| Summary: | Zoological Report Compiled by Earl W. Hauer and purchased by the Maddock History Book Committee from Stanley Stiles. "10 June 1870: Zoological report by J. Frazer Boughter, Acting Assistant Surgeon, U.S. Army, at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory:" "This is a zoological district of considerable interest. Numerous wild animals have their habitats in the forests, ravines and prairies around us. At present but an imperfect attempt is made to list some of the species which are most abundant. Every opportunity will, however, be siezed to improve this faulty sketch." "The mammals will be first taken. With regard to these animals, if remains speak truly, they have of late years very much diminished in both variety and number. In one or two instances whole families have entirely disappeared from this locality. The Red River Halfbreeds, the Sioux and Chippewas having hunted, driven off or killed them." "The Carnivora are largely represented, and the following are very abundant. American wild cat. American wolf called in this region the prairie wolf, but must not be mistaken for the coyote, it is a large gray wolf. The common red fox and the kit fox. The common weasel. The common mink. The American otter. The skunk. American badger. Grizzly bear very plentiful ten years ago. Not one left. Black bear still a few left. Raccoons are abundant too. "Belonging to the natural order Rodentia we have the following: one variety of gray backed squirrel - small with a red belly; one variety of small ground squirrel, American beaver and the striped gopher. The house mouse already infest the quarters and buildings of the new Post. The prairie mouse is not uncommon nor the muskrat. The Leporidae or hare family is represented by the northern hare or white rabbit and the prairie hare." "The ruminants of the genus Alces-moose (Cervidae or deer family) the moose and the woodland caribou or reindeer are said to inhabit the region north of this - distance about 100 miles. They have probably once had their habitat In the woods and hills bordering on Lake Minnewaukan. The American elk is rapidly disappearing from this vicinity. It is said that herds containing as many as one thousand elk have been seen only a few years ago crossing from island to island in Devils Lake. Deer do not appear to frequent this vicinity, probably owing to the little timber and the rigor of the winters. They are found, however, along the Big Sioux and the James Rivers and the Missouri River. But one species of antelope is known to inhabit the plains near this post, viz: the Pronghorn antelope. The American buffalo, as late as 1865, so numerous that herds of several thousand were frequently seen here, have now almost entirely disappeared. Occasionally one is killed near by. "Order of Raptores: The three families comprised in this order viz, vultures, falcons and owls are all represented. The turkey buzzard is occasionally seen also duck hawk or peregrine falcon; the pigeon hawk; sparrow hawk; red-tailed hawk; the rough-legged hawk and the American fish-hawk or osprey. It is probable there are more species of the falcon family in the vicinity of Fort Totten as it comprises so large a number of hawks and eagles. Of the owls, the great horned-owl; the mottled owl or screech owl; and the Snowy or white owl have been noticed. The burrowing owl is not found nearer than the west bank of the Missouri River, where it lives in the holes of the Prairie Dog. "Order of Scansores: The woodpecker family (as far as is known) is the only family of this order represented. Two species have been observed, viz: the golden- winged woodpecker and a small woodpecker (name unknown). Quite a number of the latter remain during the winter. "Order of Passeres: This order comprising more species than any other in the class of birds, has numerous representatives in this vicinity, and no doubt many belonging to the flycatcher, warbler, titmouse, finch and sparrow families. All such large families inhabit the woods bordering on Lake Minnewaukan. The whippoorwill is not seen nearer than the Missouri River. The night-hawk is not so common as in the southern portion of the territory. The belted kingfisher. The kingbird or bee martin. The wood thrush. The common robin is found in large numbers during the spring months. A blue bird has been noticed. A swallow, has been observed making their nests in the holes of dead trees. A small wren probably the winter wren is occasionally seen. The western titmouse is common. The snow bunting is very numerous during the winter flying in large flocks and most generally the "Avant courier" of snow storms. The black snow bird of Baird is also seen during the winter. The chipping sparrow is very common. The red bird or cardinal although belonging to the more southern parts of the United States is occasionally seen here. The bobolink is not so common as farther south. The cow bird generally accompany the blackbirds. The red-winged blackbird and the yellow-headed blackbird together with the crow blackbird are very common, belonging to the first birds appearing in the spring. The meadow lark is one of the first birds appearing in the spring. The common crows and the American raven complete the list of this order. "Order of Rasores: The wild pigeon inhabit the woods of Devils Lake. But one kind of grouse has been observed here, viz: the sharp- tailed grouse. This is commonly called the prairie chicken but the pinnated grouse or prairie chicken is not found so far north. It is however, not uncommon around Fort Randall, Dakota Territory, and the southern portions of the Territory. (Fort Randall was located on the Missouri near the southern border of South Dakota). "Order Grallatores: The sandhill or brown crane is very common between here and St. Joseph, Dakota Territory. A very large species of heron is seen here. It is probably the Great Blue Heron or Crane. The bittern or Stake-driver is also seen. The plover family of this order is represented by the killdeer, the western plover and the black-bellied plover. Of the snipe family, several species of snipes or sandpipers have been noted but not recognized. The long-billed curlew is occasionally seen, but more common farther south. The rail family has the mud hen and occasionally the common rail has been seen, but it is probably accidental. "Order of Natatores: Two species of swans, viz: the American swan and the trumpeter swan are found around Lake Minnewaukan. The 65 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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