Woodchuck 435 



not awake. This plan was invented by the United States Bio- 

 logical Survey, and has proved most effectual. 



But it is rarely that such measures must be resorted to, 

 and when in reasonable numbers the harmless philosophic 

 Woodchuck must commend itself to all who are interested in 

 picturesque wild life. 



My own experiences with the species in Manitoba have the 

 been but few. I knew it much better in Ontario and the chucks 

 Eastern States, where it continues in numbers, despite the ^°^^ 

 efforts of farmers who do not appreciate the aesthetic beauties 

 of its philosophic life — who are so bigoted, indeed, that they 

 would rather kill one than lose a horse or an acre of clover. 



In my early days about Lindsay, Ontario, the Woodchuck 

 was the largest wild animal that entered into the lives of us 

 boys. In the grain fields, still dotted with stumps, it found a 

 homeland very much to its taste. With some great stump to 

 stand guard over its doorway, its roots for posts to block all 

 ruthless digging foes, its top to furnish a sunning place and 

 observatory, each fat, contented Woodchuck lived — the happy 

 lord of the small domain about its door. At times, though 

 rarely, the long rifle of the grown-ups would end the career of 

 some rack-renting Chuck that wasted by overtaxing its little 

 manor; or perhaps the Fox, who prowled early, snapped 

 up the Woodchuck that prowled late. But upon the whole 

 it had little to fear from any but the boys and their ever- 

 present auxiliary, the house dog. Many times, as I now 

 recall with over-long delayed remorse, we played a boyish, 

 fiendish part. That same old dog, by cutting off some Chuck 

 afield from its fortress, would drive it into a treacherous 

 hollow log or burrow just begun. Here it needs must turn to 

 fight — for the Woodchuck, though wisely ready ever to retreat 

 if possible, will never surrender. No, it is a fighter, and fight 

 it will, with the courage of a hero, both dogs and boys innumer- 

 able; whistling its shrill alarm, desperately grating its teeth 

 till their splinters fly, seizing on anything, dog or stick, that 

 comes in reach; defying all, till the brutal twisting-stick 



