BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 675 



ELK IN JACKSON HOLE. 



The work of carino; for the elk in Jackson TTole was continued 

 through the winter in cooperation with the State authorities of 

 Wyoming, and phins for the transfer of small herds to suitable 

 locations elsewhere were successfully carried out. Important data 

 were collected on the life history and distribution of the species, 

 with a view to permanently improving the conditions which have 

 prevailed in recent years. Feeding began on January 14 and con- 

 tinued until April 15. During these three months 920 tons of hay 

 were fed, of which 760 were furnished by the department and the 

 balance by the State. A greater number of elk were fed in March 

 than at any other time, owing to the unusually severe weather, and 

 during one week about 4,000 head were i^roviued with food. In all, 

 it is estimated that about 7,2.50 elk were fed during the winter. 



On February 12, the first consignment, consisting of 22 head of 

 young elk, was shipped to the Sundance National Forest near 

 Spearfish. S. Dak. During March, 10 elk were transferred to the Fish 

 Lake National Forest in Utah; 15 to the Billy Meadows, on the 

 Wallowa National Forest in Oregon; 8 to the ^Yichita Game Pre- 

 serve, Okla., in cooperation with the Forest Service; 5 to the 

 National Bison Ivange, Mont. ; and 3 to the city park at Boulder, 

 Colo. The State warden arranged for the transfer of more than 

 100 head, chiefly calves, to Jjaramie Peak, Encampment, and other 

 points in the State. The losses consequent on making these transfers 

 were comparatively small. Tlie shipment to the Billy Meadows 

 reached its destination in safety and attracted much attention all 

 along the route. 



In cooperation with the Forest Service a census was made of the 

 elk just before they left their winter feeding grounds, and it was 

 estimated that about 17,260 wintered in Jackson Hole and vicinity 

 this season. The total loss was 716, and of the survivors 1,700 were 

 calves. 



At the request of the Department a similar census was made by 

 the superintendent of the YelloAvstone National Park, and the total 

 number which wintered in tlie northern part of the park and along 

 the northern boundar}^ was found to be about 30,100. These figures 

 show that the total number of elk in Jackson Hole and the park is 

 in reality somewhat less than 50,000. 



ANTELOPE. 



The condition of antelope in the West demands serious consider- 

 ation and well-directed effort to prevent the species from becoming 

 extinct in several States in whicli it was formerly abundant. It is 

 not too much to say that the antelo]K' is in greater danger of exter- 

 mination than any other kind of American big game. The Yellow- 

 stone Park to-day contains less than half as many antelope as it did 

 four years ago, and not a single National game refuge luis thus far 

 been established in a region where antelope slill remain. Attempts to 

 stock the bison range in Montana and the AVichita preserve in Okla- 

 homa have not thus far met with much success. Twelve animals 

 were sent to each of these preserves in the winter of 1910-11. Sev- 



