WILD LIFE NOTES

MARMOTS

On the morning of August 7th Ranger-Naturalist Douglas Bonamy was on the summit of Pinnacle Peak shortly after sunrise to secure some early morning pictures of the Mountain.

Early as he was however another climber had reached the summit before him. Awaiting him there was a hube Hoary Marmot. Whether it was the morning view, the stimulation of a brisk climb before breakfast, or simply a desire to go over the mountain, that brought the big fellow to the top of the barren rock spire was not learned.

CHIPMUNKS

Chipmunks are always found at the summit of Pinnacle Peak and are as tame this year as usual. Almost daily, climbers share their lunches with the Pinnacle Peak "Munks" so the little fellows thrive in spite of the lack of vegetation and water at the peak.

RAVENS

On August 9th the morning Nature Guide Party returned via the garbage pits in the hope of seeing the bears at a late breakfast. As usual, they were not disappointed and in addition to two or three bears and the usual assortment of chipmunks, ground squirrels, gray jays and nutcrackers, there were three Northern Ravens, visitors from the lower valleys.

CASCADE RED FOX

For several weeks we have had frequent reports of fox puppies being seen in the vicinity of Marmot Point two miles below Paradise Inn. For a time we supposed that our informants had mistaken young marmots for foxes but the stories continued to come in and the descriptions did not fit marmots.

On Numerous occasions the naturalist looked for foxes but was never able to see one.

Last week an artist, Mr. Reese, of the Cornish School of Seattle, came in to report two animals which he had just been watching below Marmot Point and which he thought were fox cubs. Instead of describing them to us he showed us a sketch he had made which "said" fox absolutely. One was a red fox and the other almost black. (Black, cross, silver, and blue, foxes are merely color phrases of the typical red fox) Apparently they were of the same litter and more than half-grown. Mr. Reese watched them lay about in the meadow for a half hour and then disappeared.

We immediately returned to the point and had no difficulty in locating the den and many tracks both of the young and the adult foxes in the soft dirt about it and along the Paradise River nearby.

Hours of waiting with a camera has failed to reward the naturalist with even a glimpse of the youngsters.

Last year foxes were seen in the same vicinity. (see cover)

By F. W. Schmoe, Park Naturalist.