The trail of the Loup; being a history of the Loup River region . one there in the winter of 1882. It was notan uncommon thing in those days to see tame elk and deer grazing peace-fully about the dooryard of some homestead. The pronghorn antelope (Antilocapera Americana) was very of from 20 to 100 of these graceful animals were commonsights along the hill ranges. Their natural curiosity made them an feasyprey for the early hunter and they passed from tlie valley about the sametime that did the elk. Three species of deer were formerly found were the common red deer (Cerv
The trail of the Loup; being a history of the Loup River region . one there in the winter of 1882. It was notan uncommon thing in those days to see tame elk and deer grazing peace-fully about the dooryard of some homestead. The pronghorn antelope (Antilocapera Americana) was very of from 20 to 100 of these graceful animals were commonsights along the hill ranges. Their natural curiosity made them an feasyprey for the early hunter and they passed from tlie valley about the sametime that did the elk. Three species of deer were formerly found were the common red deer (Cervus virginianus), the white taileddeer (C. leucrus), and the black tailed deer (G. columbianus). 1885 sawthe last deer in the valley proper. At that time they sought the lessfrequented sand hills to the north, where they were hunted for some in our day an occasional deer may be shot on the Calamus or in thelake country. The writer had the good fortune to see several excellentspecimens on the reed grown banks of Dads Lake as late as 1893. m Oa. 3 n.\^. 68 THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP Bears were never plentiful in our state, the Niobrara country alonebeing their natural haunt. In 1875, however, it appears that one hadwandered far to the south of his native wilds, for in that year WilliamPierson killed a large silvertipped bear (Ursus Americanus) between theNorth Loup Eiver and Brush Lake. Of carnivorous beasts several species of timber wolves skulked about inthe wooded canyons, and the night on the prairie was often made hideouswith the yelp of the prairie wolf, or coyote. A few lynxes and wild catswere shot in the timber lands. Such valuable fur bearing animals asthe beaver, otter, mink and marten were numerous. Raccoons and badgersyet survive. Opossums, while more at home farther south, have been
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