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.
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