Laurel outlook., 1946-02-27
Of HOBBY FOR
COLLECTING ANIMALS,
NOW see EN- ALIVE"

A hobby that paid off in cash
was described Tuesday at a meet
ing of the Laurel Rotary club by
D. W. Columbus of Red Lodge, one
of the proprietors of the See EN-
Alive zoo. The other partner is
Leslie Lyons. Neither wanted a
zoo; they were interested merely
in collecting wild animals and
would have continued their strange
hobby as such had not the public
insisted on seing their collection.
The thing started when the two
we're school boys. They spent the
week ends hunting with a %,
(which kept US off the streets and
outdoors" Columbus explained.
They ranged far and wide yer the
Red Lodge region. One day, or
the Washoe side of " the HILL"
they found a coyote den which
they dug out, but being chicken
hearted they could not kill the
pups. They took the pups home
and hid them, first in Columbus
back yard and then in Lyons.
Next they captured small animals,
gophers, woodchucks and squirrels,
mice, rabbits and rats. The boys
families gave them a hard time
about the animals, and finally the
police department told them they
would have to "get them-----coyotes
out of town."
There was a widow living on a
small acreage at the outskirts of
Red Lodge. She was persuaded to
lend space for the animal cages,
which were moved to the new site.
The widow had two daughters, and
eventually one of the partners mar
ried one of the daughters, which
sewed up the lease.
For a living the partners oper-
ated an electric shop in town and
gave their spare time to collect
ing wild animals of the region.
The collection expanded and at
included bear, deer, elk, and
he big cats. Snakes were easy
% get and were included. Cooper
alton of the state fish and game
commission was needed and was
secured.
The hobby came to involve silver
and to buy their initial pair
he boys tangled with a local
Fortunately, the foxes re-
Produced and the owners were sue
.essful in selling several pairs at
Il 200 a pair, which mended their
,ent fortunes and returned them
O the good graces of the banker.
When the road to Cooke City was
the collectors found they were
1t the edge of a busy highway and
hat many people were interested
n the animals. Columbus and
lyons did not appreciate having :
trangers poking about, taking their
and disturbing the creatures.
Well fix 'em," they decided; "we1l .:
barge admission, and then they (
bother U.S." So they began :
harging 10 cents, but that did not
top the visitors. Next year the
omission was liked to 25 cents, {
nd several thousand came. The !
'roprietors thought it over. eff they |
INSIST or us running a zoo, We'll I
un one," they concluded. In the
asst year before the war there
rere 50 many visitors the propri-
tors lost count.
Columbus and Lyons devised the
lets for their animals, putting in
UGH items of food as they believ-
d were essential. The mixtures
ave been successful and may ac-
cunt for some animals, reputed 9
D not reproduce in captivity, bear T
1g young at the zoo. Although 9
uthorities in biology told them it :,
ould not be done, the collectors T
ave cross-bred Canadian honkers =
nd blue geese. The U. S. biologi- :
al survey caused pictures to be Z
of the strange result. Be-
ause they had so much experience !:
he two Red Lodge men are re- =
arded as authorities in their field :
nd are often consulted. i
They have made it a point to !:
OF sell their animals, although i
1ey sometimes contribute without =
barge to municipal ZOOS. One such {
the Cincinnati, Ohio, zoo located l
n Walnut hills and overlooking the =.
'h'o river. :
The speaker included a number !.
f highly interesting incidents he y
nd his partner have experienced ,
uring the years since their hobby
cyan. He was introduced by Rev.
J.. Wilcox, who with NJ. O..
.oysdon, a former resident of Red
odge. constituted the program
ommittee for February. Ii