MAMMALS, 



33 



west slope of the park there are a few elk along the Middle Fork 

 of the Flathead Eiver from Little St. Mary Creek southward, where 

 they occupy the high valleys and ridges during suuuner and the lower 

 warm slopes in Avinter. In the spring of 1918 about 500 were reported 

 as having wintered on the slopes of Double and Rampage Mountains 

 and in Park Creek valley. The main elk range of this region, how- 

 ever, lies south of the park along Big River and the South Fork of 

 the Flathead River, and some of these animals undoubtedly wander 

 through the park at times. The southern and eastern part of Glacier 

 Park contains much ideal elk range, and if suitable wintering grounds 

 could be provided where the animals would be safe from molestation 

 their numbers would undoubtedly increase until the country would 

 become well stocked. 



Fio. 



-A flve-poin'c bull oik in early winter. 



Mtjle Deer: Odocoileus heviionus heviionus (Rafinesque). — The 

 Rocky Mountain mule deer are readily distinguished at all ages from 

 the smaller white-tail deer b}^ their very large ears, small, white tail 

 with black tip, and conspicuous white rump patch, and the old 

 bucks by their forked antlers. They generally average considerably 

 larger than the white-tails, but size is not a safe distinguishing char- 

 acter. It is important to distinguish them, for a few of each are 

 found on both slopes, although the mule deer keep for the most part 

 to the east and the white-tails to the west slope, and both range into 

 the high mountains in summer, when they ma}^ be found close to- 

 gether. In July, 1917, mule deer were seen at the lower and upper 

 ends of St. Mary Lake, at ISIcDerinott Lake, and along the Swift- 



