Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 263, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1912 — PORCUPINE DESTROYS TREES. [ARTICLE]

PORCUPINE DESTROYS TREES.

Pernicious Activity of the Animals. Reports made to the local forest bureau from Bishop, Inyo county, indicate that the porcupine is seriously damaging the lodgepole pine forests of the eastern slope of the Sit.ras. Practically the entire area of the Inyo national forest has been affected to some extent. In some localities the damaged trees aggregate as high as twenty-five per cent, of the total stand. While these areas are not large, forest service authorities declare that Jt is evident if something is not done to curb them much of the timber in the Inyo reserve will be destroyed. The porcupine feeds to a large extent during the winter months upon the- Inner hark oCtheplne.aud in order to obtain food he girdles the trees, eating the bark and eventually destroying the trees. As the animal visits several trees in a single night to satisfy his hunger the damage done by one animal is considerable.