WILD LIFE NOTES
HOLD-UP BEAR BACK AT OLD STAND
With the resumption of stage travel over the recently opened Paradise
road the little brown bear who last season furnished thrills to several
hundred people by "stopping" the big red Park Company cars and demanding
food of the driver and passengers, is back doing business as usual. Her
stand - for this happens to be a lady bandit - is at a point on the road
about two miles above Longmire Springs, and her method is to wait
patiently at the side of the road until a stage comes in sight, then to
stroll leisurely across its path. This means has proven highly
successful. No car has ever hit her - therefore none ever will and
always among so many people there is someone who has some desirable
article of food at hand. Last season she grew slick and fat on such
hand-outs and apparently she found comfortable winter quarters for this
spring she is still in good shape and has not forgotten that many people
carry good things to eat in their pockets.
WILD DUCKS NEST IN PARK
Recently a family of red-breasted mergansers (Merganser serrator)
were noted on the turbulent Nisqually near the Park Entrance. The
little ones were only a week or so old and must have been hatched in the
Park. In spite of their youth the little bits of down seemed quite at
home in the swift water.
WEASEL ATTACKED SNOWSHOE RABBITS
Recently the Naturalist heard an agonized squeal in some shrubbery
near his home. Rushing out he found a half grown snowshoe rabbit
struggling vainly in the grip of a large weasel. The weasel had the
rabbet by the back of the neck at a point just behind the ears. When
the little yellow demon was dispatched the rabbit lay still for some
time, then hopped slowly away.