FUR CULTURE ON TIIK NATIOXAI, FORKSTS ()01 



from the trap, until released from it. The first one was placed in the 

 box directly from the trap; the second one was carried to the box in 

 an old gunny sack. It scratched around some, but did not attempt to 

 gnaw its way out. The two captured were two-year-olds. In trapping 

 the pair an extra male was caught. It was transferred to Carnero 

 Creek with the idea that we miglu later be able to get a mate for it, 

 but were unable to do so. 



The beavers were transported by automobile from the place trapped 

 on Cochetopa Creek to the upper Saguache Ranger Station, and thence 

 by wagon about 10 miles to where they were released in Houselog 

 Creek. The first beaver captured w^as in the box three days and two 

 nights before being released. He apparently suffered no injury from 

 the confinement or from the long period out of the w^ater. Both were 

 in good condition when released in Houselog Creek. 



The beavers were released just above the upper ranch on Houselog 

 Creek. The sentiment of the local ranchers and homesteaders along 

 the creek is favorable to the propagation of beaver, they feeling that 

 if the stream becomes stocked, they will benefit through the holding 

 back of the water, making more for irrigation in the late summer. 



It is, of course, too soon to predict the result of the work, but it is 

 thought that it will be successful. There is an abundance of aspen 

 along the stream for feed. Two or three weeks following the release, 

 little was seen of them, but aspen cuttings were observed at different 

 places along the creek. They apparently wandered around consid- 

 erably before settling down; but the last observations of Ranger 

 Gallegos showed that they had established themselves just above the 

 fence of the upper ranch on the creek, and had built a den in the bank. 

 They have not built a dam, but it is doubtful if this is essential, since 

 some of the beavers in this locality do not construct dams. This will 

 be discussed further on. 



When the beavers were released from the crate and turned into the 

 creek, they were apparently somewhat bewildered. One started up 

 the creek and the other down. In order to keep them together Ranger 

 Gallegos headed off the one going down the creek and started hazing 

 it back toward the other one. The empty crate was lying on the bank, 

 the beaver in passing it, evidently regarded it as a place of protection 

 and ran back into it. Ranger Gallegos then closed the sliding door, 

 and carried it up stream to the other one and released it. In the mean- 

 time the other one had worked up stream, and finding a hole in the 



