1040 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



average that number in the spring of the year. From various 

 reports it seems Hkely that in choicest ranges a Grizzly to a 

 square mile was quite within the bounds of probability. 



But its numbers have dwindled with its range. It is gone 

 from the open country. It is found now only in the most 

 inaccessible mountains. 



In California, the greatest of these great Bears is near 

 extinction. I spent a month in the High Sierra in 1897 looking 

 for Grizzlies and saw only two fresh tracks in all that time — 

 probably made by the same animal. In 1902, I was told by 

 Dr. James R. Walker, of Pine Ridge, S. Dak., that a few Griz- 

 zlies still lingered about the Black Hills. But I doubt their 

 existence to-day (1908). 



The range of the species is reduced to one-quarter; its 

 numbers are divided by 20. The day is even now in sight 

 when the Grizzly-bear, as a wild inhabitant of the United 

 States, will cease to exist. 



In British Columbia it holds out fairly well as yet. Not 

 many years ago W. H. Wright saw 21 there in a single spring 

 trip." 



ENVIRON- The ideal home of this animal is high rolling uplands. 



MENT 



where dry, open prairies are interspersed with rocky ridges 

 and densely wooded thickets. Here it finds food in abundance 

 as well as sunning places and shady retreats in which it can 

 wallow in mud and coolness, and defy alike the over-hot sun, 

 the bot, the gnat, and the relentless mosquito. 



Even in the days when it roved the wide plains it was 

 usually found in the bottom-lands and places that had a 

 vestige of cover rather than bold and bull-like on the level 

 open. 



sociA- Notwithstanding many accounts of Bears in droves, etc., 



the Grizzly is not a sociable or gregarious animal. The 

 groups of 5, 6, or 7 Bears recorded are doubtless accidental 

 and temporary associations of two families. 



'< Ibid. 



BILITY 



