White-tailed deer mother and fawn, Yellowstone National Park 



The Hoofed Animals of the Yellowstone' 



STORIES OF THE WHITE-TAILED AND MULE DEER, BUFFALO, MOOSE, 



ELK, MOUNTAIN SHEEP AND .\NTELOPE AS THEY THRIVE UNDER 



THE PROTECTION OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE 



Bv M. P. SKINNER 



THE buffalo of the Yellowstone are 

 di\icled into two herds known as 

 the "tame herd" and the "wild 

 herd." The tame herd had its nucleus 

 in twenty-one bulls anfl cows purchased 

 in 1902 from the Allard herd of Mon- 

 tana and the Goodnight herd of Texas. 

 While three more animals were caught 

 within the park and added, still the 

 present herd of one hundred and eighty- 

 five adults, and forty-nine caK'es born 

 in 1915, is the original herd and its in- 

 crease. This herd is maintained in the 

 upper Lamar Valle}- where it is permitted 

 to graze in care of a herder until the 



1 Illustrations from photographs by the Author, 

 made during a residence of twenty years in the region. 



forage becomes short in late December 

 or early January; it is then dri\'en into 

 an enclosed pasture and fed on hay until 

 the new grass makes its appearance. 

 Fifteen bulls are driven down to ]Mam- 

 moth Hot Springs for the pul)lic to see 

 during the season. ^Yhile this is a 

 " tame" herd it is just as well not to take 

 too many liberties with it. Three of the 

 soldiers from Fort Yellowstone with an 

 investigating turn of mind became curi- 

 ous as to the reason for the " Dangerous" 

 signs, opened the pasture gate and went 

 in on foot. Some hours later the buffalo 

 keeper found them enjoying the scenery 

 from a pine top with an angry buft'alo 

 pawing the ground underneath. 



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