REPORT OF THE FORESTER. 181 



their other duties will permit. The predatory animals killed by forest 

 oflicers totaled 3,027, as against 4,455 the previous year. 



CLEARING RANGE OF RODENTS. 



The Bureau of Biological Survey has continued to treat areas 

 infested with prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and other range-destroy- 

 ing rodents with excellent results. The National Forest acreage in- 

 fested with these animals is being decreased rapidly. With the pros- 

 ecution of the work which the Bureau of Biological Survey is con- 

 ducting on the public domain in the vicinity of the Forests, danger of 

 reinfestation of the Forest ranges will be greatly lessened. 



GAME PRESERVATION. 



In last year's report the disadvantages of the present dual juris- 

 diction of the States and the Nation in the care of the wild life on 

 the National Forests were discussed. Cooperation of the Forest 

 Service and the State authorities in the enforcement of the State 

 game laws is bringing steady improvement in the observance of these 

 laws; but in the making of laws there is no coordination of policies 

 either among the States or between the individual States and the 

 Federal Government. As a rule each State passes its game laws 

 without regard to the effect upon adjoining States or upon National 

 Forest administration. Game preserves are often established which 

 embrace large areas of National Forest lands, entirely without refer- 

 ence to the close relation between live-stock grazing and game propa- 

 gation and the necessity for adjusting each to the other. Last year 

 32 new game preserves were established in National Forests in the 

 West. Of these 16 were established in California on recommenda- 

 tions made by the State game officials after consulting with repre- 

 sentatives of the Forest Service ; but this was an exceptional course. 

 It would be vastly better if the same course were followed gener- 

 ally before game laws are enacted. 



Many areas in the Forests though not at present stocked with 

 game are suitable for its propagation and should be used in this 

 way. The Forest Service and the Bureau of Biological Survey have 

 made many transplants of game, particularly elk. Several of the 

 States have also taken up the work to some extent. The closest co- 

 operation between the Federal and State Governments is important 

 to avoid placing game upon areas not suitable for it or where it will 

 conflict with interests that should have preference. The Chamber- 

 lain-Hayden bill, which failed of passage in the last Congress, pro- 

 vided for working out a general cooperative plan with the States. 

 It contemplated the establishment of many small game sanctuaries 

 instead of the lar^e game preserves which the States usually create. 

 Some form of legislation, either Federal or State, which will insure 

 a correlation of action in creating game preserves and handling the 

 game animals on National Forests seems desirable, if not absolutely 

 necessary. The voluntary action of North Carolina and Tennessee 

 establishes a method by which these results may be obtained. Action 

 along similar lines by other States would solve the whole problem. 



