ANIMAL LIFE IN OKLAHOMA. 9 



FLESH-EATING ANIMALS. 

 ROCKY MOUNTAIN LIONS. 



The larger flesh-eating animals were never numerous here, but there 

 were enough during the time of early settlement to cause considerable 

 damage to stock and to instill a constant fear in the lonely traveler. The 

 Eocky Mountain lion was known in this State as late as 1900, and it is 

 possible that a few stragglers are yet in some of the mountain districts, 

 but they are difficult to find and are not often seen. One came as far 

 east as Grant County in 1895. This animal followed Pond Creek with 

 its sheltering timber, and left the protection of the woods at Jefferson 

 long enough to spring into a man's yard and devour a pig. A few 

 nights after the occurrence just narrated, a farmer living west of Jeffer- 

 son was annoyed by the low, frightened growl of the family dog. When 

 the door was opened the dog shot out into the darkness! and a sharp 

 yelp was heard. The next morning the hind leg of this courageous but 

 imprudent dog was found about one hundred yards from the house. 

 This is the last record of the misdeeds of this Eocky Mountain lion 

 before it was finally hunted down and killed. 



BEARS. 



Bears are in many ways the most interesting animals of this State. 

 They have never been abundant and have always been restricted in 

 range to the more inaccessible timbered regions of the mountains. These 

 animals have inflicted very little damage on the stock raising interests 

 of the State, and have never been known to attack man unless driven 

 into a corner, or wounded. Bears, as is the custom of all such animals, 

 go into their dens early in December and sleep through the cold winter 

 months, and emerge with the coming of warm weather in the spring. 

 They spend much time at play when in the company of other bears, and 

 if taken when young make very amiable pets. Their thick heavy coats 

 protect them from injury even in very rough frolics, and they often 

 acquire habits of play that make it imprudent to present the bare hand 

 to even the most gentle of bruin pets. They feed on succulent roots, 

 insect larvae, honey, fish, frogs, and almost any other kind of flesh they 

 can secure. At one time it was thought that two lands of bears lived 

 in Oklahoma, but the small Black bear is probably the only specie which 

 is found here. In the early spring when it emerges from the long 

 winter's sleep, its usual coat of black has become very long and has a 

 dusky brown color that is perhaps responsible for mistaking it for the 

 so-called Brown bear. 



LOAFER WOLF. 



Wholesale destruction marks the path of the large Gray or Loafer 

 wolf throughout its range. This animal was never abundant enough 

 to extend over any considerable portion of the State, but in bands of 

 from four to eight they were able to kill deer and buffalo, and with 

 the coming of oattle and sheep they were responsible for a destruction that 



