Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1891-10-27
wARRlNe ON woopcHucks.
A Boys Experience In Trying 60 Get Rid
OF the Tricky Little Pests.

A Boys Experiences In Trying 90 Get Rid
Of the Tricky Little Pests.
had an interesting experience with
woOdchucks writes a New Hampshire
boy The mischievous rodents nearly
destroyed a field of clover. and then be-
gan 70 forage in a bean patch in which
J had a particular interest. as the pro
eeeCs If il were expected TO defray my
expenses a term or two at the village
academy 1 set traps in vain. The
woodchucks were too cunning 70 touch
my bait when they had a field Of clover
M which 10 forage. ! tried 10 get a
shot al them. but they were too wary
Tor me. Tim. my dog. managed. with
my energetic assistance IN deinolishing
the stOue wall where they bad taken
refuge, TO catch two Of the trespassers
and shake them TO death but that was
all
When | saw my academy tuition
falling before the woodchucks' sharp
teeth and adding to the sickness Of
their fat sides | was fully aroused l
stoned up half a dozen woOdchuck
holes. but il availed nothing The ras-
Gals seemed just as numerous and de-
voured clover and beans Just as per
sisten1y as before. They had reached
an age and size when holes were of
small account In several instances the
stones were removed doubt II ever
succeeded Ia penning a single wood
chuck.
Their time of feeding. learned, was
very early in the morning. and | re-
solved TO be in season for them For
four mornings was in the field watch
ing for them between 3 and 4 o'clock
! succeeded In shooting one. The willy
fellows then began feeding in the even
ing 1t seemed as # they kept spies on
the lookout constantly.
Just at dusk one day came upon a
solitary woodchuck helping himself to
my beans | seized a stone and threw
IL, and the woodchuck fell | ran for
ward to secure my game. The next
moment the little beast. which had
been merely stunned. rallied and set
hls sharp teeth IN my finger ] choked
hnn until he was glad TO let 60.
! was on the point Of closing his ca
reeT then and there in a summary fash
iOd. when ! decided TO wait a bit and
make an experiment carried the
chattering brown coated animal TO the
house. where | sIneared him all over
with tar and then attached an old
sleigh bell To his neck by a stout wire.
took him in a wire cage. an angry.
disguised woodchuck. TO the bean patch.
and gave his freedom The instant he
was at liberty he began scratching at
the bell wire. rolling over and paving
the din In a vain endeavoT to clean
himself. Soon he ran of into the bean
patch.
! went ont to the field next morning
TO see II my experiment had resulted in
anything There were no fresh signs of
devastation IN the beans and ] was
proceeding toward the clover. following
along little beaten track made by the
woodchucks Ia theii travels between
their two feeding grounds. when came
upon the dead and ruutilated body Of
the unlucky ereatur. which I had tar
red the previous day
From the signs ! Judged THAT his fel-
low woodchuckS enrlgrd at his dis
graceful appearances. hsd attacked him
In a body and literally turn him To
pieces.
That was the end of the woodchucks'
! never saw a sign of
their work afterward They deserted
the premises ! learned. however. that
a farmer living few miles away was
much annoyed by woodchucks about
that time. and think IL probable tEct
they were the same which had given
me trouble earlier In the season
Youths Cofupanion