RARE VISITORS.

Wolverine have been recorded in the park but very seldom. For many years none have been seen until late this summer when Government Hunter Stoner found one in Sunset Park, on the west side. After seeing what it was that his dog had treed the hunter left his quarry up the tree and went in search of more desireable game.

It is likely that this is one of very few Wolverines that have faced a hunter with a gun and dog and escaped unmolested. The Wolverine is the arch villain of the animal kingdom. He is the "black sheep" of the family that includes the weasels, skunks, and minks. With such a vile reputation and valuable coat few hunters pass him up. To the Indians of Washington he is known as "Mountain Devil". In Wyoming they call him "Skunk Bear". He has been described as a cross between a badger, a skunk and a bear, with the visage of a bulldog and the temper of a buzz saw. Fortunately the Wolverine is very rare in settled countries. A few are found in the northern Rockys and Cascades, and a few more in the far-north of Canada and Alaska. The Esquimos value the long rich-brown fur of the Wolverine above all others for trim about the hoods of their parkas, as Wolverine fur does not collect moisture from the breath and freeze as other furs do. In Alaska the writer paid $2.50 for one short, narrow strip of Wolverine fur for this purpose.

This black reputation of his has grown from his habits of raiding hunters, cabins, food caches, and trap lines. What he does not destroy he soils or mutilates so that it is of no use afterwards. Fortunately for him this Wolverine was in a National Park.