(•(10 JOl-RXAL (V,' !'()Ri:ST!n- 



three or four exceptions all dams within the stretch are still inhahitecl. 

 This would indicate that the trapping within the Forest has been suffi- 

 ciently conservative : and if desired, the stream could be safely trapped 

 again next spring without reducing the stock below normal ; that is to 

 say. probably not more than the normal annual increase for the stream 

 has been trapped. It is planned to make further observations of the 

 results next summer, and to defer recommendations for further trap- 

 ping on this stream for the present. It is planned, if the State can 

 be induced to send one, or preferably two trappers, next spring to 

 undertake similar work on two other creeks, both of which are heavily 

 stocked and along which some damage to ranches is occurring. 



It might be added further that the estimate of the number of beaver 

 in Cochetopa Creek and tributaries was 1,200 head, and that the appar- 

 ently small reduction in numbers following last spring's trapping would 

 indicate thai this estimate is conservative. It is more likely under 

 rather than over the actual number. It might also be added, that 

 twenty beavers were trapped from this same locality on the stream 

 under permits to local ranchers, the fall previous to the State trapper 

 undertaking the work, making the total number trapped from the 

 stream during the past year 152. 



The State trapper failed to take any of the beavers alive for plant- 

 ing, so a permit was issued by the State to the forest officers to do the 

 live trapping. 



It was planned to use the woven-wire-corral method of trapping the 

 beavers, but owing to the lateness of the season and probable length 

 of time it would take to get them in this way, the ordinary steel trap 

 was resorted to and they were visited at short intervals so that any 

 animals caught would not injure themselves. It is realized that this 

 was a very crude way to do the work, and might result in considerable 

 injury to the specimens taken. Fortunately this was not the case with 

 the two trapped, and both of them were removed from the traps with- 

 out suffering severe injury or being crippled. 



An ordinary l)ox was made 2 feet by 2 feet by M feet, with sliding 

 door for transporting the animals. One-quarter inch cracks were left 

 l;etween the boards in making the box to allow for air. It was lined 

 with chicken wire to prevent them from gnawing, and both were placed 

 in the same box. They made no attempt to gnaw out and caused very 

 little disturbance while in the box. being comparatively docile after 

 being once captured. One was inclined to fight while being removed 



