THE WILD LIFE OF LAKE SUPERIOR 



10. 



Photograph by George Shiras, 3d 



view of author's camp from the swimming pool: whitefish river 



The pictures of deer and other animals in the garden were taken between the two upper 

 buildings shown on either extreme, while the beaver, muskrats, mink, and raccoons, as well 

 as some deer, entered by the river front (see pages 18S-193). 



could be dragged readily, I returned to 

 the camp for one. Taking up the hunt 

 again, I soon noticed a large wolf lying 

 on the ground with its head between its 

 paws, almost as if asleep. On approach- 

 ing the animal it was found to be dead, 

 its body still warm. 



It had probably been held fast by the 

 clog when it heard the shot fired at the 

 ducks, which accounted for the bloody 

 alders, as the animal frantically renewed 

 its efforts to escape. On reaching the 

 hilltop the accumulating terror of its 

 position undoubtedly resulted in death. 



THIS WOLF COLLAPSED WHILE BEING 

 PHOTOGRAPHED 



That this instance is not exceptional 

 was proved three years later in the same 

 locality, where a wolf was trapped one 

 night and again it howled. On the fol- 

 lowing morning, with rifle and camera, I 

 visited the spot. The trap was missing, 

 but the animal had not gone more than 

 twenty yards when the log attached to 

 the chain caught, and as I approached, 

 the wolf raised itself to a sitting position. 

 While I was clearing away the thick 

 alders for a picture, it sank to the ground, 

 with every appearance of complete ex- 

 haustion, and only by a severe prodding 

 would it arise. 



On the first snap of the camera, the 

 animal collapsed, refusing to stir again. 

 I certainly never expected to be sorry 

 over the plight of such a marauder ; but 

 its bloodshot eyes, protruding tongue, the 

 entire lack of resistance, and the dreadful 

 sight of the broken skin clustered white 

 with the eggs of the blue bottlefly would 

 have appealed to the sympathy of its most 

 relentless enemy ; so a shot hastened the 

 end. 



From its condition it was plain that the 

 animal was in the throes of death, due 

 not to any injury, but to an overpowering 

 mental strain, producing a complete phys- 

 ical collapse, and that, too, of an animal 

 weighing eighty pounds and in the best 

 of physical condition. 



RESOURCEFULNESS OF THE TIMBER-WOLF 



An illustration of the elusiveness and 

 endurance of the timber-wolf occurred 

 when one was found on Grand Island, 

 in the fall of 1896. The first snow 

 showed its presence, besides disclosing a 

 large number of deer carcasses, including 

 several of the imported black-tails. 



Thereupon a large number of traps and 

 poisoned bait were set out, but without 

 result. 



Then, to insure its destruction, a dozen 

 of the best shots in the vicinity were em- 



