Porky

[Deserterer]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

I have a feeling most of those giving you a hard time for being unhappy about porcupines would understand within 30 seconds of their pet getting a face full of quills. Or even, if they had to watch a wild coyote suffer and die from infection and starvation after running in to one. It's not a pleasant way to go.

Not all animals are welcome additions to the naturescape. Bless their hearts, but I understand being less than pleased about this neighbor.

Nature isn't for everyone. Not all humans are welcome additions either.

Most of my dogs have run afoul of porcupines, some of them more than once. One of them got dozens of quills in his muzzle and mouth and throat that I had to pull out by hand. It wasn't fun for either of us but none of It made me dislike porcupines. It did make me keep a closer eye on my dogs. Especially after the same dog chomped onto the same porcupine in the same place a couple weeks later.

Originally Posted by Bungalove

You forgot to note that I said "in the winter". They have plenty of other food sources during the rest of the year. I think it would take several porcupines quite a while yo de-bark a large group of trees.

I don't know how long or how many it takes, but I've seen all of the pines near a house or cabin be stripped to the point of killing the trees. It doesn't really matter which season they do it in so I'm not sure why you mentioned it. Its distressing to the owner regardless of the season but I still favor nonlethal means of dealing with it. After it gets that bad even lethal means aren't going to change it.If you know you have porkys hanging around its easy to protect your most valuable trees.

[Bungalove]

Originally Posted by Deserterer

Nature isn't for everyone. Not all humans are welcome additions either.

Most of my dogs have run afoul of porcupines, some of them more than once. One of them got dozens of quills in his muzzle and mouth and throat that I had to pull out by hand. It wasn't fun for either of us but none of It made me dislike porcupines. It did make me keep a closer eye on my dogs. Especially after the same dog chomped onto the same porcupine in the same place a couple weeks later.


I don't know how long or how many it takes, but I've seen all of the pines near a house or cabin be stripped to the point of killing the trees. It doesn't really matter which season they do it in so I'm not sure why you mentioned it. Its distressing to the owner regardless of the season but I still favor nonlethal means of dealing with it. After it gets that bad even lethal means aren't going to change it.If you know you have porkys hanging around its easy to protect your most valuable trees.

See, this is a logical and educated approach to dealing with nature. The porcupines were there first, and there are ways of living with them. One can dislike the fact that they are on your property, but they, like other creatures, have their place in the overall ecosystem. You learn to adapt and deal with it.