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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Porcupine attack!

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  • From: "del stubbs" <pinewoodel@hotmail.com>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Porcupine attack!
  • Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 14:36:30 +0000

When we bought our property 6 years ago, the large oak trees were so sickly looking I had a forester disease specialist come out and have a look, he pronounced it was cattle compaction and aphids. The entire tops of the trees were dead. A week later I was looking with binoculars and it was obvious that every single branch up to 4" was stripped by porkys - so much for educated specialists.
My only sucessful solution was to go out on a moonlit night where I could see their silhoette against the sky, with a .22. Rarely saw them in daytime or dusk. I still feel like a cow every time I shoot one, they are so defenseless. But the fishers have been so trapped out here that they no longer have natural predators. Yes, I even made chili out of a few, but there is not much meat, and one was too gamey for even my tastes, so now the foxes get to eat them. After 6 years the oaks have recovered, and my fledging apple orchard hasn't been hit yet. If I was to trap them I'd use several foot traps together , or a large double ended live trap. Del
northern MN. where we already have more snow then all of last year........

I have tried live trapping using carrots/grain/apple slices, but nothing seems to work. Going out at dusk everynight with a .22 has not produced results either. In the past I found the .22 much more efficient than my first weapon...a shovel. (Although, I really got my frustration out on that one as I recall.)

If anyone has a sure fire way to bait this menace, I would really appreciate it. Honestly, I don't want to kill this animal, just stop it from wrecking my hard work.

Thanks!

Dean Kreutzer
Regina, Saskatchewan Canada
USDA zone 3

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