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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； blueberries； kinnikinnic berries； buffalo
berries； wild plums； elderberries； and scores of other fruits。 They
often smash all the bushes in a berry patch； gathering the fruit with
half…luxurious； half…laborious greed； sitting on their haunches； and
sweeping the berries into their mouths with dexterous paws。 So
absorbed do they become in their feasts on the luscious fruit that
they grow reckless of their safety； and feed in broad daylight； almost
at midday； while in some of the thickets； especially those of the
mountain haws； they make so much noise in smashing the branches that
it is a comparatively easy matter to approach them unheard。 That
still…hunter is in luck who in the fall finds an accessible berry…
covered hillside which is haunted by bears； but； as a rule； the berry
bushes do not grow close enough together to give the hunter much
chance。
Like most other wild animals； bears which have known the neighborhood
of man are beasts of the darkness； or at least of the dusk and the
gloaming。 But they are by no means such true night…lovers as the big
cats and the wolves。 In regions where they know little of hunters they
roam about freely in the daylight； and in cool weather are even apt to
take their noontide slumbers basking in the sun。 Where they are much
hunted they finally almost reverse their natural habits and sleep
throughout the hours of light； only venturing abroad after nightfall
and before sunrise； but even yet this is not the habit of those bears
which exist in the wilder localities where they are still plentiful。
In these places they sleep； or at least rest； during the hours of
greatest heat； and again in the middle part of the night； unless there
is a full moon。 They start on their rambles for food about mid…
afternoon； and end their morning roaming soon after the sun is above
the horizon。 If the moon is full； however； they may feed all night
long； and then wander but little in the daytime。
Aside from man； the full…grown grisly has hardly any foe to fear。
Nevertheless； in the early spring； when weakened by the hunger that
succeeds the winter sleep； it behooves even the grisly； if he dwells
in the mountain fastnesses of the far northwest； to beware of a
famished troop of great timber wolves。 These northern Rocky Mountain
wolves are most formidable beasts； and when many of them band together
in times of famine they do not hesitate to pounce on the black bear
and cougar； and even a full…grown grisly is not safe from their
attacks； unless he can back up against some rock which will prevent
them from assailing him from behind。 A small ranchman whom I knew
well； who lived near Flathead Lake； once in April found where a troop
of these wolves had killed a good…sized yearling grisly。 Either cougar
or wolf will make a prey of a grisly which is but a few months old；
while any fox； lynx； wolverine； or fisher will seize the very young
cubs。 The old story about wolves fearing to feast on game killed by a
grisly is all nonsense。 Wolves are canny beasts； and they will not
approach a carcass if they think a bear is hidden near by and likely
to rush out at them； but under ordinary circumstances they will feast
not only on the carcasses of the grisly's victims； but on the carcass
of the grisly himself after he has been slain and left by the hunter。
Of course wolves would only attack a grisly if in the most desperate
straits for food； as even a victory over such an antagonist must be
purchased with heavy loss of life； and a hungry grisly would devour
either a wolf or a cougar； or any one of the smaller carnivora off…
hand if it happened to corner it where it could not get away。
The grisly occasionally makes its den in a cave and spends therein the
midday hours。 But this is rare。 Usually it lies in the dense shelter
of the most tangled piece of woods in the neighborhood； choosing by
preference some bit where the young growth is thick and the ground
strewn with boulders and fallen logs。 Often； especially if in a
restless mood and roaming much over the country； it merely makes a
temporary bed； in which it lies but once or twice； and again it may
make a more permanent lair or series of lairs； spending many
consecutive nights in each。 Usually the lair or bed is made some
distance from the feeding ground； but bold bears； in very wild
localities； may lie close by a carcass； or in the middle of a berry
ground。 The deer…killing bear above mentioned had evidently dragged
two or three of his victims to his den； which was under an
impenetrable mat of bull…berries and dwarf box…alders； hemmed by a cut
bank on one side and a wall of gnarled cottonwoods on the other。 Round
this den； and rendering it noisome； were scattered the bones of
several deer and a young steer or heifer。 When we found it we thought
we could easily kill the bear； but the fierce； cunning beast must have
seen or smelt us； for though we laid in wait for it long and
patiently； it did not come back to its place； nor； on our subsequent
visits； did we ever find traces of its having done so。
Bear are fond of wallowing in the water； whether in the sand； on the
edge of a rapid plains river； on the muddy margin of a pond； or in the
oozy moss of a clear； cold mountain spring。 One hot August afternoon；
as I was clambering down a steep mountain…side near Pend'Oreille lake；
I heard a crash some distance below； which showed that a large beast
was afoot。 On making my way towards the spot； I found I had disturbed
a big bear as it was lolling at ease in its bath； the discolored water
showed where it had scrambled hastily out and galloped off as I
approached。 The spring welled out at the base of a high granite rock；
forming a small pool of shimmering broken crystal。 The soaked moss lay
in a deep wet cushion round about； and jutted over the edges of the
pool like a floating shelf。 Graceful； water…loving ferns swayed to and
fro。 Above； the great conifers spread their murmuring branches；
dimming the light； and keeping out the heat； their brown boles sprang
from the ground like buttressed columns。 On the barren mountain…sid