BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 291 



at any one time to the refuge to be fed in the spring of 1919 v>as 

 3,000, as compared with a maximum of 10,000 lor 1918. During 23 

 days of March (atlrto 27th) IGl tons were fed to the elk, leaving a 

 good supply on hand to supplement the harvest of this year. Some 

 hay also was furnished by the State of Wyoming, and 25 tons of oat 

 straw were fed to the elk. 



No deaths from starvation were reported. A shortage of feed 

 seems imminent for the coming winter, however, by reason of a 

 severe drought. The drought has had the effect also of concentrating 

 the ground squirrels around the irrigated areas, and as a result it has 

 been possible to poison large numbers of them and thereby decrease 

 their destruction of forage. 



During the year somewhat more than 4 miles of ncAv fencing was 

 completed. The feeding corral built last year operated successfully 

 and permitted segregating the young and weaker elk, thus protecting 

 them from the main herd until they were fit to join it. Two cow 

 moose visited the refuge on April 2. 



The necessity for increased and definiteh^ provided pasturage is 

 immediate and imperative in order to deal justly Avith the settlers 

 and to safeguard the existence of the elk. The precarious conditions 

 surrounding the only two remaining large elk herds in the United 

 States and a program for their conservation and for the action 

 necessary to make them of the greatest value to the people are set 

 forth in a department circular (No. 51), Our National Elk Herds, 

 published in June in cooperation Avith the Forest Service. 



National Bisox Range, Moiese (near Dixon), Mont. — The in- 

 closed area of this reservation totals 18,521 acres. It is stocked with 

 the folloAA'ing: Bison, 290 head (including 48 calves); elk, 125 (not 

 including young; antelope 33 (not including young) ; and mule deer, 

 13 (not including young). Of the bison, one crippled bull died, and 

 one young calf Avas killed by an accident. 



Seriou:^ forest fires threatened the range in August and again in 

 May. Seven hundred acres of young pines and spruces were de- 

 stroyed, but the fires were checked through the cooperation of the 

 Indian and the Reclamation Services. Several incipient blazes Avere 

 handled by the Avarden and assistants AA-ithout serious loss. 



ReceiA'ing basins 10 feet to 30 feet in diameter have been scooped 

 out for conserving the water from the springs and making it accessi- 

 hh (o the animals. 



When the antelope "banded up" in the autumn the count dis- 

 closed but 32 as compared Avith 34 last year, probably the result of 

 unlawful poaching in a remote part of the range. One doe was 

 added by gift of the Oregon Game Commission. 



Wind Cave National Ga:me Preserve, S. Dak. — In the 4,100 

 acres inclosed on this reservation, the bio-game animals number as 

 foUoAVs: Bison, 52 (including 12 calA'cs-) ; elk, 85 (not including 

 cah-es) ; and antelope, 21 (including 7 young). 



Thirteen coyotes (tAvo of Avhicli were inside the inclosure) and 

 scAcn bobcats have been killed this year. The scanty Avater suppl}^ 

 has been increased by the development of the Ottman well. 



SuLLYS Hill Game Preserve, N. Dak. — About TOO acres of this 

 reservation are now inclosed and contain the folloAving: Bison, ncAviy 



