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Show Wildlife Census Is Taken on Forest; Deer On Increase The Fishlake forest annual fish and game report for l'.KiT has just recently been compiled front reports re-ports received from the forest rangers in charge of the eight ranger districts within the forest. Thi tabulation shows the following follow-ing wild life census: Mule deer -lli.OOO. elk S00. beaver -TO, fox 50, martin 50, mink 50, badger o.'iO, ermine M0, muskrat 100, ukunk 50, coyotes -.-00, lynx or wild cat 700, mountain lion 130, and porcupines 10,000. This is an increase over l'.'oti in all cla-ses of wild life listed except fox, ermine, er-mine, muskrat, wild cat, mountain lions and porcupines. The numbers given here are arrived at through counts and estimates made by forest officers, biological survey efficers anil others who sin-ml jnorv time on the areas where these animals are found than does the average citizen. The forest service does not claim that these fiirurtvs are absolutely correct but it dees claim that the men who furnish them are better qualified to do so than anyone else due to their associate, n and interest in wild life. It is also believed that where this record is kept from yiar to ear. as is done by the f. re-t service, that it furnishes a good basis for comparison be-iween be-iween years. ! This same report shews that 7.350 mule deor. 10 elk, 1,035 coyotes, 10 mountain lion, 175 bobcats and l,ss5 porcupines were killed by man daring 1 ;.!". These figures are arrived at largely from ' actual count made by forest off i- ' cers. biological survey officers and state fish and game officials. In addition to the game animals killed by man it is. estimated that .some 3000 mule deer and 40 elk were killed by predatory animals luring l:-'?7. Mountain lions and coyotes are responsible for a greater part of this kill. ', It is re;orud that in several places en this forest the deer are incoming so numerous that the food supply is not sufficient to i maintain the herd when they are' more or less confined to certain! localities on account cf deep snow. Continuous overuse ef the-e ranges will eventually denude them of forage plants to such an extent that they will support but few game animals. Management plans, that will tend to overcome this condition should be worked out cooperatively between sportsmen,' state fish and game officials and' government agencies concerned. I ! |