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Pennsylvania Game Commissioners Approve Reclassifying the Porcupine as a Furbearer

Pennsylvania — Porcupines now classified as furbearers. Trapping season could be instated in future.

In 2012, the Pennsylvania Game Commission established a new hunting season for porcupines. A year later they scaled back on quotas due to worries about harvesting the animals just for sale overseas. Now, in 2016, they have approved to reclassify the porcupine as a furbearer and may allow trapping in the future.

“No trapping season exists for the 2016-17 license year, but one could be approved in the future.”

If the Game Commission was worried about porcupines being sold overseas and overharvested in previous years, why aren’t they currently? What has changed that they are now considering a trapping season? This is clearly a step backward for wildlife management in this state and the country.

Article from 2012 which states Game Commission was worried about porcupines being exported overseas:  Pennsylvania Game Board Scales Back Porcupine Hunting

The commissioners gave final approval to reclassifying the porcupine as a furbearer. This change allows porcupines to be trapped as well as hunted. No trapping season exists for the 2016-17 license year, but one could be approved in the future. The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau supported this change, as porcupines have been known to chew wooden handles on tools, as well as rubber tires and hoses on farm equipment. Although strange, this is due primarily to their attraction to the salt that can accumulate.

Read full article:  Reclassifying Porcupines as a Furbearerer

 

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