FACTORS AFFECTING TFIE DISTRIBUTION OF GAME 



ANIMALS IN MAINE. 



Thomas A. James. 



"Are our wild animals disappearing?" is a question often asked. 

 The question is generally answered oifhand, negative or affirmative, 

 according to conditions as they appear at that time and place. Gen- 

 erally speaking, it is safe to say that our wild animals in Maine are 

 not as numerous as they were a century ago, but conditions concern- 

 ing the existence of all wild life has materially changed, even during 

 the past fifty years, so that we must view the situation from different 

 angles as years roll by. In Maine a century ago we read that our 

 forests were filled with moose and deer, and our lakes, ponds and 

 streams with waterfowl and fish ; yet we also read of suffering and 

 starvation among the early settlers, which may lead us to believe 

 that at certain times and places food animals were as scarce as they 

 are today. One thing is certain, man was not so well equipped as he is 

 today with means for securing his food supply. But to oft'set that 

 handicap to some extent, there were no laws to prevent him from 

 taking a supply at any time and by any method that suited his fancy. 



During the early part of the 18th Century the human race was so 

 sparsely settled through the northern part of the State as to have 

 small effect on the wild life, so that the game and food animals were 

 kept in check by another factor, namely, the carnivorous fur-bearing 

 animals. Among the worst enemies of game were the wolf, fisher, 

 lynx, bear and fox. But when the human race began to settle in 

 our forests, and towns and villages sprang into existence, we find 

 that the fur-bearers suft'ered most, as the outside world was in need 

 of furs, and the settler needed only enough food animals for himself 

 and family. Therefore, for a time, the game showed an increase. 

 Later, as transportation facilities improved, the villages and towns 

 became cities and the call of the wild brought the city dweller to 

 the forest for recreation and a winter supply of food ; and in a few 

 years the game supply in the most accessible forests began to show 

 a decrease, so that in 1880 laws were enacted restricting the killing 

 of game animals. 



Another important factor concerning the life of our game animals 

 was the lumbering operations. Many people think that cutting the 

 virgin forests deprived the deer, moose and caribou of their food, 

 thereby causing them to migrate to other localities. While this may 

 be the case in some instances, I think more often the effect of losing 



