Hungry Horse news. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1948-current, 1955-04-08
by Mrs. Bessie Armand


Black bears in Waterton Lakes
National Park are out Of hiberna-
ton and have already begun to
make social calls on residents of
Waterton townsite.
When Vern Albiston heard q
humping at his back door this
week he hurried to admit what he
thought was late evening caller.
To his surprise there stood a
black bear peering hopefully
through the screen door into the
back porch.
Mr.. Albiston shooed the unwel-
come visitor away and hoped he
would not return.
1t is suspected that there are
number Of bears alternating un-
der various buildings in Waterton
.townsite. They will undoubtedly
make their appearance later.
Heralding the coming of spring
in lWaterton Lakes National Park
are songbirds which are returning.
Meadow larks, robins and blue
birds have been reported, and
more are arriving daily. Crows
were the earliest reported spring
birds to arrive here.
While the hills in Waterton Park
are mostly free of snow, the town.
site is still practically buried with
huge drifts. The drifts are begin
ming to shrink however, and warm
spring rains will speed the melt
ing process.
Walter Blencarne, U. S. hydrau-
lies engineer of Helena, made his
regular monthly visit to Waterton
Lakes National Park this week. In
Waterton Park, Mr.. Blencarne
checks on the rate of water flow
of streams rising in the United
States and flowing into Canada
via Waterton Lakes.
Mr.. Blencarne made the trip to
the head of Waterton Lakes in the
SNOWFLAKE based here by his de-
partment. The few inches of water |
covering the ice on the lake did
not cause any trouble for the
SNOWFLAKE.
Waterton Park Warden Leonard
Gladstone accompanied Mr.. Blen-
carne on his trip to the head of
the lake.
OPEN HIGHWAY
Chief Mountain highway in Wa
terton Lakes National Park is now
open to the Chief Mountain port
of entry. The highway, winding
nine miles to the. Canada-U. S.
border in Southeasterly direction
from a junction with CardSton-
Waterton highway No. is usually
not open until late May.
The Chief Mountain port of en-
try opens the third week in May.
Snow clearing crews generally
push through water Sodden drifts
to get the highway open just in
time to facilitate traffic through
this port of entry.
This year park officials decided
on a different procedure. The high
way clearing was started more
than a month early. While the
blowing was difficult, much of
the highway is steep uphill grade,
the snowblowing pillow was able
to operate effectively as the snow
drifts are still comparatively dry.
A good highway for early season
traffic over this route is now as
sured.
Annual wildlife census in Wa
terton Lakes National Park is pro-
ceeding slowly due to the inclem-
emit weather of the past several
weeks.
Deep SHOWS and almost daily
high winds and drifting SHOWS
hamper the wardens in their al
ready difficult task of counting
a. 1xy;1J1ifn roopI1l tion of
the park.
A herd of about $50 elk ranging
on Pass creek flats may be seen
from the highway almost daily by
visitors. This unusually large hero
of elk returns each winter to
Craze in that area.
The elk are, however, very wary
of humans. The most general view
that a camera enthusiast record:
on film, even after many attempt:
is the south end of elk going north
Deer in Waterton Lakes Natlona
Park know how to get the most on
of the warmth of the spring sun
They are often seen curled up II
a sheltered spot on the sunny sid
of a hill absorbing as much hea
as possible.
Feed, in the form of hay, is be-
ing given to the Waterton Lake
National Park herd of ID buffal
for the first time since the here
was placed here three years age
Severe weather conditions, marke
by heavy snow drifting, existing
at present in Waterton Park ia
made feeding the buffalo advls
able. The buffalo are in good con
dition.
Six buffalo, five cows and on
bull, made up the herd when
was placed here in June l95.
Since then seven calves have ar
rived to increase the herd to II
present size.
Under less severe weather con
ditions natural feed in the buffal
paddock, located just west OF tn
Pincher Creek entrance to water
ton Park, is sufficient for the bu
falo.