THE NATIONAL FORESTS OF CALIFORNIA 



19 



WILD LIFE 



A national forest resource which never fails to attract and in- 

 terest visitors is the wild life of the mountain regions. Game ani- 

 mals, game birds, and fish here find their natural home and offer 

 many and varied subjects of sport and study for the hunter, fisher- 

 man, and photographer. 



All the species of large game found in California have at least 

 a part of their habitat in the national forests. A recent census by 

 Forest Service officers shows that in these forests there are more 

 than 225,000 deer, 10,000 bear, 1,000 mountain sheep, 400 antelope, 

 and 150 elk. The number of predatory animals is estimated to be: 

 Coyote, 50,000; lynx and wildcat, 22,000 ; mountain lion, 2,000. 



Throughout the national forests are areas of varying size which 

 are the feeding and breeding grounds of game animals and birds. 

 In these regions one Federal and 31 State game refuges have been 



THE EVENING CAMP EIRE 



There is something about the snap of blazing pine logs and the tang of fir smoke that 

 seems to fascinate the summer vacationist 



established in which no hunting is permitted and where game can, 

 unmolested, multiply and with the overflow stock the surrounding 

 country. 



The more important species of fur-bearing animals in the fores* 

 are fox, marten, mink, skunk, and badger; other species are ermine, 

 fisher, raccoon, and otter. 



In the thousands of streams and lakes of the Sierra Nevada. Coast 

 Range, and mountains of southern California, are trout and other 

 species of game fish. These waters are kept well stocked by the 

 State in cooperation with Federal authorities and with associations 

 and private individuals, and offer keen sport to the angler. 



Fishing and hunting are permitted in the national forests, subject 

 to the provisions of the State fish and game laws. 



The mountains are the natural home of wild life, and in the 

 forest and the open glades and brush fields game animals and 



