DISAPPEARING GAME 195 



they are and the depredation they must neces- 

 sarily commit. 



The highest estimate I received of the 

 smaller bears in northwestern Colorado was 

 two thousand, and the highest estimate of griz- 

 zlies two hundred. The next approaching it 

 was one thousand small bears and one hundred 

 grizzlies, and from the information, contained 

 in the majority of reports I should say that even 

 this could be cut down to five hundred of the 

 one and fifty of the other as a very liberal ap- 

 proximation. During 1909 Baxter captured 

 thirty-three of the smaller bears and one 

 grizzly. Considerable numbers were killed by 

 others. 



With very few exceptions hunters and ranch- 

 men with whom I discussed the question 

 throughout the West were in favor of protec- 

 tive laws for all bears. It was conceded that 

 these animals are now confined to such remote 

 localities and are so few in number that their 

 destruction of domestic stock is almost nil. Even 

 the grizzly has become harmless, and the 

 smaller bears never were a destructive factor. 



Bears breed so slowly that, unless steps are 

 soon taken to protect them, the day of their ex- 

 termination is close at hand. It may be claimed 

 by the materialists that any plea for the bear is 



