Porcupine 2 Colt 0
We have another porcupine. Colt came in the house the other night with about three quills in his mouth. Definitely not quills off the ground. One went through the lip (again). We are working on using a Havahart trap to catch the little creep.
We are considering doing with the porcupine the opposite of what city folks do with theirs. Instead of "releasing him in the country where he won't bother anybody" we plan to release him in the city where he won't bother anybody. Wonder how city folks would feel if every time they let their dog out they had the opportunity for a $500 emergency vet bill, or getting skunked.
Don't give me any crap about the porcupines being there "first" either. There are plenty of places for porcupines to live without pressing right up into human territory. This is no different than you taking an antibiotic to rid yourself of a germ. You don't think an germ has the "right" to "live" in your body do you? What about a virus; it's almost an animal? How about a tick or leach? Would you let a squirrel or rat live in your house? How about bats?
Now that you agree that there is some line that the animals can't cross, you should be able to accept that mine is right for me. I don't want rats, porcupines, skunks, fishers, coyotes, feral cats or bears in my yard (and I have them all). The bats are welcome to live outside.
We are considering doing with the porcupine the opposite of what city folks do with theirs. Instead of "releasing him in the country where he won't bother anybody" we plan to release him in the city where he won't bother anybody. Wonder how city folks would feel if every time they let their dog out they had the opportunity for a $500 emergency vet bill, or getting skunked.
Don't give me any crap about the porcupines being there "first" either. There are plenty of places for porcupines to live without pressing right up into human territory. This is no different than you taking an antibiotic to rid yourself of a germ. You don't think an germ has the "right" to "live" in your body do you? What about a virus; it's almost an animal? How about a tick or leach? Would you let a squirrel or rat live in your house? How about bats?
Now that you agree that there is some line that the animals can't cross, you should be able to accept that mine is right for me. I don't want rats, porcupines, skunks, fishers, coyotes, feral cats or bears in my yard (and I have them all). The bats are welcome to live outside.
Sorry Todd, have to disagree. You live in a rural area and the native wildlife comes along with it....it isn't in your home it is on land which you have 'purchased' but nature is not something which limits itself to property lines or boundaries. You chose to bring yourself into this environment and when you do so you assume the risks and challenges that go with it. It isn't pleasant to have quills in your dog's nose or anything else negative happen to your animal, but on a philosophical level what gives one form of animal higher status than another? Comparing a porcupine living in its native habitat to a bacteria living within a human is not a reasonable comparison--the bacteria is a form of parasite for which the animal is a host. Porcupines are a component of the ecosystem with a niche to fill.... You can respond if you want, but frankly I doubt I will be back to the site to check again.....
I'll bring them to your place then.
You gonna donate your land back to the Native Americans any time soon? How about the deforestation that occurred to make that equine facility? They wiped out hundreds of acres of prime porcupine habitat for your recreational purposes. Throw in the land that's in hay instead of woods to feed the horses, and it gets to be huge. Seems pretty selfish to me. You should take up a hobby that requires a smaller "footprint" on the environment.
Love ya Chris, but my house is not "native habitat" to porcupines. There's 3.5 MILLION acres in northern Maine they can frolic on, or the 10 acres away from the house are pretty nice too. I'd never notice them there.
Todd,
My question is how did Chris find your site?
My guess would be that he is a non-hunter interested in one of your pups and if that is the case you guys have had differing opinions from the start.
My adventure of pulling over 400 quills out of Jet would put me on the same page as you along with agreeing with your non-hunter theory.
Also, you know he checks your site everyday just to see if there has been any responses.
Chris is Amanda's best friend. She honestly believes what she wrote, and I respect her for having convictions. Let's face it, most folks don't believe anything. She checks the site to see what's going on with Amanda and me. I feel a little bad about coming down on her the way I did, but a little controversy on the blog never hurt my traffic numbers. (Which are out of sight, btw.)
I have quite a few liberal friends and some good natured arguing is fun and probably healthy.
Todd, does this mean that I am on Amanda's bad list?
Porcupine's are on mine so I guess that's why I got reeled in. It's your fault Todd. Ha!Ha!
For what it's worth Jenny and Sally still have a really good home.
It's all good Jason.