108 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



and of probably still greater injury to game, especially deer. In the 

 excessive snows of the west slope, the cougar finds little difficulty in 

 killing a deer and, as it has a dislike for frozen meat and very seldom 

 eats more than a very small portion of a deer while it is still warm, 

 its usual practice is to kill a fresh deer for every meal. Probably 

 a deer every two days through the winter is the kill of each full-grown 

 cougar. 



Both species of wolves, the timber wolf and the 

 Wolves coyote, are found in the Rockies. The former is very 



■J rare south of the Athabaska and not abundant north 

 of it. The latter is very common everywhere. Neither seem to 

 warrant protection, while the timber wolf is undoubtedly a dangerous, 

 predatory animal and should be exterminated. 



S nuna f ^ ^^^^ brief summary of the present status of the 

 the Present Rocky Mountain big game would be as follows: 

 Situation 'pj^g mountain sheep has declined from former abund- 



ance to a condition that promises early extinction outside the game 

 preserves. Probably not over 3,500 sheep remain on the East slope. 



The elk, after being reduced to less than two score head, have 

 begun to increase and to re-establish themselves by migration from 

 British Columbia. This is due to the closed season, which must be 

 retained for a number of years and perhaps indefinitely unless other 

 provision is made. 



The mule deer is much more abundant than the sheep, but is also 

 decreasing rapidly. It will need special protection at no distant date. 



The white-tail deer is increasing slowly. It can probably continue 

 to do so if the present situation is not adversely disturbed. 



The moose is slowly decreasing and, under present conditions, will, 

 in time, disappear from the East slope. It is not an important element 

 in the mountain fauna. 



The mountain goat exists in great numbers. It is probably in- 

 creasing at the present time. Danger to the mountain goat is in 

 the future, but its rapid extermination, once it is hunted for meat, is a 

 foregone conclusion. 



The grizzly bear is rare, but probably no more so than at any 

 previous time. It is not extensively hunted, but would increase if 

 given some measure of protection. 



The black bear is fairly abundant and holding its own or only very 

 slowly decreasing. 



The cougar is rare and the timber wolf almost non-existent, whik 

 the prairie wolf is very abundant. All three are noxious animals, 

 dangerous both to domestic stock and game and should be destroyed. 



