hunting the grisly and other sketches-第8章

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fall　a　victim　to　the　grisly；　when　the　big　bear　is　in　the　mood　to　turn
hunter。　Wapiti　are　found　in　the　same　places　as　the　grisly；　and　in　some
spots　they　are　yet　very　plentiful；　they　are　less　shy　and　active　than
deer；　while　not　powerful　enough　to　beat　off　so　ponderous　a　foe；　and
they　live　in　cover　where　there　is　always　a　good　chance　either　to　stalk
or　to　stumble　on　them。　At　almost　any　season　bear　will　come　and　feast
on　an　elk　carcass；　and　if　the　food　supply　runs　short；　in　early　spring；
or　in　a　fall　when　the　berry　crop　fails；　they　sometimes　have　to　do
their　own　killing。　Twice　I　have　come　across　the　remains　of　elk；　which
had　seemingly　been　slain　and　devoured　by　bears。　I　have　never　heard　of
elk　making　a　fight　against　a　bear；　yet；　at　close　quarters　and　at　bay；
a　bull　elk　in　the　rutting　season　is　an　ugly　foe。

A　bull　moose　is　even　more　formidable；　being　able　to　strike　the　most
lightning…like　blows　with　his　terrible　forefeet；　his　true　weapons　of
defense。　I　doubt　if　any　beast　of　prey　would　rush　in　on　one　of　these
woodland　giants；　when　his　horns　were　grown；　and　if　he　was　on　his　guard
and　bent　on　fight。　Nevertheless；　the　moose　sometimes　fall　victims　to
the　uncouth　prowess　of　the　grisly；　in　the　thick　wet　forests　of　the
high　northern　Rockies；　where　both　beasts　dwell。　An　old　hunter　who　a
dozen　years　ago　wintered　at　Jackson　Lake；　in　northwestern　Wyoming；
told　me　that　when　the　snows　got　deep　on　the　mountains　the　moose　came
down　and　took　up　their　abode　near　the　lake；　on　its　western　side。
Nothing　molested　them　during　the　winter。　Early　in　the　spring　a　grisly
came　out　of　its　den；　and　he　found　its　tracks　in　many　places；　as　it
roamed　restlessly　about；　evidently　very　hungry。　Finding　little　to　eat
in　the　bleak；　snow…drifted　woods；　it　soon　began　to　depredate　on　the
moose；　and　killed　two　or　three；　generally　by　lying　in　wait　and　dashing
out　on　them　as　they　passed　near　its　lurking…place。　Even　the　bulls　were
at　that　season　weak；　and　of　course　hornless；　with　small　desire　to
fight；　and　in　each　case　the　rush　of　the　great　beardoubtless　made
with　the　ferocity　and　speed　which　so　often　belie　the　seeming
awkwardness　of　the　animalbore　down　the　startled　victim；　taken
utterly　unawares　before　it　had　a　chance　to　defend　itself。　In　one　case
the　bear　had　missed　its　spring；　the　moose　going　off；　for　a　few　rods；
with　huge　jumps；　and　then　settling　down　into　its　characteristic　trot。
The　old　hunter　who　followed　the　tracks　said　he　would　never　have　deemed
it　possible　for　any　animal　to　make　such　strides　while　in　a　trot。

Nevertheless；　the　grisly　is　only　occasionally；　not　normally；　a
formidable　predatory　beast；　a　killer　of　cattle　and　of　large　game。
Although　capable　of　far　swifter　movement　than　is　promised　by　his　frame
of　seemingly　clumsy　strength；　and　in　spite　of　his　power　of　charging
with　astonishing　suddenness　and　speed；　he　yet　lacks　altogether　the
supple　agility　of　such　finished　destroyers　as　the　cougar　and　the　wolf；
and　for　the　absence　of　this　agility　no　amount　of　mere　huge　muscle　can
atone。　He　is　more　apt　to　feast　on　animals　which　have　met　their　death
by　accident；　or　which　have　been　killed　by　other　beasts　or　by　man；　than
to　do　his　own　killing。　He　is　a　very　foul　feeder；　with　a　strong　relish
for　carrion；　and　possesses　a　grewsome　and　cannibal　fondness　for　the
flesh　of　his　own　kind；　a　bear　carcass　will　toll　a　brother　bear　to　the
ambushed　hunter　better　than　almost　any　other　bait；　unless　it　is　the
carcass　of　a　horse。

Nor　do　these　big　bears　always　content　themselves　merely　with　the
carcasses　of　their　brethren。　A　black　bear　would　have　a　poor　chance　if
in　the　clutches　of　a　large；　hungry　grisly；　and　an　old　male　will　kill
and　eat　a　cub；　especially　if　he　finds　it　at　a　disadvantage。　A　rather
remarkable　instance　of　this　occurred　in　the　Yellowstone　National　Park；
in　the　spring　of　1891。　The　incident　is　related　in　the　following　letter
written　to　Mr。　William　Hallett　Phillips；　of　Washington；　by　another
friend；　Mr。　Elwood　Hofer。　Hofer　is　an　old　mountain…man；　I　have　hunted
with　him　myself；　and　know　his　statements　to　be　trustworthy。　He　was；　at
the　time；　at　work　in　the　Park　getting　animals　for　the　National　Museum
at　Washington；　and　was　staying　at　Yancey's　〃hotel〃　near　Tower　Falls；
His　letter　which　was　dated　June　21st；　1891；　runs　in　part　as　follows：

　〃I　had　a　splendid　Grizzly　or　Roachback　cub　and　was　going　to　send
　　him　into　the　Springs　next　morning　the　team　was　here。　I　heard　a
　　racket　outside；　went　out；　and　found　him　dead。　An　old　bear　that
　　made　a　9　1/2　inch　track　had　killed　and　partly　eaten　him。　Last
　　night　another　one　came；　one　that　made　a　8　1/2　inch　track；　and
　　broke　Yancy　up　in　the　milk　business。　You　know　how　the　cabins　stand
　　here。　There　is　a　hitching　post　between　the　saloon　and　old　house；
　　the　little　bear　was　killed　there。　In　a　creek　close　by　was　a　milk
　　house；　last　night　another　bear　came　there　and　smashed　the　whole
　　thing　up；　leaving　nothing　but　a　few　flattened　buckets　and　pans　and
　　boards。　I　was　sleeping　in　the　old　cabin；　I　heard　the　tin　ware
　　rattle　but　thought　it　was　all　right；　supposed　it　was　cows　or
　　horses　about。　I　don't　care　about　the　milk　but　the　damn　cuss　dug　up
　　the　remains　of　the　cub　I　had　buried　in　the　old　ditch；　he　visited
　　the　old　meat　house　but　found　nothing。　Bear　are　very　thick　in　this
　　part　of　the　Park；　and　are　getting　very　fresh。　I　sent　in　the　game
　　to　Capt。　Anderson；　hear　its　doing　well。〃

Grislies　are　fond　of　fish；　and　on　the　Pacific　slope；　where　the　salmon
run；　they；　like　so　many　other　beasts；　travel　many　scores　of　miles　and
crowd　down　to　the　rivers　to　gorge　themselves　upon　the　fish　which　are
thrown　up　on　the　banks。　Wading　into　the　water　a　bear　will　knock　out
the　salmon　right　and　left　when　they　are　running　thick。

Flesh　and　fish　do　not　constitute　the　grisly's　ordinary　diet。　At　most
times　the　big　bear　is　a　grubber　in　the　ground；　an　eater　of　insects；
roots；　nuts；　and　berries。　Its　dangerous　fore…claws　are　normally　used
to　overturn　stones　and　knock　rotten　logs　to　pieces；　that　it　may　lap　up
the　small　tribes　of　darkness　which　swarm　under　the　one　and　in　the
other。　It　digs　up　the　camas　roots；　wild　onions；　and　an　occasional
luckless　woodchuck　or　gopher。　If　food　is　very　plenty　bears　are　lazy；
but　commonly　they　are　obliged　to　be　very　industrious；　it　being　no
light　task　to　gather　enough　ants；　beetles；　crickets；　tumble…bugs；
roots；　and　nuts　to　satisfy　the　cravings　of　so　huge　a　bulk。　The　sign　of
a　bear's　work　is；　of　course；　evident　to　the　most　unpracticed　eye；　and
in　no　way　can　one　get　a　better　idea　of　the　brute's　power　than　by
watching　it　busily　working　for　its　breakfast；　shattering　big　logs　and
upsetting　boulders　by　sheer　strength。　There　is　always　a　touch　of　the
comic；　as　well　as　a　touch　of　the　strong　and　terrible；　in　a　bear's　look
and　actions。　It　will　tug　and　pull；　now　with　one　paw；　now　with　two；　now
on　all　fours；　now　on　its　hind　legs；　in　the　effort　to　turn　over　a　large
log　or　stone；　and　when　it　succeeds　it　jumps　round　to　thrust　its　muzzle
into　the　damp　hollow　and　lap　up　the　affrighted　mice　or　beetles　while
they　are　still　paralyzed　by　the　sudden　exposure。

The　true　time　of　plenty　for　bears　is　the　berry　season。　Then　they　feast
ravenously　on　huckleberries；　blueberries；　kinnikinnic　berries；　buffalo
berries；　wild　plums；　elderberries；　and　scores　of　other　fruits。　They
often　smash　all　the　bushes　in　a　berry　patch；　gathering　the　fruit　with
half…luxurious；　half…laborious　greed；　sitting　on　their　haunches；　and
sweeping　the　berries　into　their　mouths　with　dexterous　paws。　So
absorbed　do　they　become　in　their　feasts　on　the　luscious　fruit　that
they　grow　reckless　of　their　safety；　and　feed　in　broad　daylight；　almost
at　midday；　while　in　some　of　the　thickets；　especially　those　of　the
mountain　haws；　they　make　so　much　noise　in　smashing　the　branches　that
it　is　a　comparatively　easy　matter　to　approach　them　unheard。　That
still…hunter　is　in　luck　who　in　the　fall　finds　an　accessible　berry…
covered　hillside　which　is　haunted　by　bears；　but；　as　a　rule；　the　berry
bushes　do　not　grow　close　enough　together　to　give　the　hunter　much
chance。

Like　most　other　wild　animals；　bears　which　have　known　the　neighborhood
of　man　are　beasts　of　the　darkness；　or　at　least　of　the　dusk　and　the
gloaming。　But　they　are　by　no　means　such　true　night…lovers　as　the　big
cats　and　the　wolves。　In　regions　where　they　know　little　of　hunters　they
roam　about　freely　in　the　daylight；　and　in　cool　weather　are　even　apt　to
take　their　noontide　slumbers　basking　in　the　sun。　Where　they　are　much
hunted　they　finally　almost　reverse　their　natural　habits　and　sleep
throughout　the　hours　of　light；　only　venturing　abroad　after　nightfall
and　before　sunrise；　but　even　yet　this　is　not　the　habit　of　those　bears
which　exist　in　the　wilder　localities　where　they　are　still　plentiful。
In　these　places　they　sleep；　or　at　least　rest；　during　the　hours　of
greatest　heat；　and　again　in　the　middle　part　of　the　night；　unless　there
is　a　full　moon。　They　start　on　their　rambles　for　food　about　mid…
afternoon；　and　end　their　morning　roaming　soon　after　the　sun　is　above
the　horizon。　If　the　moon　is　full；　however；　they　may　feed　all　night
long；　and　then　wander　but　little　in　the　daytime。

Aside　from　man；　the　full…grown　grisly　has　hardly　any　foe　to　fear。
Nevertheless；　in　the　early　spring；　when　weakened　by　the　hunger　that
succeeds　the　winter　sleep；　it　behooves　even　the　grisly；　if　he　dwells
in　the　mountain　fastnesses　of　the　far　northwest；　to　beware　of　a
famished　troop　of　great　timber　wolves。　These　northern　Rocky　Mountain
wolves　are　most　formidable　beasts；　and　when　many　of　them　band　together
in　times　of　famine　they　do　not　hesitate　to　pounce　on　the　black　bear
and　cougar；　and　even　a　full…grown　grisly　is　not　safe　from　their
attacks；　unless　he　can　back　up　against　some　rock　which　will　prevent
them　from　assailing　him　from　behind。　A　small　ranchman　whom　I　knew
well；　who　lived　near　Flathead　Lake；　once　in　April　found　where　a　troop
of　these　wolves　had　killed　a　good…sized　yearling　grisly。　Either　cougar
or　wolf　will　make　a　prey　of　a　grisly　which　is　but　a　few　months　old；
while　any　fox；　lynx；　wolverine；　or　fisher　will　seize　the　very　young
cubs。　The　old　story　about　wolves　fearing　to　feast　on　game　killed　by　a
grisly　is　all　nonsense。　Wolves　are　canny　beasts；　and　they　will　not
approach　a　carcass　if　they　think　a　bear　is　hidden　near　by　and　likely
to　rush　out　at　them；　but　under　ordinary　circumstances　they　will　feast
not　only　on　the　carcasses　of　the　grisly's　victims；　but　on　the　carcass
of　the　grisly　himself　after　he　has　been　slain　and　left　by　the　hunter。
Of　course　wolves　would　only　attack　a　grisly　if　in　the　most　desperate
straits　for　food；　as　even　a　victory　over　such　an　antagonist　must　be
purchased　with　heavy　loss　of　life；　and　a　hungry　grisly　would　devour
either　a　wolf　or　a　cougar；　or　any　one　of　the　smaller　carnivora　off…
hand　if　it　happened　to　corner　it　where　it　could　not　get　away。

The　grisly　occasionally　makes　its　den　in　a　cave　and　spends　therein　the
midday　hours。　But　this　is　rare。　Usually　it　lies　in　the　dense　shelter
of　the　most　tangled　piece　of　woods　in　the　neighborhood；　choosing　by
preference　some　bit　where　the　young　growth　is　thick　and　the　ground
strewn　with　boulders　and　fallen　logs。　Often；　especially　if　in　a
restless　mood　and　roaming　much　over　the　country；　it　mer