Yellowstone Beaver 219 



Castoreum is a secretion found in two glands situated in the pubic 

 region. It has a mild odor which appears to be attractive to other 

 animals besides beaver. It is used as a bait in trapping the beavers 

 themselves, a little of it being placed in such a position that the 

 animal in coming to it is caught in the trap. It was formerly used 

 as a medicine, still has a market value, and is a regular article of 

 trade with the fur buyers under the name of " beaver castors." 



Beavers have a number of enemies which never hesitate to pounce 

 upon them whenever they get the chance. When the animal is on 

 land its awkward gait makes it a comparatively easy prey to such 

 predatory animals as mountain lions, bears, wolves, coyotes, or wol- 

 verines. Otters are also said to attack them. If that is the case, 

 otters must be dreaded foes, for they are as much at home in the 

 water as the beavers themselves. 



Value of Beaver to the Park Visitor 

 The value of the beaver to the Park visitor is something rather 

 difficult to put into words, but the creature has a real fascination for 

 the intelligent tourist. Here is an animal of most interesting habits 

 which was once to be found over the greater part of the United 

 States but has since been exterminated from large areas, yet has left 

 traces of its former presence in such place names as Beaver Brook, 

 Creek, Kill, River, Lake, Falls, Hill, Dam and Meadow. It can 

 still be found in abundance in many parts of Yellowstone Park and 

 the surrounding National Forests, affording opportunity for observ- 

 ing its habits and studying its works. Surely this is a valuable 

 privilege for all who can visit the great Park. 



It is worth while to observe in its native haunts a creature, whose 

 fur has been an object of pursuit from the earliest days of North 

 American settlement, and the search for which marked the beginning 

 of the exploration and settlement of much of our western country, 

 and which is still to be found undisturbed and free from molestation 

 by the trapper. 



Many a meadow in the thickly settled east was once a beaver pond. 

 In the Park sanctuary the visitor from those regions may see 

 meadows which only a few short years ago were ponds inhabited by 

 colonies of beavers, but which are now yielding hay for the support 

 of larger animals. Certainly an animal in which the great majority 

 of tourists are interested is of value both to them and to the Park. 

 The visitor can learn much about beaver ways without the trouble 



