There are no longer two sides to what once was the spring shooting question.  Even among savages, the breeding period of the wild creatures is under taboo.  Then if ever may the beasts and birds cry “King’s excuse!” It has been positively stated in print that high-class fox hounds have been known to refuse to chase a pregnant fox, even when in full view.

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CHAPTER XXXIII

BRINGING BACK THE VANISHED BIRDS AND GAME

The most charming trait of wild-life character is the alacrity and confidence with which wild birds and mammals respond to the friendly advances of human friends.  Those who are not very familiar with the mental traits of our wild neighbors may at first find it difficult to comprehend the marvelous celerity with which both birds and mammals recognize friendly overtures from man, and respond to them.

At the present juncture, this state of the wild-animal mind becomes a factor of great importance in determining what we can do to prevent the extermination of species, and to promote the increase and return of wild life.

I think that there is not a single wild mammal or bird species now living that can not, or does not, quickly recognize protection, and take advantage of it.  The most conspicuous of all familiar examples are the wild animals of the Yellowstone Park.  They embrace the elk, mountain sheep, antelope, mule deer, the black bear and even the grizzly.  No one can say precisely how long those several species were in ascertaining that it was safe to trust themselves within easy rifle-shot of man; but I think it was about five years.  Birds recognize protection far more quickly than mammals.  In a comparatively short time the naturally wild and wary big game of the Yellowstone Park became about as tame as range cattle.  It was at least fifteen years ago that the mule deer began to frequent the parade ground at the Mammoth Hot Springs military post, and receive there their rations of hay.

Whenever you see a beautiful photograph of a large band of big-horn sheep or mule deer taken at short range amid Rocky Mountain scenery, you are safe in labeling it as having come from the Yellowstone Park.  The prong-horned antelope herd is so tame that it is difficult to keep it out of the streets of Gardiner, on the Montana side of the line.

But the bears!  Who has not heard the story of the bears of the Yellowstone Park,—­how black bears and grizzlies stalk out of the woods, every day, to the garbage dumping-ground; how black bears actually have come into the hotels for food, without breaking the truce, and how the grizzlies boldly raid the grub-wagons and cook-tents of campers, taking just what they please, because they know that no man dares to shoot them!  Indeed, those raiding bears long ago became a public nuisance, and many of them have been caught in steel box-traps and shipped to zoological gardens, in order to get them out of the way.  And yet, outside the Park boundaries, everywhere, the bears are as wary and wild as the wildest.