GRIZZLY BEAR AND WOLVES ON ALASKA HIGHWAY

Chronicle (Levin), 29 March 1946, Page 8

GRIZZLY BEAR AND WOLVES ON ALASKA HIGHWAY

^ Prioi'ity on all wild life in the Yukon Territory, according to the >Vhitehorst Btar of pebruary 8, 1946, goes to ihe wolves wliich roam the couiury for thc most part unmolested and to-day can btseen cavorting 011 the Alaska highway where it is 110 longer sat'e to travai without a gun or rifie. Oldtimers whchave lived 011 the wild life of the Ter ritory for years now iind that thc wolves are fast eating into tlieir re sources and the destruction of tlu wolves is considered to be both a iirst and prime necessity. Another- issue or this newspaper from this lonely outposl of civilisation records that grizzly bears, too, are beeoming a source of ; annoyance! ' Larly in January the caliin of a ' trapper near Mile Post 496 in Ihe ; vieinity of Theresa Sulphur Ho; S Rprings in one of the famous tropieaJ j valleys of tlie Yukon where hot water in excess of 125 degrees fiows freely all the winter, was invaded by a grizzly bear. The oceujiier was sitting reading in his eabin when he heard a scratching on the door and considered this to be caused by one of his dogs. However, he was soon to know the real cause for a ! nioment or so latcr the door fell in with ' a crash and in walked the bear. The J trapper made a grab for his .22 rifie and then disappeared through the trap door leading to the attie and there he 1 remained until two troopers on duty 011 I the highway decided to make a call on j the cabin. Pollowing the imprintS on ; the snow which they discovered were ; those of a bear, they cautiously ap j proaehed the cabin and seeing the dooi : open called out, to be greeted with a loud "Woof! Woofl " and a shower of 8]jrav from the liuge grizzly. It was i almost dusk at the time and the two I troopers returned smai'bly" to their truck : on the highway to claim their rifios i while one brough't back a movie camera. jOn returning they heard the' trapper j call out and he was invited to use his .22 rifle to scare the bear outside. The firing did have this effect and as the grizzly came out he was shot. The interior of the cabin was fouu-J to have been wreelced by the brum which had torn open sugar and flour sacks and had also been successful in renioving tlie cover olT a large can of tar which he spread al) over. himself and everytliing else in the cabin. The trapper, who was nearly frozen after his unwelcome confinement - to the attie, rejoic'ed over his timely deliverance while the troopers were happy in securing a 4me sicin and some good movie pictures of the ineident.