Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-01
GAME INCREASES
. MINNESOTA
Care Has Replaced Animals
Slain in Past Years In
Northern Minnesota.

Bemidji, Mimi, Sept. Vivid life
throughout the northern part OF MIN
nesota is rapidly being restored as the
result Of propagation work that Is now
being carried on at the state park at
Itasca. where wild game is nearly as
plentiful now as it a before the ad-
vent of the white man.
AS the result of placing several elk
In the state park a number Of years
ago, some of these animals are now
released every winter, and there are
about Is outside the park now roam
ing the northern Minnesota woods.
About eight years ago the first elk
were placed In Itasca park, l8 being
put there by James j.. Hill of the
Great Northern railway. A carload.
containing 80 elk. were also shipped
from Wyoming, but many Of these elk
died within a short time on account
Of the hardships suffered during the
trip. After the elk that survived had
become accustomed to the northern
Minnesota climate they began tt
thrive and they are now increasing
rapidly. Last winter IL were released
from the park and 1t Is probable that
As many more will be released this
year.. It Is the intention Of State For
ester William T. Cox to release the
increase of the herd every year and In
this manner the forests of northern
Minnesota will be made to again
abound with wild game, the same as
before the white mar came. There
are now about IS elk within the park.
The marvellous effect Of propagation
work Is also evident in restoring bea-
yer colonies in the northern part OF
the state. In 1905 three beavers,
which were a present to Ex-Governor
John Lind from the Canadian govern
ment, were released in the state park
at 1tasca at ~Schoolcraft Island. They
stayed in that part of the lake for
about eight weeks and then disappear
ed. A few months later they were dis
covered at Nicollet creek in the park,
where they had built q dam seven
feet high and 200 feet long. They had
then increased in number to about Is.
There are now 1900 beaver in the
park and they have spread from hat
vicinity to nearly every stream in the
/, north central part Of the state. They
have become 20 numerous that it has
|, been necessary Tor the state to au-
thorize farmers to trap them because
they have been damaging property by
damm1ng streams and flooding lands.
Deer are also especially plentiful at
the state park ana they are increasing
in numbers there every year. Members
of the forestry service claim that
many Of the doe deer bore twin fawns
his year and that it is not unusual to
/ see a deer and two young ones. Last
=, year q doe val seen with four lawns,
but whether she adopted two that had
been lost or forsaken by some other
! doe or whether they were her own is
not known. Forest rangers believe,
however, that 1t is possible for a doe
ito bear four fawns. Dee within the
park are exceptionally tame, and it Is
; not unusual to see small groups OF
them while autoing through the park
or while taking a boat trip on Itasca
; Lake. Beavers are also often seen on
a lake trip, and for the nature lover
the state park at Itasca holds many
thrills.
Offers Are Found.
Otter, an animal which was thought
Il be extinct in this part of the United
States and which is valuable for it.
fur, has been found neal the state
park. This animal eats fish,, but il
sometimes also kills them for pleas.
ure, and evidences of bass being kill
cd by the hundreds in such a manner
have been found in Bass Lake neal
the state park. Campers at the state
park this year were interested in the
: frequent appearance of q big black
, bear and two cubs who were otter
! seen near the Middle West cabin al
Douglas lodge, a resort in the park
thought to be extinct, have beed found
: at Itasca, and several nests Of them
were discovered near the west arm o.
Lake Itasca this summer.
All game within the boundaries o.
the state park Is protected and thai
part of h state has virtually become
a game center.