What Is Happening to the Animals and Birds 179 



the hunters were placed under protection and no^ they are 

 slowly increasing. 



The grizzly, king of bears, was once abundant in parts 

 of the Rocky Mountains and upon the Pacific slope, but 

 now he is found only in the Yellowstone Park region. The 

 man who killed the last specimen in California is proud of 

 his great achievement. 



Of all the elk which once spread over the western part of 

 our country, only a few remain outside of the Yellowstone 

 region. A protected herd exists in the San Joaquin Valley, 

 California, and another small herd roams through the wilder 

 parts of the northern Coast Ranges. The antelope, so 

 common on the plains only a few years ago, are all gone 

 except for small, scattered herds in the more remote parts 

 of the West. 



Of the many fur-bearing animals which once inhabited 

 the Northwest, beavers were • the most widespread and 

 abundant. Their pelts were so valuable that they were 

 used as money. For many years the trapping of these little 

 animals was an important industry, until at last they were 

 practically exterminated in every stream throughout the 

 western half of the country. A few beaver are known to 

 remain in the Yellowstone Park, where they are of course 

 carefully protected. In Oregon a few escaped and have 

 been carefully protected for some years. In certain places 

 they are now quite abundant. In parts of New England 

 and Canada they are now increasing under the protection 

 of the game laws. 



The sea otter, now extremely rare, is so highly valued for 

 its fur that it soon may become extinct, although com- 

 pletely protected by law. 



