160 FUR FACTS 



effectually stirs things up below and then stretches himself out at 

 ease to await results, with his front legs extended at the base of the 

 hill. 



Out rush the ants by companies, regiments and brigades; 

 mad as hornets, brave as lions, smelling like a spoiled vinegar mill, 

 and looking for trouble. They get it, almost immediately. They 

 discover the bear's furry paws and, struggling and tumbling through 

 the hair like angry and hurrying warriors in a jungle, they begin to 

 swarm over them. And as fast as they come the bear licks them up. 

 When the excitement dies down, he gives the inside of the hill another 

 poke. This results in another sortie of defenders, and when these 

 have stormed the hairy heights and been eaten for their pains, he 

 repeats the operation. A bear would eat a solid bushel of these in- 

 sects at a sitting. On the other hand, a bear will by no means despise 

 a single ant. 



Bugs, bees, ants and mice are the luxuries and desserts of the 

 black bear's diet. He is, for the most part a vegetarian, does far 

 more grazing than is ordinarily supposed, and has his real season of 

 plenty and stuffing when the berry season arrives. He is also very 

 fond of fish but here again shows himself less clever and less in- 

 dustrious than the grizzly, who is an expert fisherman. 



There is one feeding habit of the black bear that is said to be 

 universally typical. They never store up their food. The grizzlies 

 will bury the food they cannot eat for future use. They will also drag 

 away and bury or hide the carcass of any animal they have found 

 and will return to feed on it until it is all consumed. Or they will 

 carefully cover it where it lies with earth, leaves and branches to 

 prevent other animals from finding it in their absence. The black 

 bear does not look so far ahead. He will carry away a few pounds 

 of meat or bones in his mouth, but beyond that appears to take no 

 thought for the morrow. When he has satisfied his appetite on a 

 carcass he will leave it there and as he found it." 



The Importance of the Bear in the Fur Trade 



The raising of bears for profit will probably never become a pop- 

 ular industry, but there is no doubt but that it could be made profit- 

 able to anyone located in the western country with an ideal stretch 

 of ground for the purpose. Bears will become very tame as is evi- 

 denced by the fact that Yellowstone Park is full of them, and where 

 they are protected will increase very rapidly. There is a constant de- 

 mand for them by Zoological gardens, circuses, etc., and in addition to 



