are not rare.
 Even in the summer the antelope leads a somewhat precarious existence While he is safer from the predatory animals, owing to the absence of deer snow and to the abundance of game less fleet of foot, he suffers from the increasing invasion of his haunts by the summer tourists. The antelope is one of the most nervous of animals, as we'll as one most given to curiosity and the presence of horseback ant camping parties in his grazing dis tricts keeps him so much on the qu vive that his domestic life" ant breeding are interfered with. As tht park naturalist puts it. the antelope ii 1 so tvpically American that he woulc | be inclined to "worry himself to death if there were no other cause tendins toward his extermination. Regulation of the summer menace can prObabl, be effected by withdrawal of a larg part of the summer range from tour ist use, which the park authorities vii attempt next season.
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