Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 291, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1913 — CARE OF RARE PET COSTLY [ARTICLE]

CARE OF RARE PET COSTLY

Montana Owners Have Difficulty in Raising Only Mountain Sheep in Captivity. Anaconda, Mont. —Felix, the only mountain sheep known to.be in captivity, after a series of ' troubles that would kill half a dozen ordinary sheep, and having been given up by the doctors several times, is now in the best of health and gives promise bt living to a ripe ol dage. If he does not, it will not be the fault of his attendants. Felix has bad enough money spent on his account to bring a whole flock of common sheep maturity and caused more sleepless rights .or those who have his wellbeing at h oart than arc occasioned by many human beings. He worries very little a£out the trouble he has caused, evidently believing he is worth it, and from the viewpoint of his sponsors, he is. Letters of inquiry as to his condition and the progress he is making toward becoming domesticated come from all over the country, and even telegrams. Felix was captured near Triple Divide mountain, adjacent to Two Medicine lake, in Glacier National park, nearly four months ago by W. J. Cavanaugh and N. H. Pearl, forest rangers. His little brother was taken at the same time and both were brought to Butte. The little fellow died a day or two after arriving and Felix set out on his checkered career alone. The little stranger of the hills did not take kindly to warmed over cows’ milk, fed by hand, so Mr. Forsythe wetit into the country and seepred the loan of an amiable old . ewe. She gave the foster sheep thtTJklndest care and attention and appeared very solicitous about him although she viewed some of his exploits with open eyed astonlshement. Troubles soon began to multiply for >’elix. He first manifested a hoof disease and then a distemper. These were hardly cured when he met with an accident which came near costing bis life. In a burst of joy occasioned by hearing a band play Felix attempted to climb the fence around his corral and caught his left forefoot la a knothole. He was not discovered for some time after and then had torn and scraped every shred of flesh from his leg. A veterinary was summoned and has made daily trips. While Felix limps and sometimes drags the bandaged leg he is getting well, has a remarkable appetite, consumes large quantities of oats, clover, herbs and anything else digestible that comes his way k*>d tips the scales at

60 pounds. He is as tall as the average grown domestic sheep and gaining in weight. His horns have begun to grow. Felix is an amiable little fellow when not annoyed. He is shy of strangers, but very fond of his keeper and of Miss Hazel Pllnt, who has gained his confidence by playing with him and feeding him dainty bits of clover, fruit and other things that are dessert on the sheep bill of fare.