Nocturnal visitors pose prickly problem
SOME prickly guests have made a habit of taking over Gavin Harrington’s backyard, causing damage at his Beverley Grove home.
Over the past six weeks, a family of four porcupines have managed to dig up tree roots all over Harrington’s yard, tear open his garbage bags and leave razorsharp quills all over the lawn, prompting him to call on the expertise of animal control specialist Arnold Slabbert of Wildline.
“About five years ago we put out traps and caught four porcupines in our backyard,” Harrington said.
“And now, over the last month and a half, we are sitting with the same dilemma.”
Slabbert said the porcupines are driven from their natural habitat in the Baakens Valley due to urban development, drought and regular sewage spills in the Baakens River.
“They are forced into the urban areas to look for food and shelter, putting them at risk of being hit by cars, attacked by dogs, or even being killed by people who do not care to have them removed safely,” Slabbert said.
The process of catching the porcupines has taken time as these nocturnal grazers are smart enough to avoid traps once one has been caught.
“You have to set out a trap to catch one, then wait a couple of days before setting out another trap, because the others are smart enough to avoid it,” Harrington said.
“You have to put out bait for a few days before reintroducing the trap.”
Luckily, with the help of their favourite snack, butternut, Slabbert was able to lure two adults, weighing upwards of 20kg each, as well as two younger porcupines into traps before releasing them at the Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve.
“Since releasing the last one last week we have received word that another one had been spotted in the same yard, so we might have another catch and release within the next few days,” Slabbert said.