Even the bear, not relishing long tramps through 

 the snow for food which is scarce at this time of the 

 year, makes an excavation under a tree stump, scrapes 

 in some leaves for bedding and crawls in. There it 

 sleeps, ever so lightly, through the severest parts of the 

 winter, venturing forth occasionally on mild days. It 

 is interesting to note that bears mate before the hiber- 

 nating season and the young are born while the mother 

 rests after a strenuous summer. 



Some other forms breed during the winter months 

 and others, which remain concealed during the winter, 

 are probably engaged in activities of which we know 

 nothing. Hibernation is still a fertile held for some 

 interesting study. 



The Conservation of Wild Life 

 Many animals that formerly inhabited sections of 

 Pennsylvania within recent times, have passed from 

 the fauna. Among these may be listed the cougar or 

 mountain lion, wolf, elk, and probably, the marten. 

 Even the beaver became so scarce that it was thought 

 its days were numbered. While the beaver is still 

 rather limited in numbers, protective laws have en- 

 abled it to recover some what and present indications 

 are that it is staging a successful comeback. 



Many years ago, game of many kinds was abun- 

 dant in the state. Indrscriminate killing soon gave evi- 

 dence that within a short time, little in the way of 

 sport, could be hoped for. With the vanishing of wild 

 life came the realization that something had to be done 

 to prevent extermination of many forms. Consequently, 

 Game laws regulating the killing of certain animals. 



-^ 39 ><5^- 



