1 88 Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



ponds, dams, lodges and all stages of felled trees and stumps, but 

 even the beavers themselves swimming about in the water, crawling 

 over the dams, cutting aspen branches, and busily and audibly eating 

 the bark. If one is careful, by refraining from making quick move- 

 ments and unusual sounds, so as not to disturb the animals, the 

 opportunities for observation are excellent. Indeed, there are few 

 places in America, even in remote regions, where such opportunities 

 are equalled. 



The park visitors asked me many questions regarding the beaver, 

 and the following account answers some of these questions of general 

 interest about them as well as summarizes the results of my own 

 studies conducted in the vicinity of this Camp and at Yanceys, where 

 in 1897 and again in 19 12, Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton conducted 

 observations which were published in his books " Wild Animals at 

 Home " and " Life Histories of Northern Animals.'' 



The region is a very favorable one for beavers and contains several 

 colonies of special interest. Each of the colonies was surveyed and 

 mapped, to show the relation of the various ponds to one another. 

 The dams were measured, and notes taken as to their construction ; 

 and as far as possible the lodges were studied, although most of 

 them were inaccessible, and I did not feel justified in breaking into 

 any of those which I could reach. I measured many stumps to find 

 their height ; many more were examined to see on which side they 

 had been cut ; and notes were taken as to the direction in which a 

 tree had fallen, with reference to the deepest cut. Evenings were 

 spent in watching the animals themselves and gleaning what informa- 

 tion I could as to their ways. In short, an attempt was made to 

 secure as much information as possible concerning the life history 

 of the animals. 



In my work about Camp Roosevelt during the summer of 192 1 I 

 examined no less than eight areas of beaver ponds and dams, as 

 follows : 



( 1 ) Beside the Cooke City road, near the Yellowstone River bridge ; 



(2) South Fork of Elk Creek, from the Petrified Tree to Yanceys; 



(3) North Fork of Elk Creek, and bench between the forks, west 



of Yanceys; 



(4) Near Crescent Hill ; 



(5) Along Tower Creek, about two miles above Tower Fall; 



(6) Lost Creek, above the Fall ; 



(7) Lost Lake, on the plateau above Camp Roosevelt; 



(8) The Yancey Meadows. 



