MAMMALS. 91 



bers. They often follow the trap lines, breaking up the trap pens 

 and eating the bait without getting caught, or when caught in small 

 traps breaking the traps and so going free with an experience that 

 is valuable to them later in keeping out of other larger traps. The,y 

 travel long distances in search of any dead, sick, or crippled animal, 

 and they have the reputation of feeding even upon the porcupine. 



Their long, coarse fur, when in prime condition, makes up into 

 beautiful robes and coats and brings a high price in the fur market. 

 It is very durable and has a beauty and individuality which give it 

 a high rank. 



Northern Skunk; Mephitis hudsonica Eichardson. — The large 

 northern skunks are common in many places in the lower levels of 

 the park. They belong to the Transition Zone, but at times wander 

 slightly beyond its borders. At Many Glacier and about Lake Mc- 

 Donald they are fairty common, and tracks were seen near St. JNIary 

 Lake, and in 1895 a specimen was collected at Nyack, a little station 

 on the Great Northern Railroad between the summit of the range 

 and Belton. They are not sufficiently numerous to be troublesome, 

 and I did not detect their powerful odor at any place in the park. 

 Thej' are harmless and interesting animals, except on rare occasions 

 when they find convenient quarters under camps or cabins and on 

 being disturbed make themselves offensive. Whenever they become 

 objectionable they may easily be caught in box traps and carried 

 to a safe distance for release or be dispatched if necessary. 



Skunks make much of their food of insects, mice, and any small 

 rodents that they can dig out of the ground or capture by their 

 slow methods. They are fond also of berries or any sweet fruit and 

 find much to their taste in the garbage piles or refuse thrown out 

 from camps and hotels. In autumn they become very fat, and about 

 the time the ground begins to freeze enter their deep burrows and 

 curl up for a long winter sleep. Their fur is at its best just before 

 they enter upon or after they emerge from hibernation, and, while 

 not high-priced, it often forms an important part of the trappers' 

 catch in the low country. 



Badger: Taxidea taxus (Schreber). — Badgers are common over the 

 Plains country along the eastern border of the park, and if they 

 enter the present park boundaries at all it is only in the open areas 

 in its eastern valleys. Apparently they are entirely absent from the 

 timber or mountainous area. In 1895 I reported them as common 

 at the lower end of St. INIary Lake. Isut in 1917 could find no trace 

 of even their burrows inside of the park line. Ranger Gibb says 

 that he has never seen- them in the park. They certainly are not a 

 common animal within its borders. 



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