 |
| Pole-cat tending her young. |
One never hears of the Pole-Cat without thinking of something horrid. Its utter wanton cruelty and ferocity have made its name famous wherever it has lived. Although it is not a large animal (coming in size between the marten and the true weasel), it does not hesitate to wage war on birds, etc., several times its own size, such as turkeys, geese, ducks, chickens, and numberless hares and rabbits. With regard to rabbits, it is doubtful if they have a more terrible enemy.
The pole-cat is very scarce in England ; it is destroyed because of the havoc it makes among the wild birds and animals that are being preserved for game shooting. But when a pole-cat does visit any game preserve, it leaves a fearful trail behind to mark its progress. It always kills everything it can catch and will only suck the blood of its victim. Often hares and rabbits are found lying dead that would make a meal for twenty pole-cats.
The animal is small and therefore does not worry man seriously, except by killing his chickens; but if the creature was the size of a tiger, just imagine the scourge it would be. There is only one thing the pole-cat is afraid of, and that is the gun. It only lives on sufferance, and has hard work to keep its race from being utterly destroyed.
When a pole-cat has almost run an animal down it is so intent on the chase that it may be easily approached. This is common among all the weasels. The pole-cat has a brownish-yellow fur, varying to black on the paws and tail.
The pole-cat is very scarce in England ; it is destroyed because of the havoc it makes among the wild birds and animals that are being preserved for game shooting. But when a pole-cat does visit any game preserve, it leaves a fearful trail behind to mark its progress. It always kills everything it can catch and will only suck the blood of its victim. Often hares and rabbits are found lying dead that would make a meal for twenty pole-cats.
The animal is small and therefore does not worry man seriously, except by killing his chickens; but if the creature was the size of a tiger, just imagine the scourge it would be. There is only one thing the pole-cat is afraid of, and that is the gun. It only lives on sufferance, and has hard work to keep its race from being utterly destroyed.
When a pole-cat has almost run an animal down it is so intent on the chase that it may be easily approached. This is common among all the weasels. The pole-cat has a brownish-yellow fur, varying to black on the paws and tail.
No comments:
Post a Comment