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fall a victim to the grisly； when the big bear is in the mood to turn
hunter。 Wapiti are found in the same places as the grisly； and in some
spots they are yet very plentiful； they are less shy and active than
deer； while not powerful enough to beat off so ponderous a foe； and
they live in cover where there is always a good chance either to stalk
or to stumble on them。 At almost any season bear will come and feast
on an elk carcass； and if the food supply runs short； in early spring；
or in a fall when the berry crop fails； they sometimes have to do
their own killing。 Twice I have come across the remains of elk； which
had seemingly been slain and devoured by bears。 I have never heard of
elk making a fight against a bear； yet； at close quarters and at bay；
a bull elk in the rutting season is an ugly foe。
A bull moose is even more formidable； being able to strike the most
lightning…like blows with his terrible forefeet； his true weapons of
defense。 I doubt if any beast of prey would rush in on one of these
woodland giants； when his horns were grown； and if he was on his guard
and bent on fight。 Nevertheless； the moose sometimes fall victims to
the uncouth prowess of the grisly； in the thick wet forests of the
high northern Rockies； where both beasts dwell。 An old hunter who a
dozen years ago wintered at Jackson Lake； in northwestern Wyoming；
told me that when the snows got deep on the mountains the moose came
down and took up their abode near the lake； on its western side。
Nothing molested them during the winter。 Early in the spring a grisly
came out of its den； and he found its tracks in many places； as it
roamed restlessly about； evidently very hungry。 Finding little to eat
in the bleak； snow…drifted woods； it soon began to depredate on the
moose； and killed two or three； generally by lying in wait and dashing
out on them as they passed near its lurking…place。 Even the bulls were
at that season weak； and of course hornless； with small desire to
fight； and in each case the rush of the great beardoubtless made
with the ferocity and speed which so often belie the seeming
awkwardness of the animalbore down the startled victim； taken
utterly unawares before it had a chance to defend itself。 In one case
the bear had missed its spring； the moose going off； for a few rods；
with huge jumps； and then settling down into its characteristic trot。
The old hunter who followed the tracks said he would never have deemed
it possible for any animal to make such strides while in a trot。
Nevertheless； the grisly is only occasionally； not normally； a
formidable predatory beast； a killer of cattle and of large game。
Although capable of far swifter movement than is promised by his frame
of seemingly clumsy strength； and in spite of his power of charging
with astonishing suddenness and speed； he yet lacks altogether the
supple agility of such finished destroyers as the cougar and the wolf；
and for the absence of this agility no amount of mere huge muscle can
atone。 He is more apt to feast on animals which have met their death
by accident； or which have been killed by other beasts or by man； than
to do his own killing。 He is a very foul feeder； with a strong relish
for carrion； and possesses a grewsome and cannibal fondness for the
flesh of his own kind； a bear carcass will toll a brother bear to the
ambushed hunter better than almost any other bait； unless it is the
carcass of a horse。
Nor do these big bears always content themselves merely with the
carcasses of their brethren。 A black bear would have a poor chance if
in the clutches of a large； hungry grisly； and an old male will kill
and eat a cub； especially if he finds it at a disadvantage。 A rather
remarkable instance of this occurred in the Yellowstone National Park；
in the spring of 1891。 The incident is related in the following letter
written to Mr。 William Hallett Phillips； of Washington； by another
friend； Mr。 Elwood Hofer。 Hofer is an old mountain…man； I have hunted
with him myself； and know his statements to be trustworthy。 He was； at
the time； at work in the Park getting animals for the National Museum
at Washington； and was staying at Yancey's 〃hotel〃 near Tower Falls；
His letter which was dated June 21st； 1891； runs in part as follows：
〃I had a splendid Grizzly or Roachback cub and was going to send
him into the Springs next morning the team was here。 I heard a
racket outside； went out； and found him dead。 An old bear that
made a 9 1/2 inch track had killed and partly eaten him。 Last
night another one came； one that made a 8 1/2 inch track； and
broke Yancy up in the milk business。 You know how the cabins stand
here。 There is a hitching post between the saloon and old house；
the little bear was killed there。 In a creek close by was a milk
house； last night another bear came there and smashed the whole
thing up； leaving nothing but a few flattened buckets and pans and
boards。 I was sleeping in the old cabin； I heard the tin ware
rattle but thought it was all right； supposed it was cows or
horses about。 I don't care about the milk but the damn cuss dug up
the remains of the cub I had buried in the old ditch； he visited
the old meat house but found nothing。 Bear are very thick in this
part of the Park； and are getting very fresh。 I sent in the game
to Capt。 Anderson； hear its doing well。〃
Grislies are fond of fish； and on the Pacific slope； where the salmon
run； they； like so many other beasts； travel many scores of miles and
crowd down to the rivers to gorge themselves upon the fish which are
thrown up on the banks。 Wading into the water a bear will knock out
the salmon right and left when they are running thick。
Flesh and fish do not constitute the grisly's ordinary diet。 At most
times the big bear is a grubber in the ground； an eater of insects；
roots； nuts； and berries。 Its dangerous fore…claws are normally used
to overturn stones and knock rotten logs to pieces； that it may lap up
the small tribes of darkness which swarm under the one and in the
other。 It digs up the camas roots； wild onions； and an occasional
luckless woodchuck or gopher。 If food is very plenty bears are lazy；
but commonly they are obliged to be very industrious； it being no
light task to gather enough ants； beetles； crickets； tumble…bugs；
roots； and nuts to satisfy the cravings of so huge a bulk。 The sign of
a bear's work is； of course； evident to the most unpracticed eye； and
in no way can one get a better idea of the brute's power than by
watching it busily working for its breakfast； shattering big logs and
upsetting boulders by sheer strength。 There is always a touch of the
comic； as well as a touch of the strong and terrible； in a bear's look
and actions。 It will tug and pull； now with one paw； now with two； now
on all fours； now on its hind legs； in the effort to turn over a large
log or stone； and when it succeeds it jumps round to thrust its muzzle
into the damp hollow and lap up the affrighted mice or beetles while
they are still paralyzed by the sudden exposure。
The true time of plenty for bears is the berry season。 Then they feast
ravenously on huckleberries； bl