Part 5

With the coming of spring the bulls lose the great antlers which they have carried through the winter. This takes place through a general deterioration of the antler base accompanied by some reabsorption of tissues at that point. The antlers may simply drop off or, in their weakened condition, be snapped off on contact with low hanging branches. They are usually shed in March, and by May a new pair begins to grow. As with the rest of the deer family, a thick growth of velvet covers the new growth. The first stages look rather ludicrous as the antlers develop points by successive stages, each tine coming to maturity before the next begins to grow. Eventually the height of the antlers “catches up,” so to speak, with the overprominent base. At full maturity, attained by August, there are few sights so impressive as a bull elk in the velvet. When this stage is reached the antlers, until now extremely tender, begin to harden and lose their sense of feeling. The bulls strip off the velvet by rubbing against branches and brush. Gradually the hard core emerges, stained a rich brown, except for the tips of the tines which are a gleaming ivory white. The antlers are so beautifully symmetrical that they seem graceful despite their size. One of the largest pairs on record has a length of beam of 64¾ inches and a spread of 74 inches.

A mature bull usually has six tines on each antler. These have definite names. The first tine extends forward from the head and is known as the “brow” tine; the next to it as the “bez” tine. Collectively they are called the “lifters,” formerly known as “war tines.” The next point inclines toward the vertical; this is the “trez” tine. The fourth is the “royal” or “dagger” point, and the terminal fork of the antler forms the final two points which are called “surroyals.”

Unwieldy as this tremendous rack of antlers appears, the animals handle them with comparative ease. In the normal walk or trot the body is carried along smoothly with the nose held up and forward. In this posture the antlers are well balanced and are carried without undue strain. In running through brush the nose is lifted still higher; this throws the antlers farther back along the shoulders, and as the nose parts the branches they slide along the curving beams without catching on the tines. Despite these cumbersome impediments, the elk creates less disturbance than most large forest animals when in flight. Antlers as weapons of offense are far overrated, for they seldom serve this function. Males have been severely injured and even killed in fights among themselves, but these are exceptions, and most fighting is done by striking with the front feet. If antlers are used it is usually with a chopping, downward motion that rakes, rather than puncturing the hide of the opponent.

Despite the fine appearance he presents, the bull elk is not content merely to be seen, but insists on being heard as well. His vocal effort is a high, clear, mellow tone commonly known as bugling, although it seems to have more the quality of a whistle than the sound of a horn. The call begins on a low note that is sustained for perhaps two seconds and then rises swiftly for a full octave to a sweet mellow crescendo, drops by swift degrees to the first note, and dies away. This is followed by several coughing grunts that can be heard only at close range. Bugling can be heard for a great distance, and on a clear quiet evening one of the greatest charms of wilderness camping is to hear this clear challenge flung out from some nearby ridge. The response is quickly returned from other hillsides, some so far away as to be mere whispers in the distance.

Bugling is indulged mainly during the rutting season and lasts from August to November. During this time it undoubtedly is intended as a challenge to other bulls and perhaps also to impress the cows with their lords’ great importance. At other seasons it is heard but infrequently, and then probably is simply an expression of abundant animal spirits. Cows have been known to bugle, but this is a rare occurrence.

The single calf is born between mid-May and mid-June. Twins are not uncommon. At birth the calf will weigh 30 to 40 pounds, and is an awkward animal. It has a pale brown coat liberally sprinkled with light spots, and a very prominent rump patch. For several days it remains hidden in the grass while the mother grazes nearby and keeps constant vigil. Several times daily she will return to let the calf suckle, but this is done as hurriedly as possible. Many are the predators that are only too anxious to catch the little one, such as mountain lions, wolves, bobcats, coyotes, bears, and even golden eagles. Should the calf be molested it emits a shrill squeal and the cow charges in with sharp hooves flashing. She usually is successful in driving away the smaller predators and sometimes intimidates even the largest with her bristling show of fury. After the calf is large enough to follow the mother, she warns it of danger with a hoarse, coughing bark.

The presence of canine teeth in elk is a peculiarity not found in other American deer. They are of modified form, being bulbous growths without known function. They occur in both sexes but those in bulls have the greatest development. At maturity they become highly polished and stain a light brown.

RODENTS Including the Lagomorphs (hares and pikas)

Rodents are the most numerous mammals of the Southwest. This is not an unusual condition; they enjoy numerical superiority over other mammals throughout the world. As a rule rodents are small animals; the largest to be found in the uplands of the Southwest are the beaver and the porcupine. Although these two are considerably larger than all others of the group, they cannot be classed as big animals. Because of the large number of species represented and the varying conditions under which they live, rodents have wide differences in physical characteristics. They can all be identified as belonging to this group, however, by one common characteristic—that of having long, curving incisors. As a rule these number two above and two in the lower jaw, the only exception being the hares and some of their closely allied species. These properly belong to the order Lagomorpha but will be included here with rodents.

The incisors are deeply set in the jaws, that part above the gums being a hollow tube filled with pulp. Unlike the incisors of other mammals, they continue a slow steady growth throughout the life of the animal. This is a means of compensating for the wear the cutting edges must undergo. The fronts of these teeth are covered with a heavy coat of enamel, while the back surfaces are either bare dentine or at best covered with very thin enamel. The wear thus results in a bevel-edged surface much like that of a chisel which, with the whetting it receives during the normal movements of eating, remains sharp. A uniform sharpening of both upper and lower incisors is assured by a peculiar arrangement of the hinge of the lower jaw. A more-than-average play in this ball and socket joint allows the lower incisors to slide either behind or in front of the uppers so that both sets receive approximately the same wear on both sides. Should one of the incisors be broken or otherwise damaged so that normal attrition cannot take place, its opposite will grow to such a degree that the animal is unable to take food and then may starve to death. Canine teeth are absent in all rodents, and premolars are lacking in many species. The large gap thus left between the narrow incisors and the comparatively massive molars accounts in part for the wide skull that tapers quickly to the laterally compressed face so typical of rodent features.

Food habits of the various types of rodents differ to a great degree. Perhaps the term omnivorous might be applied to most of them because virtually all rodents will eat insects and meat in addition to the usual fare of vegetable matter. A few might be classed as insectivorous or even carnivorous. Some species store up hoards of food against lean seasons; others eat like gluttons when food is abundant and hibernate through times of want; still others are equipped to spend the whole year in a busy search for something to eat.

Habitats are equally diverse. Some species live below the earth, some on the surface of the ground, at least two species are aquatic, and a few are arboreal. Regardless of where they live, the great majority are home builders. They strive to locate their homes in the most protected places and usually line their nests with soft materials. Outstanding exceptions are the jackrabbit and the porcupine, both of which lead nomadic lives.

In spite of their secretive habits, rodents suffer a tremendous mortality. Practically all carnivorous animals, most predatory birds, and many snakes prey on rodents, and for many of them these persecuted animals form the chief food. This situation is not as harsh as it might seem, for most rodents are prolific to a high degree. Elliott Coues summed up their place in Nature’s balance very aptly: “Yet they have one obvious part to play,... that of turning grass into flesh, in order that carnivorous Goths and Vandals may subsist also, and in their turn proclaim, ‘All flesh is grass.’”

Snowshoe hare Lepus americanus (Latin: hare ... of America)

Range: Found throughout the greater part of Canada and Alaska with extensive penetrations into the Southwest in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and western Nevada. Its occurrence in northern California is rather rare, and is confined to only a few higher mountain ranges.

Habitat: In the vicinity of streams or in conifer forests in the Canadian and Hudsonian Life Zones.

Description: A small, chunky hare with medium long ears and large hairy hind feet. An average individual will have a total length of about 18 inches with a tail less than 2 inches. Hind foot about 6 inches in length. Summer pelage brown, except feet and belly white, and tail brownish black above. Winter coat white except for the tips of the ears which are black. Young, three to six, born in May or June.

The snowshoe hare, found sparingly in mountains of the Southwest, is the same as that which lives in the muskeg not far from the Arctic Circle. The climate of the mountain zones is surprisingly like that of the north country even though the terrain is different. The closest equivalent is to be found in the brushy borders of mountain streams, and here the “snowshoes” are most often found. During summer they feed on grasses, herbs, and leaves of many different shrubs and the tender tips of young branches. Winter, a period of famine for many animals, is just the opposite for these large-footed hares. Able to run about on the surface of snowdrifts, each new snowfall lifts them closer to the tender twigs that earlier in the year were far above their reach. Clean diagonal cuts much like those made with a knife mark their depredations and, since they are hearty eaters, the whole tops of many favorite food shrubs may be pruned out in one season.

In common with several other hunted creatures and a comparatively few that hunt, the “snowshoe” undergoes a complete change of color between its summer and winter coat. The transformation begins when the first snows are due, and usually the white coat is complete when the snows lie deep on the mountains. It is not, as was once supposed, a case of the brown guard hairs turning white, but a molt. The summer guard hairs are shed and white ones taken their place. The under fur changes color to a less marked degree. Close to the skin the animal is still brown. Outwardly it is pure white except for black ear tips. Marvelous as this protective coloration is, it is not absolute proof against enemies. There are many, and chief among them are lynxes, bobcats, wolves, weasels, and great horned owls. In many places in the far north the snowshoe hare is the chief host of the lynx, their numbers fluctuating in unison.

Like most other hares the “snowshoe” spends a great share of its leisure time in a “form.” This is usually nothing more than a well concealed hollow. The semi-darkness under low hanging evergreens is much favored by these nocturnal animals for this purpose. They do not, at any time, frequent burrows, the closest approach to this kind of home being in winter when they are sometimes completely snowed under. They suffer but little during severe storms, because their long, fluffy fur is protection against the cold. Their greatest danger lies in the possibility of being buried alive in the event of a freezing rain following the snow.

The young are born in late spring or early summer. They come into the world amid plushy surroundings indeed. The mother has lined the surface nest with soft hair pulled from her own coat, and a softer, more comfortable nursery could hardly be imagined. The little hares are born fully furred, with eyes open, and usually with the incisor teeth already through the gums. Their development is rapid, and long before cold weather arrives they are out on their own.

White-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendi (Latin: hare ... for J. K. Townsend)

Range: North of the Canadian border to the southern portion of Colorado and Utah, and from the Cascade Mountains east to the Mississippi River.

Habitat: Plains and open country, in the foothills, and even in the high mountains. Found in both Upper Sonoran and Transition Life Zones.

Description: A large hare with a white tail and a lanky build, found usually only in open country. Total length (average) 18 to 24 inches. Tail up to 4 inches. Ears up to 6 inches in length. Weight 5 to 8 pounds. Color varies with the seasons. The summer coat is buffy gray, the winter coat is white. The tail, long for a hare, is white throughout the year. The tips of the ears are black both summer and winter. Young, three to six in a litter, born in May. There may be a second litter during late summer. As with all the hare family, the young are well furred and have their eyes open at birth.

The white-tailed jackrabbit is the largest hare native to the United States. Its great size is further emphasized by its rangy build and long legs and ears. Such physical characteristics are usually marks of an animal that is fiercely pursued by its enemies. This denizen of the open country is no exception. It is preyed upon by innumerable predators, including man, the most relentless and cunning of all. Yet its place in the modern world is still secure, for though it is almost totally lacking in offensive weapons, Nature has given it defensive advantages far beyond most other creatures. Perhaps the most important is the deceptive speed with which it floats across the prairie. Fastest of its tribe and exceeded in this respect by only one native animal, the pronghorn, this lanky jackrabbit simply runs away from most pursuit. Effective though this tactic is, the animal uses it usually as a last resort, preferring to employ the exact opposite, that of crouching motionless in an effort to avoid detection. Absolute immobility is itself an admirable defense, but when augmented by camouflage such as this creature possesses it is even more effective.

Like most members of the hare family, the white-tailed jackrabbit is more active at night than during the day. It spends most of the daylight hours resting in a form that it hollows out under shelter of a low shrub or large tuft of grass. In summer the tawny coat blends well with the color of the surroundings, and the winter coat is possibly even more effective. Then the crouched body resembles nothing more than a mound of snow; the black tips of the ears suggest black weed stems sticking up through the white surface.

Mountain cottontail Sylvilagus nuttalli (Latin: sylva, wood and Greek: lagos, hare. For Nuttal)