A Forest Mystery Solved

A FOREST MYSTERY SOLVED boys, there's a dead deer," exclaimedcovered, and apparently very fresh, probably "LOOK,Floyd Cossitt, a graduate of the Idahomade the night before or in early morning. School of Forestry in 1924 and now technicalSome of the boys recalled then having seen assistant to the Kaniksu National Forest inthese tracks on the way in but paid little at- northern Idaho, as he was escorting the Juniorstention to them.That evening at the bunk- over an old abandoned logging road. house every effort was made to assemble the The "boys"fif teen forestry students of theinformation and develop the solution.That junior class from the Idaho School of Forestryforest tragedy was enacted in many ways but on their annual two weeks' field trip to theno one was entirely satisfied with the solution. Northern Rocky Mountain Forest Experiment Cossirr GIVES EX?LANATION Station at Priest River in northern Idaho The next day, Mr. Cossitt again escorted the stopped short and there before them lay agroup, this time on a timber marking project, dead doe.Deep gashes here and there overand promised an explanation of the death of the body were evident as if a slashing, sharpthe dead deer as soon as convenient during knife had been used to mutilate the animalthe day's routine.He stated, at the proper unto death.Blood was trickling from thetime, this explanation was obtained from an wounds and from the nostrils.Wide openold-time trapper of his acquaintance and is as eyes of the dead animal seemed to show anfollows: expression of intense pain and no little amount A mother cougar was teaching her offspring of sympathy for the deer was evident on thea cougar kittento kill deer and between face of every mother's son present.The dead the two the dead doe was the result.This ac- animal was viewed in silent bewilderment forcounts for the way the ground was trampled several minutes, each man turning over theand dug up. The deer had made a desperate same question in his mind"What could havestruggle against her two natural foes. After killed it?" the cougars had killed the doe, the kitten was Finally one of the boys placed his hand onleft at the kill and the mother cougar went the animal and exclaimed, "Why, it's still veryabout her way. warm. This deer met death not so very Tong Before the kitten had more than started to ago."Several of the Juniors then began to devour the dead deer, a male cougar, commonly examine the ground around and were ready toreferred to by woodsmen as a "torn cougar," turn detective but there was no time just then.appeared on the scene, and it seems to be the Our escort, however, promised to return thishabit of male cougars to kill cougar kittens way after our day's inspection of forest re-whenever possible.This doubtless was what search projects had been completed, but before happened here and seems to account for the our return to this place each man had suggest-lone eye and portion of jaw which were found ed and advanced any number of possible solu-near the dead deer.The male cougar had tions for this forest tragedy. taken the life of the kitten which was left at the kill by its mother. DsR FIGHTS FOR LIFE Shortly thereafter and probably a very short Once back to the dead deer the boys care-time before the Juniors came along this old fully examined the area around and were notabandoned logging road, the mother cougar long in discovering tracks of the deer's worstreturned, probably called back by the screams forest enemythe cougar.It was undoubtedlyof her offspring.Finding the male cougar sharp cat-like claws which rent the animal'shad killed the kitten she took the body of the skin like so much cloth.The ground wasdead kitten with her, and left the scene as the trampled and torn up here and there.Small boys approached. brush and vegetation were crushed and beaten to the ground showing a terrific struggle had ensued. Smaller-sized cougar tracks were also noted and right near the body of the deer were found portions of an animal's jaw containing soft tender teethmilk teeth.But of what animal? Further detective work uncovered an animal's eye. Againof what animal? The doe's head was intact.There was practically no mutilation above thethroat. Besides,the eye was different from that contained in the head of the deer.This eye looked like that of Mr. Bird: "On your woy there, two's corn- a cat.And the milk teeth found could alsopuny' three's a crowd." have belonged to a member of the cat family. Allpossible clues were carefully preservedA great big owl satj1an oak, for evening study in the bunkhouse. The more he saw, the less he spoke, On the way to the truck, which was parkedThe less he spoke, the more he heard, at the highway more cougar tracks were dis- Why can't we all be like that wise old bird? 33 Xl SIGMA P1 G. LLOYD HAYES, '34 Ranger, Epsilon Chapter Chapter of Xi Sigma Pi has, this NEW AWARD ESTABLISHED EPSILONyear, enjoyed one of its most prosperous This year the society has instituted a new years since its installation in 1920.As surelyaward.Any graduating senior having aver- as this organization is the leading honoraryage grade of not less than 4.5 for his first two forestry fraternity in the United States, Epsi-years and 5.0 for his junior and first semester ion Chapter has assumed a place of major im-senior year iseligible.The candidates are portance among the honorary societies on ourgiven a weighted grade on the basis of schol- campus. arship 50 per cent, professional interest 15 XiSigma Pi was first organized as a localper cent, personality 15 per cent, practical ex- society in 1908 at the University of Washing-perience and recommendations regarding the ACTIVE CRAI'TER OF Xx SIGMA P1, 1932-1933. Reading from left to right, back rowDean F. G. Miller, Dr. Edwin C. Jahn, John J. McNair, Stanley C. Clarke, Royale K. Pierson, Dr. E. E. Hubert, Liter E. Spence, and A. M. Sowder. Front RowG. Lloyd Hayes, Kenneth Daniels, Paul Talich, George M. Fisher, Ralph H. Ahl- skog, Charles A. WeUner, Corland James, and Dr. W. D. Miller. ton.Since that time it has growTi to be asame 10 per cent, and leadership 10 per cent. national organization and has eight chaptersThe award consists of membership to the So- located at leading forest schools throughoutciety of American Foresters and a year's sub- the country. scription to the Journal of Forestry. Member- The objects of the fraternity are to secureship to the Society of American Foresters is and maintain a high standard of scholarshipattainable only through nomination by a Sec- in forest education, to work for the upbuildingtion of the Society and election later by the of the profession of forestry, and to promoteSociety, hence Epsilon Chapter shall recom- fraternal relations among earnest workers en-mend the award winner to the Northern Rocky gaged in forest activities.To encourage schol-Mountain Section.This section has kindly of- arship among Idaho forestry students, Epsilon fered to co-operate and nominate for member- Chapter has maintained in the Administrationship the successful candidate.The winner Building since 1922 a bronze plaque of artisticthis year is George M. Fisher, Forester of Ep- design.Each year the name of the student ofsilon Chapter. each class who attained the highest scholastic average is engraved on this plaque. This has A third award sponsored jointly by Xi proved to be a forceful stimulus to scholarship.Sigma Pi and the Associated Foresters is a Those who attained this honor last year were: silver loving cup which goes each year to the Senior, Joseph F. Pechanec; Junior, Charlesclass winning the annual track and field meet A. Wellner; Sophomore, G. Lloyd Hayes; anJat the foresters' barbecue.It was won last Freshman, Floyd 0. Tumelson. year by the Juniors. 34 THE IDAHO FORESTER 35 This year an average of two meetings aand the Arboretum.At present, plans are month have been held, one a banquet, and theunder way for a large stone monument which other a business meeting.Speakers at theis to bear a plate having engraved upon it banquets have come from the School of For-the names of those members making the plan- estry, the Botany Department, the Geologytation. Department, the Department of Entomology, The second annual dance was held April 15 and the Agronomy Department. While theseat the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house. departments are all quite closely associatedThis dance is our only important social event with forestry, topics have been chosen to coverso elaborate arrangements for an enjoyable a wide variety of subjects in an effort to getevening of dancing and cards were not spared. away from purely forestry discussions and getThe patrons and patronesses were Professor a broader perspective of these related sciences.and Mrs. F. W. Gail, Professor and Mrs. G. L. Luke, Mr. Otto Turinsky and Mr. and Mrs. CHAPTER SELECTS NEW MEMBERS F. A. Patty. New members initiated this year include Dr. The officers of Epsilon Chapter for this sea- W. D. Miller, John J. McNair, T. Stewart Bu-son are: Forester, George M. Fisher; Asso- chanan, and Paul H. Talich.In keeping withciate Forester, Charles A. Weilner; Secretary the custom begun last year, each neophyte isand Fiscal Agent, Ralph Ahlskog; and Ranger, required to prepare a plaque of genuine Idaho Lloyd Hayes.

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