The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-03-30
BABY wooocHucss.
What a Family OF Five Learned from
Their Mother In Ono hummer

What a Family OF Five Learned from
Their Mother Ina one summer
The woodchnck family best known
20 me was the one that lived By the
old rail fence just back OF the orchard
on my fathers farm. The mother In
troduced herself one morning In the
latter part OF May. Just as Old Rover
aud I had started out Tor days
fishing. As she fed AZ our approach.
Rover followed and disclosed to me
the burrow Into which she had led.
More than one days sport I got out
OF that burrow. took care that
Rover didn't 20 with me when made
my visits. and. instead Of digging
out the inmates. boy-fashiou. I waitssi
for them 10 come out OF their own nc
cord. Several times the old wood
chuck appeared: but. feeling sure
that there were more 10 follow" 4
patiently watched and waited. Fin
ally my patience was rewarded. FOR.
one nne morning. ave little cubs came
tumbllng along the narrow passage
after their mother to the entrance OF
AAAt nuAAVWs anu ARVN'tt AAttN
great. beautiful brown eyes upon the
outside world. What a marvellous sur
prise II must have been 20 them 10
view the green grass and the bcauti-
ful dowersl
when satisfied that there was no
danger lurking In the Immediate vicin-
ity. the mother led the way Into the
grass. followed by the cubs. which
tumbled along In haste TO keep close
to her. They tried to initiate her In 4
everything: and when she nibblei n
clover leaf they followed her exam.
pie. and soon the sharp little teeth had
learned to cut the juicy leaves
The real object OF their first outing
was soon accomplished-that OF filling
their stomachs-and then they began
playing about In the grass. very much
like puppies. but the mother was care
full not to let them wander far from
the entrance OF their home. for II her
trained ear caught the sound Of some.
hing approaching she would hustle
he little ones into the burrow Once
he cubs had Travelled only n part OF :
he passage before they heard the deep
breathing Of the dog at the mouth
u the tunnel. The exertion and ex. Z
'Itement must have made their M. I
le hearts beat fast. ana for the FIRST Z
line In their lives they learned what J
/ was 10 be frightened.
This was only the beginning OF :
heir education; for day after day they :
anne out OF the burrow. and when d
hey scrambled back something had
cen added to their little stock OF {
'oodchuck knowledge. A part Of Il
bis knowledge was obtained by copy. u
w their mother. but by far the great. I
r part came through instinct and ex. <
eriences Of their own.
Some attention was given to the art
Z climbing trees and fences. for from ri
evated positions they could command N
much more extended view Of n
Ieadow and woodland Yes, wood q.
lucks really climb fences and small 3,
ees. though their first attempts are !,
cry clumsy. Never n day passed m,
lat the little woodcbuchs did not re- ri
i've lesson In danger signals They q,
ION learned to distinguish among n,
Ie many sounds that came to their w
Irs those that threatened harm from Al
ose that meant no harm Mt all. III
hey learned that dog is not dan. RI
,rous foe, as his presence Is usually or
sde known while he Il some distance
I; but they learned 70 be very wary
hen 4 fox was In the vicinity.-st. m,
IcholaA ha