The Wrangell sentinel., 1938-04-08
LETTERS
THE WRONG IMPRESSION
CBy otis H. speer)


 1 brief outline of one very active predator and now l shall reveal a few facts that are not generally known about another predator that quite often becomes fully as much if not more destructive than the wolf and yet he not only goes free but has the protection of the law.
 In making the following state ments I am well aware that they may bring forth some very loud protests. However. I shall make no statements that I cannot prove and I shall likewise stand back of all my statements.
 It so happens, that quite often the men who make our laws, do not fully understand the existing cir cumstances. While they may be quite honest in their own convie- tions, yet they have never had the opportunity to make a complete study of our wild life as one who spends half his time in the wilder ness.
 Out in the wilderness, life quite often becomes a survival of the strong. It has been that way from the beginning and perhaps will con tinue to be that way until the end
 Perhaps there are a great many who do not know that the bear is one of the most destructive preda- tors that roam our wilderness. Not only does he destroy countless num- goes much further. The bear, like the wolf, becomes very fond of the flesh of the beaver and once he feasts thereon, he spends much time seeking more of this very de- lieiOus meat. Many times, l have ob- served where he, like the wolf, prowls up and down and all around streams and beaver ponds or where ever the beavers home may be, and altho he is net gifted with the cunning that the wolf possesses yet he has a very keen sense of smell Not only doe he often locate beaver houses which contain young beaver but here he even goes further than the wolf. Because he has no con- science or seruples, he sometimes open the beavers house or home in his efforts to obtain a delicious meal. 1 do not mean that all bears are guilty of this or that all beaver homes are torn open, far be it from that However, there are cer- tain bears that are quite guilty for this to happen. In my many wander ings, l have found many beaver houses that have been torn open by bears, and, I have even caught MT. Bear in the very act. AS you very we'll know, seeing is believing. A great many beaver houses are I built on some little mound or small island out in deep water and thus are usually quite safe from preda- tors. Not so long ago, I had occa- sion to watch a large black bear swim across about fifty yards of deep water to a small grassy island or mound, out in a good size lake. Upon this little island was erected one of the largest and most preten- tiOus beaver houses that it has ever been my pleasure to view. I was observing this bear and his many maneuvers along shore before he started his swim, then I saw him climb up to the beaver house and observed his close inspection. There was no doubt in my mind as to his intentions because it was quite evident that this house con- tained young beaver at this time Very soon my opinion was verified by the bears actions. However, my mind was already made up. I had no intentions of sitting there idle and permitting that predator to destroy that happy home. I put an end to his nefarious career.
 This happened to be a few years ago when the ban was lifted on bear-had it been otherwise I fear that the law might have been strained a trifle.
 Two years ago, far out on my trap line, in the bank of a large creek where there was a very deep hole of water, a family of beaver made their home. It was an old res- idence and there were no less than six or eight beaver there. AS mat ter of fact the beaver usually bring forth from two to four young at time, sometimes as many as six young, each year. Those young stay with the old ones until the spring when they are two years old, then they go forth to start homes of their own.
 The beaver mentioned above were Ouito anfiva and uoo tbipEin r