Trailing 79 



trailing is not as interesting as it is to follow the trail direct, 

 but it is much safer and more likely to crown the hunter's 

 efforts with success. 



In following one of these trails one will find, every 

 little while, where the bear has made a circuit to the side 

 and rear, so as to get to windward of his own back trail, 

 and so assure himself that no danger follows on his track. 



The bear is wary and he often will make a detour of a 

 mile or more, and will stand quietly for some time until 

 satisfied that there is nothing of a suspicious nature 

 within reasonable distance of him. Then, if it is autumn 

 and in the mountains, he will resume his hunt for gophers 

 and marmots. 



The grizzly usually goes into winter quarters among 

 the rocks, at a much higher altitude than does the black 

 bear, and as hibernating rodents are the only food he can 

 find along the high peaks and ridges, he devotes much 

 time, at this season of the year, to digging them out and 

 devouring them. Throughout the Bitter Root Mountains, 

 and in the Selkirks of British Columbia, the last food that 

 the grizzly obtains before denning up are the hoary or 

 whistling marmots, and the little animals commonly 

 called gophers, but which, properly speaking, are Co- 

 lumbian ground squirrels. These latter inhabit not only 

 all parts of these mountains, from the highest and most 

 rocky peaks to the lowest valleys, but are also a great pest 

 to the farmer. One of them is about as large as an Eastern 

 gray squirrel, but they are slightly different in shape, be- 

 ing less long and slim, and in fact more like woodchucks 

 ■ — short-legged and very plump and heavy of body. The 

 hoary or whistling marmot is much larger than the 



