The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1927-11-11
Start Tame Deer
Herd at Canyon

Who would not prefer deer that
eats from your hand, trails after you
evincing unbounded joy at your cham
pionship, and finally looks upon you
as his big brother protector, to pet
cat or dog? Since the recent arrival
of ten pet fawns, such is the opinion
of several happy children living in
Grand Canyon national park.
Ordinary pets are denied the chill
dren living in our national parks.
Cats and dogs have been domesticated
for untold generations but there still
exists in the normal individual de-
sire for the flesh of his own kill.
knowledge of this innate tendency
necessitated the rule barring dogs and
cats from wild life sanctuaries. In a
measure the lack of pets is offset by
the increasing confidence placed in
man by the furred and feathered crea-
lures of our parks. A majority of the
residents provide drinking and feeding
places for birds, squirrels, and chip
munks. Especially during the winter,
when hunger pangs seize them, it is
common sight to see the squirrels and
birds return daily for their 'hand-
outs" taking food with diminishing
fear from out-stretched hands. With
the coming of spring, however, natu-
raj food becomes more plentiful, sew
eral species of birds migrate to their
nesting places, and even the squirrels
show less of an inclination to become
wards of local residents. Distribution
of fawns upon their arrival, especially
among residents with children, has
now adequately solved the problem of
pets.
Deer of the Kaibab Plateau serve as
a park attraction second only to the
Grand Canyon itself. A desire to
start tame herd on the south rim of
the Canyon led the park service to
act upon the idea of transporting ten
fawns to the opposite rim. Through
cooperative arrangement with the U.
S. forest service, ten fawns were there
fore captured in June, soon after
birth, on the Kaibab Plateau. For
time their diet consisted solely of
fresh cows milk. Later, other food
such as bran, cracked rye, and rolled
oats was added to their menu. The
deer thrived and at last became large
enough to partake of a harder diet.
After reaching this stage they We're
considered strong enough to make the
trip to their new home on the south
rim. Just how the journey was to be
made was at first problem. 1t was
only eleven miles across the Canyon
by air line, yet the nearest road re-
quired a journey of about $50 miles.
The Fred Harvey company volun-
teered their services and dispatched a
truck around by Lees Ferry to bring
the ten fawns.
All of the fawns arrived in good
condition. They were distributed
among employees of the national park
service, Fred Harvey company, and
Santa Fe railway. Hasty enclosures
were built by residents fortunate
enough to receive one Of these pets.
Two losses have thus far marred
the experiment. Upon their arrival
one of the larger fawns escaped from
his pen and sought refuge in the oaks
and buck brush near the Canyon rim.
The smallest fawn of the lot died soon
after his arrival. The only consolation
to the losses is that both were bucks.
The remaining eight members are all
in splendid condition and apparently
enjoy their new home quite as we'll as
their old one. From this small nu-l
cleus it is hoped eventually that a
tame herd will develop which will add
to the joys of the nature-loving visi-
tors