Re: [aroid-l] Woodchuck problem

From: "Ann McCulloh" <amcculloh at cbgarden.org> on 2004.07.25 at 17:20:48(11805) Like many successful animal species - Woodchuck numbers will expand to fill available habitat, whether or not humans are in that space. Deer, raccoons, woodchucks, squirrels, geese, etc. can thrive in the same habitats as people, and have become de-sensitized to our presence from necessity. With thousands of acres of relatively "wild" territory all around, woodchucks choose to burrow under our garage because the slab makes a nice roof for them, not because they've been driven out of the woodpiles and creek banks that abound in the area. And they ravage the garden because the cultivated plants are tender, tasty and available, not necessarily because there's a great shortage of "wild" fodder. We create pleasant circumstances for ourselves, and some of the more adaptable mammals share our tastes! Please don't get me wrong - I am all for expanding our reserves of wild land (and keeping them free of mining, timbering, etc.) That will make a critical difference to many vulnerable species - I just don't think woodchucks will "keep to their place" if we give it to them! Ann E. McCulloh +More Curator of Collections Cleveland Botanical Garden 11030 East Blvd. Cleveland, Ohio 44106 216 707-2829 phone 216 721-1694 fax -----Original Message----- Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2004 12:23 PM To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: [aroid-l] Woodchuck problem OR, purchase/save enough set aside habitat/land for the woodchucks so that they have other places to feed. MJ Hatfield

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