400 Field Museum or Natural History — Zoology, Vol. XL 



the animals in question. Others, who do not hunt themselves, were 

 kind enough to secure the desired information from hunters and trap- 

 pers in their vicinity. In a number of cases my correspondents claim 

 that Bears are more plentiful than formerly, as, for example, to cite one 

 of many, Mr. W. J. Webster, Superintendent of Schools, Park Falls, 

 Price Co., under date of January 13, 19 10, writes, ''Several Bears 

 have been killed here; they are more numerous the past few years." 



I am reliably informed that Bears were killed in the following 

 counties in Wisconsin during the years 1908, 1909, 19 10: Florence Co. 

 (J. E. Parry, Florence); Marinette Co. (J. Stovekere, Jr., Pembine; 

 L. Johnson, Beaver; G. A. Williams, Kremlin); Oneida Co. (J. Dapres, 

 Hazelhurst); Marathon Co. (G. F. Erzwein, Athens); Oconto Co. 

 (E. Phenney, Oconto Falls); Buffalo Co. (J. Bream, Cream; E. F. 

 Ganz, Alma); Vilas Co. (N. L. Kinney, Eagle River); Taylor Co. 

 (J. Hobbs, and C. W. Benn, Medford); Price Co. (W. J. Webster, Park 

 Falls; F. J. Suiter, Prentice) ; Bayfield Co. (H. Feltz, Bayfield; M. Berg, 

 Cable; E. J. Carter, Drummond; B. P. Hill, Bayfield); Burnett Co. 

 (''There are four or five Bears killed here every year" — O. Erickson, 

 Grantsburg; L. Larson, Oakland); Rusk Co. (F. E. Munroe, Lady- 

 smith); Douglas Co. (D. Famham, Manley; N. Lucins, Jr., Solon 

 Springs; G. W. Zeon, Foxboro); Iron Co. (J. Ball, Sandrock; J. Miller, 

 Cedar) . 



To the above I may add the following records which I find in my 

 note book for 1907: Male killed Sept. 14, 1906, Hazelhurst, Oneida Co. 

 (J. Dapres). Bear killed June, 1906, near Pembine, Marinette Co. 

 (J. Stovekere). Bear killed December 22, 1906, Oconto Falls, Oconto 

 Co. (E. Phenney). Two Bears killed October, 1906, Eagle River, 

 Vilas Co. (N. L. Kinney). Bear killed October 5, 1906, Medford, 

 Taylor Co. (J. Hobbs). "Several Bears killed in this vicinity in 1906; 

 one killed February 14, 1907," Bayfield, Bayfield Co. (H. Feltz). "A 

 Bear was killed in this county in the summer of 1906." (C. E. Brown, 

 Hamilton, Fond du Lac Co.). In the winter of 1909 two Bears were 

 offered for sale in a Chicago market, one of which I was informed 

 came from Washburn County and the other was said to have been 

 killed in Polk County. 



The above records show that at the present time Black Bears are 

 pretty well distributed throughout the northern half of Wisconsin; 

 the one reported killed in Fond du Lac County may have been a strag- 

 gler, or originally a tame animal. 



The Black Bear is naturally an inhabitant of the forest, although 

 in his wanderings he may often be found in open valleys and hills, es- 

 pecially in the berry season. He is one of the most omnivorous of our 



