Comments on: Woodchuck http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/ How can we live without the unknown before us? —Rene Char Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:48:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Via Negativa » Blog Archive » Proof http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4172 Via Negativa » Blog Archive » Proof Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:10:08 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4172 [...] Yesterday around noon, as I was waiting for a batch of bread to finish, I stood here and watched a small woodchuck eating the young leaves off the black raspberry canes. The woodchuck stood on its hind legs to reach the canes, which it held between its teeth like corn on the cob, delicately nibbling the inch-long leaves, which had burst from their buds two weeks ago before the cold returned, and have hardly grown since. This wasn’t the fat and handsome fellow I watched through my own kitchen window two weeks ago; in fact, it looked as if it might have gotten a bit too close to that other chuck. There was a long gash in the fur of its lower back, and its tail was missing. “Scarbutt,” I said to myself, thinking of Al Pacino. [...] [...] Yesterday around noon, as I was waiting for a batch of bread to finish, I stood here and watched a small woodchuck eating the young leaves off the black raspberry canes. The woodchuck stood on its hind legs to reach the canes, which it held between its teeth like corn on the cob, delicately nibbling the inch-long leaves, which had burst from their buds two weeks ago before the cold returned, and have hardly grown since. This wasn’t the fat and handsome fellow I watched through my own kitchen window two weeks ago; in fact, it looked as if it might have gotten a bit too close to that other chuck. There was a long gash in the fur of its lower back, and its tail was missing. “Scarbutt,” I said to myself, thinking of Al Pacino. [...]

]]> By: David Harmon http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4171 David Harmon Fri, 06 Apr 2007 19:42:19 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4171 Given that I find PETA to be generally <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/02/peta_has_sex_with_chickens.php" rel="nofollow">offensive</a> and <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/retrospectacle/2007/02/new_peta_ad_disturbs_us_into_s.php" rel="nofollow">manipulative</a>, I wouldn't look to them for linguistic correctness. As far as I'm concerned, "fur" works perfectly well when it's still on the critter. While my Vorpal Rabbit was certainly sweet and I loved him dearly, he was also incredibly destructive -- A multi-year War Of The Wires, not to mention clothes, bookshelves and other furniture, bedclothes and pillows. Over six years later,I still have various possessions bearing the Mark Of The Bunny, not to mention the carpet damage. I don't think I'll be getting another bunny too soon.... Given that I find PETA to be generally offensive and manipulative, I wouldn’t look to them for linguistic correctness. As far as I’m concerned, “fur” works perfectly well when it’s still on the critter.

While my Vorpal Rabbit was certainly sweet and I loved him dearly, he was also incredibly destructive — A multi-year War Of The Wires, not to mention clothes, bookshelves and other furniture, bedclothes and pillows. Over six years later,I still have various possessions bearing the Mark Of The Bunny, not to mention the carpet damage. I don’t think I’ll be getting another bunny too soon….

]]> By: Dick http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4170 Dick Thu, 05 Apr 2007 21:47:13 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4170 Badgers a-plenty around here. Sadly, the last one I saw was lying dead at the side of the Offley Hill road. Badgers a-plenty around here. Sadly, the last one I saw was lying dead at the side of the Offley Hill road.

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4169 Dave Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:38:06 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4169 Well, according to PETA, "fur is dead," so I'm not sure <em>what</em> you call an animal's coat when it is still in use by the original animal - pelt? Pelage? (And what are we to make of that slogan? That we should be squeamish toward death?) If you're into pet rabbits, BTW, you should read <a href="http://somewhereinnj.blogspot.com/index.html" rel="nofollow">Somewhere in NJ</a> for the weekly bunny fix. (Well, there are lots of other reasons to read it, too.) Well, according to PETA, “fur is dead,” so I’m not sure what you call an animal’s coat when it is still in use by the original animal – pelt? Pelage? (And what are we to make of that slogan? That we should be squeamish toward death?)

If you’re into pet rabbits, BTW, you should read Somewhere in NJ for the weekly bunny fix. (Well, there are lots of other reasons to read it, too.)

]]> By: David Harmon http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4168 David Harmon Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:06:15 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4168 I thought that the undercoat/guard-hair structure was what distinguishes "fur" from mere "hair"? I used to own a rabbit, with the classic "rabbit grey" coloration -- that is, he looked like a wild rabbit, albeit twice the size. Both his outer fur and undercoat had multicolored hairs, so that blowing into his fur revealed an impressive "bulls-eye" of (iirc) 4 colors. I thought that the undercoat/guard-hair structure was what distinguishes “fur” from mere “hair”?

I used to own a rabbit, with the classic “rabbit grey” coloration — that is, he looked like a wild rabbit, albeit twice the size. Both his outer fur and undercoat had multicolored hairs, so that blowing into his fur revealed an impressive “bulls-eye” of (iirc) 4 colors.

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4167 Dave Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:10:19 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4167 Don't you have badgers there, though? I wsih we had those. They don't range this far east, unfortunately. Badgers are cool (though I freely admit I've been influenced by <em>The Wind in the Willows</em>). Don’t you have badgers there, though? I wsih we had those. They don’t range this far east, unfortunately. Badgers are cool (though I freely admit I’ve been influenced by The Wind in the Willows).

]]> By: Dick http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4166 Dick Thu, 05 Apr 2007 06:05:17 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4166 There's a fascinating quality to this account of you watching yourself watching, which provides a deeper dimension than mere observation. I wish we had the odd woodchuck here in North Hertfordshire. The best I can offer is a regular morning thrush & a pair of clouded yellow butterflies checking out the broom & wondering why it's not in flower yet. There’s a fascinating quality to this account of you watching yourself watching, which provides a deeper dimension than mere observation. I wish we had the odd woodchuck here in North Hertfordshire. The best I can offer is a regular morning thrush & a pair of clouded yellow butterflies checking out the broom & wondering why it’s not in flower yet.

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4165 Dave Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:51:58 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4165 Wow. Yeah, they can be aggressive - though I've never been chased myself. I've seen them hold their ground against dogs. As for the whistling part, believe it or not, I've never actually heard them do that, though it's supposed to be common. Either our chucks are unusually mute, or I'm deaf in the upper register. Thanks for stopping by. Wow. Yeah, they can be aggressive – though I’ve never been chased myself. I’ve seen them hold their ground against dogs. As for the whistling part, believe it or not, I’ve never actually heard them do that, though it’s supposed to be common. Either our chucks are unusually mute, or I’m deaf in the upper register.

Thanks for stopping by.

]]> By: Via http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4164 Via Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:29:07 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4164 I think Woodchucks are also called Whistlepigs because of their high pitched calls. One chased my husband half way across our back yard when he accidently blocked its path. I think Woodchucks are also called Whistlepigs because of their high pitched calls. One chased my husband half way across our back yard when he accidently blocked its path.

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/woodchuck/#comment-4163 Dave Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:01:44 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2007/04/03/woodchuck/#comment-4163 I'm not sure their coat gets coarser or more silver with age. It is fairly coarse to the touch, though, yes. (I have felt plenty of dead ones over the years.) Thanks for visiting. It's always nice to see another Appalachian blogger. I’m not sure their coat gets coarser or more silver with age. It is fairly coarse to the touch, though, yes. (I have felt plenty of dead ones over the years.)

Thanks for visiting. It’s always nice to see another Appalachian blogger.

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