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Tourists at Mammoth Hot Springs are certain to see the mule deer or common black-tailed deer of the Rocky 

 Mountains. This species is conservatively estimated to number twelve hundred in the park, and is rapidly increas- 

 ing. It is fed in severe winters and the park scouts keep up a war on its enemy, the panther 



incretist'd in the last few years, ami 

 shows siji'iis of extending its range 

 throughout the park. Its present center 

 of abundance especially in winter, is 

 Bunsen Peak and the immediate vicinity 

 of Mammoth Hot Springs. The flour- 

 ishing condition of this species is no 

 doubt due to its l^eing fed in severe win- 

 ters and to the war waged upon its only 

 dangerous enemy the panther — puma 

 or mountain " lion " as it is locally known. 

 The spreading of hay has brought this 

 deer al)OUt Mammoth Hot Springs in 

 large numbers, and it becomes so tame 

 that most tourists see at least a few. 

 Indeed it is al)()ut the only hoofed mam- 



02 



mal that the hurrying tourist can see 

 along the much traveled main routes. 

 Being a deer of the open, carrying its 

 head high, and having noble branching 

 antlers, it is bound to attract attention 

 whene^•er seen. During the summer 

 season a mother deer with her two, and 

 sometimes three, daintily spotted, beauti- 

 ful little fawns always wins the admira- 

 tion of even the most blase tourist. 

 At such times it is curious to note that 

 the little fellows exhibit their natural 

 timidity; often the faw^ns will glance 

 up at their mother as if to make sure 

 that she sees the strange creatures in 

 front. Manv are the stories of the deer's 



