Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 10, Number 30, DeMotte, Jasper County, 13 June 1940 — Springtime Is Season of Joy And Zest for Wild Creatures [ARTICLE]

Springtime Is Season of Joy And Zest for Wild Creatures

With Nature in Her Gayest Mood, Animals Enjoy Their Own Games and Frolics.

CPRINGTIME in the wilds is playtjime. The majority of our mammals have their young in the early months of the year, and in April arid May it is possible to watch the most delightful games among t(ie puppies of the fields. Badger, jfox and otter cubs are very playful little creatures. The otter and badger appear to have a certain! amount of method in their games, but fox cube simply romp among themselves in a wild abandon. On a sloping sand cliff near my home seven fox cubs came out of a large hole; on the ledge just outside they played with a round stone, pushing it with their feet, tossing it Jin the air and allowing it to run down- the slope. When tired ,of this they played a game which resembled “Follow the Leader.” One would fun forward, dodge and leap over all kinds of imaginary obstacles, and the others would follow in its tracks; th4n all would roll together in a rough and tumble, in which their small teeth would tug at the fur of thei * companions. Bouncing Badgers. Young badgers are among the most amusing cubs to watch at play. With their bold black and white markings they are quaint-

looking little creatures, and rather clumsy, but there is no doubt that they thoroughly enjoy life, and their play is exuberant and strenuous. | First they poke their noses in the ground, searching for hidden grubs; then, without any warning, all stiffen thejir fur, making it stand upright, and now they look twice their siz4. With their short legs also stiffened they bounce round one another like footballs, then leap in, srip a mouthful of fur, and roll oyer and over. They break apart, aind again play the bouncing game!, and just as suddenly as they smarted to play they cease, and the next moment all are diligently searching for more food. I Fun in the Water. Many young Otters are born at an aw'kw'ard time, that is at the beginning of wipter, but they are hardy little creatures and appear to be able to stand any amount of cold. Otters, mpre than apy other wild creatures, show us that they thoroughly enjoy life; a plentiful supply of food nxakes them contented, and both]parents and young play the most delightful games. What appeared to be a large browm ball was floating gently 1 down stream, hardly making a

ripple as it swept along. Suddenly the ball seemed to burst open with a loud splash, and four excited otters with their bright, eager eyes well above the water, started swimming round one another. One leaped right out of the stream and over its companions to dive on the other side, and as they floated along this acrobat made circles around therri, those below trying to grip it as it passed over. Then they all jpined up again, and seemed to he having a struggle as to w'hich cojuld pull the others under the surface, a sort of spirited ducking game. They conpnue to play until all are tired, jrhen the parents lead their young off to a well-hidden lair, where they all sleep until hunger and high spirits call again. —Oliver G. Pike in London TitBits.