The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-01-13
wAR UPON PoRcupINEs.


Pennsylvania Lumber Owner Employs
Trappers to XIII OF the Pests.
II is doubtful whether in all Penn
sylvania n more extraordinary task
was ever undertaken than that which
three men from Benton are now en-
porcupines from vast tract Of tim
ber, In which the little animals are
destroying trees. The men are Rich
ard and William Hess and George
Parker. They are trappers OF reeog-
nized ability, and have been engaged
by Col. Ricketts, to trap porcupines
in his vast tract of timber in Silli-
II is a unique job, indeed. but none
the less important. for family of
half dozen porcupines is known TO
have ruined dozen or more trees in
single season. And when 1t Is re-
membered that there are hundreds
upon hundreds of the pests on the
Ricketts, property. and that every tree
destroyed means the loss of anywhere
from $40 to $50, the effort at exter-
mination becomes an important busi-
ness proposition.
The three men were chosen for the
work because of their knowledge of
the habits OF the porcupines. They
have followed the business of trapping
otter, mink, weasels wild cats and
bear for years, so that the matter of
capturing the costly "porkies" is next
thing to sport for them. They have
already spent two weeks at the work,
and in that time have captured over
so porcupines. Incidentally, too. their
traps have caught a dozen raccoons,
more than a score of muskrats. three
fine mink and magnificent specimen
OF the catamount. or bob cat" as the
woodsmen and trappers call It, The
catamount Is a close cousin to the
lynx, and is an altogether undesirable
foe. The one caught by these trap
pers is as large as a small leopard,
and was as defiant as prisoner with
a crunched leg could afford to be.
The porcuplne is born pest. All
night long the scratch. scratch.
scratch, nip. nip. nip of the "porkies"
can be heard as they gnaw at the
trunks of trees, in the bark of which
Insects or grubs have taken refuge.
1t is remarkable, too, what an amount
OF damage to a tree one porcupiEe
can do in a single night.
The three trappers will continue
their work until snow comes. after
which the pestiferous "porkies" take
to their winter quarters and remain
dormant until spring. II was an idea
of his own that induced Col. Ricketts,
to employ the trappers, and 1t is cal
culated that in two or three seasons
the porcupines will either have been
all caught or their number reduced
to harmless few.
The porcupines are partial to par
ticular parts of the state. Up In the
hardwood forests of Potter and Ly-
coming counties there are compare
lively few "porkies," but in the hem
lock and pine districts of Columbia
Sullivan and wyoming counties they
seem to thrive In abundance. Their
qullls protect them against all comers
of the animal kingdom, hence very few
nre killed in combat. Even a fierce
dog is generally worsted before a bat
tie progresses very far, for the ca.
nine's ncne and paws soon become
punctured with the poisonous quills
and he is glad enough to let the ugly.
faced porcuplne alone. But they are
greedy things. and baited trap gen.
orally entlces the "porky" to his down
fall. Even after he is caught he is
next to worthless. Some render their
fat, saying that 1t produces an oil
having in II rare medicinal qualities,
but as n usual thing their death is
sufficient cause for rejoicing, and they
are permitted to lie in the woods.
There are times when "porkies." /"
II numerically strong, will attack n
man, and in that event they can make
II most uncomfortable for him, as with
claws and teeth and quills they pos
sess weapons that anyone might have
wholesome fear of. But. like all
edwards. the "porkies" must have
their whole gang on hand before they
will attempt the aggressive.-Phila-
delphia Record.