This manuscript describes the author's interaction with a pine squirrel. The squirrel is compared to the other types of squirrels that are present in that area.
Manuscript that is written as a story, where two men have a conversation at a gas station. One is a tourist, the other the gas service man. The tourist is excited to consume some of the local razor clam but the service man explains that the clams are gone. Due to the high demand and the disregard for preserving the population were the causes of its decline.
This manuscript rallies against building paved roads along streams because this creates easy access and an opening to abuse the resources found in the stream. This document focuses mainly on overfishing in regards to the trout population. Later in the document, the author argues against a highway being built along the Rogue River because this will negatively affect the stream, both in health and fish populations.
Manuscript explaining that the rodent known as the mountain beaver, in fact is not a beaver, nor is it related to any animal. It is animal that is found only along the west coast of the United States. The document gives the physical description of the animal and where one might be spotted in Oregon.
Two manuscripts are featured in this document. The first discusses how the Deschutes River is an ideal place for trout, not only for sport but for the fish to inhabit. The river benefits from the lack of silt in the water and protection from dumping pollutants. Also due to a lack of a paved road, access is limited to the area. The second manuscript discusses the importance of conducting surveys that determine what makes a place suitable for a fish to inhabit. Factors such as what are the food sources and water temperature are to be considered. The writer makes the point that one cannot gauge from mere visual observation the amount of fish in any given stream. To truly determine the population, in depth surveys must be done.
Manuscript discussing the alarming state of the decline of local animal and fish populations. The author contends that it is a combination of exhausting the local population for sport and introducing foreign populations of animals and fish to satisfy the demand for game to hunt. The document proposes that there are two points in a plan of action in order to restore native populations. The first is to enforce the laws of protection for the animals and fish, and the second is to educate in order to support wildlife resources.
Manuscript discusses how the waterfowl in Klamath country are now protected from hunters by game laws. The Bureau of Reclamation destroyed areas of sanctuary for waterfowl because the demand for land for agricultural use was so high. According to Dr. C. F. Marbut from the Department of Agriculture, the soil from the land in and around the bed of the Lower Klamath Lake could not support agricultural means successfully. Instead, the area became a refuge similar to Clear Lake.
According to R.E. Dimick from the Oregon State Agricultural College, the stonefly is a cornerstone in the diet of trout. The manuscript advises that a wise angler will observe the insects of an area to lead them to the best fishing spots. The document goes on to describe the life cycle of the stonefly as well as mentioning another type of stonefly, and where the author has found their population to be abundant.
Manuscript where one species of sparrow is featured. The document begins with explaining that only an expert can distinguish the three varieties of this sparrow.
Manuscript that is composed of various manuscripts, with a focus on closing the waterfowl hunting season. The manuscripts concerning the waterfowl include creating legislation to close or limit the hunting season, the practice of baiting, and protecting waterfowl populations. A manuscript discussing russet-backed thrushes is included.
Manuscript discusses discovering a gray digger squirrel who appeared to be deceased but was actually hibernating and nearly frozen. This leads the author to write about the animal's process in preparing for its winter slumber. The document goes on to comment on other animals that hibernate as well and the differences in hibernation processes.
Manuscript recounting an encounter with a group of toads. The document describes how the toads possess a bone that allows them to use their hind feet to burrow into the ground in order to get closer to moisture when rain is lacking. The author and the group watched as the animals used ant hills as a buffet to feed themselves. The author comments that it is no wonder that some believe that amphibians rain from the sky because this species emerges with the coming rain and disappears as the sun comes out.
Manuscript describing a pair of robins whose older offspring attempted to bait their parents into feeding them, despite being old enough to feed themselves.
Manuscript relating a conversation with H. S. Rowe, who along with Mr. Harrison, owned a large number of acres of land on Sauvie's Island, which happened to be excellent for duck hunting. Mr. Rowe went hunting in the year of 1907 with his son and netted the allotted amount of birds. Further comments about the plentiful number of birds for sport are included in the document. Later in 1913, a protection for migratory birds passed and closed down the hunting season. The author commented that despite the season being closed for 22 years, the number of ducks have not returned to previous numbers.
Manuscript that looks over a few previous records of wild pigeons provided by O. G. Delaba and W. B. Jennings. There is a note in parentheses asking to report any spottings of the birds to Finley or Averill. The author reflects that the number of pigeons has declined dramatically.
Manuscript that focuses on the American white pelican, which according to this document, has an unattractive appearance. The document also describes how the pelican feeds its young.
Manuscript praising the establishment of the Oregon State Agricultural College. There is praise also for the courses in game management that will be offered. The courses are considered to be the best measurement instituted in order to develop wildlife resources for Oregon. The college will offer several courses that will provide training for game management of estates and land using industries. Local establishments such as game refuges and fish hatcheries will be used to give hands on experience. At the time, Oregon was the only state in the west to receive federal funding for education in respects to conservation of wildlife.
Manuscript that explores the senseless killing of wild animals. Despite being a protected animal, a black bear mother and cub had been shot down. The author contends that black bears are the most human of wild animals in the Oregon woods. The author also describes characteristics of the bear and what it eats. The document goes on to say that there are people who simply enjoy being out in nature and can truly appreciate a wildlife sighting. However, due to hunters, those people are robbed of these experiences.
Manuscript that relays the discovery of a bobwhite quail's nest in January, which is fairly late in the nesting season. The remaining content describes the value of the bird on farms.
Manuscript on the spotting of a large group of swallows near a roadside. The author goes on to discuss how the birds are joined by other flocks to travel in large groups in order to hide their true numbers from predators.
Manuscript delving into the difficult situation of population increase in Oregon and how that is effecting the game birds of the area. The author sees two options of dealing with this predicament. The first is to use the funding for game farms to breed Chinese pheasants and release them for hunting use. The second is to enact a plan to save the disappearing native game birds. This option is difficult because it requires extensive research before a plan can be considered. The author contends that the best people to aid with this research are young students trained in scientific thinking, who possess patience and a good work ethic.
Manuscript that examines the uptick of interest and financial gain in Oregon's outdoors. A particular interest in the Rogue River Valley is explored. The author comments on the amount of funds for paving roads in order to allow people to access the wilderness easily. The document also points out that there are many ways to destroy natural areas, but few are considering how to preserve them.
The author in this manuscript describes an incoming resident to the Oregon landscape, the opossum. In this document the diet of the animal, its ecological preferences, and where it can be typically found are among the topics discussed. According to this text, the animal is one of the oldest living mammals and the oldest of the group in America.
Manuscript describing the problem of pollutants being dumped into the Willamette River and later traveling to the Columbia River where pollution is killing the fish. The author asserts that individual sportsmen and anglers have to follow the pollution laws but companies are not being held to the same standard. The author also states that citizens of Portland were initially on board to install sewage systems but support vanished once it was realized that the funding would come from property owners and not the government.
Manuscript that discusses the dwindling numbers of the Bighorn sheep. Contributing factors to the decrease of Bighorns include hunting and contact with domestic sheep. The domestic sheep contributed the most in the decline due to a disease they carried and spread to the Bighorns. The author advocates for a refuge for the remaining Bighorns in order to remove any contact from domestic sheep in both the summer and winter seasons.
