Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

PESTS OF THE WOODS 263their bait, and breaks into caches that defy almostany other animal. If he finds more food than hiscapacious paunch will hold, he defiles the rest sothat no beast, however hungry, will touch it. Sofar as I know, the wolverine is practically extinctin our country except in the northwestern Statesbordering on Canada.Other Camp Thieves.—The bushy-tailedpack rat of the West is noted for carrying oft anyand everything that he can get away with, but theeastern wood rats and wood mice seldom do muchdamage about a camp beyond chewing up canvasor other cotton goods to build nests with — a tricktiiat flying-squirrels also are prone to play.I have never been, bothered by 'coons, althoughliving where they are abundant. But " Nessmuk "had a difterent experience. Many years ago hetold in Forest and Stream of his troubles with themin northern Pennsylvania." A strong cache ... is indispensable in this region, forthere is not a night during the open season in which youcan lay by meat, fish, or butter, where hedgehogs and'coons will not find it. Their strength and persistence indigging out your larder is something surprising. I havea butter cup with a tight-fitting cover, and a square tincase for keeping pork, also with a tight cover. Timeand again I have had these tins raided by raccoons, nosedaround, wallowed in the mud, and moved yards away fromthe cache; but the covers stuck like burs, and it must drivea 'coon frantic to work half the night in unearthing abutter cup, and then, wuth onh' one thickness of tin betweenhis nose and the longed-for butter, be unable toget a taste of it. Unless the 'coon dialect has plenty ofcuss-words I don't see how he could ever get over it"—