8 MAMMALS OF UTAH 



The pelts of the various species of foxes in Utah are so 

 valuable that these animals must be protected if full advan- 

 tage is to be taken of the state's resources. 



So picturesque is the grizzly bear and so rapidly is it 

 becoming extinct that a sentiment is growing in its favor. 

 It eats berries, fruits, ground squirrels, gophers, pea vines, 

 roots, cattle, deer, honey, pigs and carrion; but the author 

 endorses a movement to enact a law permitting its destruc- 

 tion only at certain seasons. It should be borne in mind 

 that the mountains are for the whole people, not for cer- 

 tain classes; and no one doubts that the presence of wild 

 animals adds greatly to the allurement of the woods. Black 

 bears, really timid and harmless, likewise merit some con- 

 sideration. 



The value of the fur of raccoons counterbalances their 

 destructiveness. On the other hand the habits of the badger, 

 which constantly preyS on ground squirrels, are so uni- 

 formly beneficial that this animal should be given the high- 

 est protection possible, with heavy penalties for its destruc- 

 tion. 



Similarly the few hens' eggs taken by skunks are more 

 than compensated by the many grasshoppers, crickets, in- 

 sects, mice, rats, ground squirrels, frogs and rabbits which 

 they destroy. 



Weasels are harmful; but martens, minks and otters 

 have such valuable furs that they should be given every 

 encouragement. 



Shrews and bats, being insect-eaters, merit the kind- 

 liest consideration, though the former are so small and 

 the latter so retiring that seldom are either disturbed. One 

 can only imagine what the mosquitoes would be if bats were 

 to fly in the daytime and the many thoughtless owners of 

 guns were permitted to wreak destruction upon them. 



So little is known about many of our mammals that an 

 unlimited field of research presents itself to the naturalist. 

 When one thinks of such topics as: tracks, speed, envir- 

 onment, migrations, numbers, food, storage, means of com- 

 munication, voice, sociability, senses, hibernation, amuse- 

 ments, mating, sanitation, training of the young, vice, 

 crime, enemies, diseases, commensalism, age, and economic 

 status, as applied to any one species, the lack of present 

 knowledge becomes at once apparent and regrettable. It is 

 only by the collation of the accurately made notes of many 

 careful observers that the complete history of our mammals 

 will ever be even approached. 



