CHAPTRNR UX: 
BrAvers AS WEATHER PROPHETS. 
F all the different animals accredited as weather 
prognosticators, beavers undoubtedly take first 
rank. People familiar with the ways of these animals 
and at all studious as to their work and sign, find the 
future autumn and winter weather so correctly forecasted 
that a family of beaver located near stock ranches is a 
highly prized acquisition to the intelligent stock raiser 
and to them must be given the credit for the existing 
‘‘beaver laws’’ now in force in the two Dakotas and 
Montana. 
While the writer had frequently heard trappers and 
weather wise Indians make mention of the beavers gifts 
as weather forecastors, it was not until the autumn of 
1869, that I first had practical knowledge of these ani- 
mals prophetic wisdom. Onthe 13th of October of 
that year a severe freezing spell covered the entire north- 
western country along the Upper Missouri and eastern 
base of the Rocky mountains. About this time I was 
with a party of frontiersmen traveling by team between 
Grand River Indian agency and the Painted Woods. 
The cold snap came on us while encamped on Beaver 
Creek, and on the evening of the next day we crossed 
our team over Apple Creek on solid ice. The Missouri 
