Wild Animals of Mt. Rainier National Park. 35 



There are a considerable number of cougar, more gen- 

 erally called mountain lions, once universally known as 

 panthers, and these, so far as the interests of man are 

 involved, are perhaps somewhat of an evil. They doubt- 

 less kill young deer, particularly in the winter, when the 

 latter are at their mjcrcy. If elk were established here, or 

 in this vicinity, care should be taken that the number of 

 the cougar be not allowed indefinitely to increase. In the 

 Olym.pics they are a source of annoyance. 



In regard to the timber-wolves nearly the same might 

 be said. Individually, they are of interest to man, as 

 creatures of great power, courage, and sagacity, and for 

 this reason one would naturally be reluctant to see them 

 exterminated. The view of a fine timber-wolf seen one 

 miorning through a rift in the fog, on the slope of a moun- 

 tain ridge, in the Olympic Reserve in 1903, was the source 

 of great satisfaction, and one of the most agreeable recol- 

 lections to the fortunate beholder. 



There are a considerable number of coyotes, and their 

 call at night, as thriUing and exhilarating a sound when 

 heard in the forest as ever greets the ear of the moun- 

 taineer, is always a keen satisfaction to one who loves 

 the wild life. The musical chorus of the coyotes at night- 

 fall and the scream of the loon are two sounds of un- 

 subdued nature to be stored away in memory among one's 

 choicest recollections, like the booming of a frozen lake at 

 night, or the ''swish" and crackle of the northern lights in 

 a winter sky. 



It is unwise to exterminate the last representatives of 

 any tribe. So long as rabbits abound the woods will be 

 wide enough for representatives of all the animal king- 

 dom in our part of the world, even if eaters of meat like 

 ourselves. The methods of nature may be trusted to a 

 very considerable extent to maintain an equilibrium. The 

 less man attempts to regulate the whole created universe, 

 the greater in the end will be the sum total of happiness 

 for him and for all concerned. 



Of other fur-bearing animals, a few beaver still sur- 



