Few people really know the habits of our wild animals. Even though we may live where animals abound for years there are many features concerning them that escape our notice unless we observe and study them for these peculiarities.

At the White River Entrance of the Park I have been feeding four martens all winter and, naturally, they are a source of considerable entertainment and pleasure. They are a carnivorous animal and birds form at least a portion of their bill of fare. Yet, strangely, there usually are quite a few birds feeding from the same food which is thrown out for the martens. Mice are a choice morsel for them which is evidenced by the scarcity of mice in my cabin.

But to return to the first paragraph: Last winter a friend of mine visited the cabin. It wasn't long before one of the martens, playing about in the snow, caught his eye. He called to me in a whisper, "Come here quick!" But I remarked that it was just one of the martens that were about as "pets" and mousers. Just then the little fellow seemed to realize that he was the topic of discussion and scampered up a tree. My friend, both entertained and surprised, exclaimed, "And up a tree!"

He had lived in the woods at least five years, knew the marten, but somehow the fact that they were climbers had never before come to his attention.

Oscar Sedergren, Dist. Ranger
White River District