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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2000)
TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS Community Service Provides Learning Opportunities Walt’s Words of Wit and Wisdom I’ve heard other stories about some of his Rilatos, Kelly Strickler, and Ronell Welch to assist There has been quite a bit in the paper lately about cougars possibly attacking people and maybe other animals. This kind of brought back some memories of a day or two ago. Have you ever heard a cougar scream? I have. It’s the most bloodcurdling racket I’ve ever heard. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight out and my skin was nothing but goose bumps all over. When a cat was in the area, getting the cows home to milk was no big deal. They would not leave the bam. youth in touring the Siletz Volunteer Fire were either $15 or $25 bounty. One time my aunt was either picking fem or peeling chittum, and on her way to the canyon she saw these cat tracks. Well, she was not particularly afraid of the animals but would give them plenty of room. I believe she was headed for Streetmatter Canyon and decided to go to Potwater Canyon. Nash Mountain was kind of a haven for the Department. Siletz is the only fire department in While sitting under a big log, she heard a cats. The Nashes ran a herd of cattle and the the county with 100 percent volunteers. noise coming. She figured that she would be a cats kind of favored them. Every once in a while, big surprise for a deer. Over the log came a big they would find that a cat had killed a young calf. cougar. It was not nearly as surprised as she was. Domestic animals seemed easier to catch than Anyway, it kind of ruined her whole day. by Bobby Brandt Community service gives me the opportunity to have a good time, to leam things, and help others to leam at the same time. The following are several ways I’ve been able to help my community. On May 5,1 worked with Lisa Brown, LeiLani We met B.J Wawrak, who showed the kids ail of the fire equipment and the fire engines. He explained how all the equipment worked and what to do in case a fire breaks out in your home. Most importantly, he told us what to do if you are on fire, and the importance of having a smoke detector in your home. After touring the fire hall, we went to the Siletz Indian Housing Authority office. The kids made posters about fire safety, and the winner in a nationwide contest will get to go to Alaska along with his or her family. I helped the kids draw their posters and shared ideas on what to draw. The Housing Authority bought pizza, and then the kids played at the playground. I believe everyone had a great time. I enjoyed helping the kids better understand fire safety. I really enjoy art, so helping them with a poster contest was right up my alley. On May 11,1 attended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Conference at Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City. I helped videotape the silent auction to raise money for the Siletz Tribe’s annual Run to the Rogue. I also sat in on a conference session on pesticides that are sprayed on vegetation. I learned that the pesticides are leaking into the deer, I guess. They were seen often at night. hunts, but don’t remember the details at this time. Henry used to get a bounty on the cats, I think $50 for males and $75 for females. I think coyotes Another incident happened next door to Usually whenever a cat was in the area, a where I was raised, at old man Bemrose’s place. call would go out to the government trapper, His daughter, Bertha Lane, was visiting with her Leonard Grant in Harlan. Usually he had his hands full over there with cats and coyotes, and would not be able to respond in a reasonable time. There was a young fella in Logsden though, Henry Kenttä, who had “cat hounds." He always responded quickly after being contacted. He would set his hounds on the trail and would get a cat. Whether it was the same cat, I don’t know, but he would get one. Anytime a cat was sighted or someone saw a track, Henry would be called and the hunt would begin. He didn’t always get the cat; don’t know why, but sometimes the dogs would get lost. I remember a time or two when a dog or two would come to our place. My unde would contact Henry that the dogs were there. Guess that they were so interested in what they were doing, they couldn’t find their way home. By golly, I can relate to that. One time Henry was called about a cat in Logsden. Well, the dogs picked up the scent right girls. Pauline, brother and cousins, and I think Dorothy Bright, were playing by the chicken house. Clifford Bemrose saw something go under the chicken house. When he went out and looked under the house, here was a big cat. He went and got the rifle, then had second thoughts that it may be someone’s pet and couldn’t shoot it. Probably just as well because the way it turned out, it was a 22 long rifle, one cartridge in the house and half of the time the gun misfired. Old man Bemrose came in from woodcutting, and Clifford told him what had happened. Now, the old man was not afraid of anything, man or beast. He took that rifle and crawled under the chicken house with that cat. I hear tell the cat was not the friendliest in the country. Old man Bemrose put that rifle point blank and the rifle did fire. He got it. They say that cat was a young one and very hungry, like it had been weaned recently even though he was nine rivers and infecting wildlife, particularly fish. This quick and the race was on. That cat went over is causing fish to be abnormal. In some cases, the hills back country. There were no roads to it’s changing the sex of the fish or causing them speak of, maybe some horse trails where people to have an abnormal amount of glands. like grandpa would gather shake bolts of fence grandparents bought that place when I was in Many scientists and wildlife experts traveled posts. Anyway, this cat went over hill and over the Army. When I came home in 1953, that hide to this conference from places as far away as dale, and came to the vicinity of the Bill Weinert was still there. Maine. They all have conducted studies on this saw mill on Sams Creek. feet from head to end of tail. That hide was on the back of the shed for many years. In fact, my I don’t recall one ever attacking a person. phenomenon, but it’s still too early to see the I don't know if someone hunting with Henry Grandpa said that one attacked his dog, but he long-term effects of these chemicals on the was a ways behind or what. The dogs bayed and beat the cat off with his hat. I do know I was and wildlife population. The workshop was interesting, there was no hurry now because the cat was in a still am willing to give them all the space they but it was still complicated for me to understand tree and would stay there. When Henry arrived, want and then some. everything the presenters had to say. the dogs were at the base of the tree, but there More cats are around now. All the bounty I am grateful to our alternative school was no cat in the tree. That cat had decided that hunting on them almost annihilated them. I’ve teacher, Mr. Burroughs, and Lisa Brown, SICA there were other places much more interesting heard of some cougar kills on some of the cattle prevention coordinator. They helped me develop than where he was. He apparently had gone from ranches in the local area recently. I haven’t seen a description of what I would leam so I could treetop to treetop to get out of the predicament any evidence around my place in Logsden. The earn credits for the work I did. This helped me to that he was in. Henry took it all in good stride, cats more than likely will be around Green be able to graduate this year. The things I learned said that it must have been a very wise old cat Mountain or maybe Granit. I won’t bother them will help me to understand and share with others. and that he was glad it got away. and hope they don’t bother me. 12
