Show Elk K in Ill Park Despite S Game logs Hogs and Severe Winter Spring Census Reveals Unexpected Unexpected Number Worth of Hay Fe Fed l lw I w S to tg H Herds er s LK In the Yellowstone park i number number num num- 5 ELK EIK ber oooo Instead of as formerly supposed despite heavy loss losses during the winter resulting I from abnormal l snows and the th greed of ot Montana meat hunters acc according to a a. aletter letter received by Governor Simon imon Bamberger Bamberg r from Sterling Yard e ecu ecu- tl e secret secretary ry of ot the National Parks association The northern herd has again fac faced d starvation and has survived survived survived sur- sur sur sur- one of the most extraordinary winters In history Mr Yard states WORTH WORTH OF HAYThe HAYThe HAY The early storms were succeeded by favorable weather conditions and the northern herd slowly returned to the park where during the winter winter- It was maintained by hay ha which h had been bought by money money appropriated ted by by- c congress congress con con- n- n gress under a general deficiency act Mr Yard writes It cost about to meet the The southern herd meantime had b been en married on onby onby b by appropriations diverted fr from ni other uses by the biological s survey I HIT BY LATE LATh LATE SPRING All now would have been well had hadnot hadnot hadnot not this unseemly winter wound up in inthe inthe inthe the way It began Late snowstorms of unseasonable depth again sent the northern herd far tar afield In search of ot slopes where dried grass could be reached by pawing up snow of ot lesser depth Again hay had to be purchased purchased pur pur- chased In a hurry this time with money contributed entirely by patriotic citizens citi citi- zens ens About was required to meet the new emergency and the last of ot the hay available In neighborhood ranches was fortunately secured Contributions Con Cn- sent through the National Parks association h helped CENSUS TAKEN t The winter plight of ot the elk ha has oc occasioned concentrations which afforded opportunity for tor estimating their number number number num num- ber with an accuracy not net possible for tor many j years ears Together the Yellow Yellowstone stone herds number about 40 instead d of ot as as torm formerly supposed sed These T s herds r s pr present Sent Senta a a. a on nY fd S problem of ot which litch h their theix feeding In pc emergencies like ke last winters winter's Is the smallest part Elk increase rap rap Idly and cannot be kept alwa always s within the bounds of ot the national park and certain outlying lands Neighborhood ranching interests also are increasing and cattle more and more compete with I Ithe the elk for tor certain grazing privileges Both have their rights and the determination deter deter- I of ot these presently will become no small matter I AVOID FUTURE SLAUGHTER These elk lk herds constitute the noblest noblest noblest no no- blest wild animal exhibit In America and within civilization in the world They must be maintained for tor posterity at any cost and this means an ample natural range within or without the park boundaries Just what this range shall be and how great the herds which shall occupy it is no easy part o of the problem which involves also other considerations con con- of ot difficulty The solution of ot the problem too must render definitely impossible these hideous laughters which insulting every principle of sportsmanship and common decency every few years shock the whole nation Doubtless the elk herds must be he kept within limits of ot size which a reasonable range will s support but they cannot continue to tobe tobe tobe be cut down In the manner which many hundreds of Montana meat hunters aided by inadequate state laws employed employed employed em em- last fall tall |