A concerned citizen files a 311 complaint about a havoc-wreaking gopher at DeFilippo Park in the North End:
There is a gopher in the new community garden at DeFilippo Park on Prince Street in the North End. It is deeply affecting the life of the garden, and we would like it to be captured and released in another area please.
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Comments
VARMINT!
By Whistlepig
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 12:01pm
VARMINT!
I'd like you to meet my niece, Lacy Underall
By Judge Smails
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 5:23pm
Her mother... sent her to us for the summar.
Gopher?
By Parkwayne
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 12:29pm
Do gophers even live in New England? Perhaps this is a woodchuck?
More likely woodchuck
By KellyJMF
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 1:08pm
You're right but for the wrong reason. Gophers are endemic in the US. However, gophers have hairless tails and woodchucks have fuzzy ones. That is certainly not a gopher tail in the picture.
Can't tell from the picture how big it is but gophers top out around 2 pounds and woodchucks get to 12-13 pounds.
In the BPDA
By anon
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 2:11pm
there are many gofers.
Yup
By Essteess
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 4:28pm
I spent a good chunk of my childhood (in the Hudson Valley) around woodchucks, and although the critter in the photo is partially obscured, my first thought was "Ain't no gopher." They can be pretty destructive: A family of 'chucks took up residence under my mother's sauna and deck, and chewed it all up pretty bad.
AKA groundhog
By perruptor
Sat, 07/10/2021 - 8:21am
Woodchucks are also called groundhogs. Here's a discussion of groundhogs, woodchucks, and gophers.
As a child, I once tried to pet a gopher. Big mistake. It attached itself to my finger and wouldn't let go. A neighbor hit it so it released me. I still have the scar.
I agree. It's a woodchuck.
By Don't Panic
Sun, 07/11/2021 - 11:19pm
I agree. It's a woodchuck.
No relocating rodents
By KellyJMF
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 1:15pm
Everyone wants the cute rodents removed and "relocated" but you can only relocate on the same property or kill them.
From mass.gov:
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/moving-wildlife
Woodchucks:
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-w...
“Relocating wildlife” is a
By Lee
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 1:41pm
“Relocating wildlife” is a misleading phrase that placates the conscience of those who don’t know or are in denial of the fact that it most often means a cruel death not only for the trapped animal but for any babies that depend on it.
Euthanasia in a vet’s office is kinder.
Re: “Relocating wildlife” is a misleading phrase... Agreed.
By The Frying Pan ...
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 2:06pm
Fortunately this case was resolved in the best way possible, with the animal being left in peace.
"CLOSED Case Resolved. Animal Control reports, sorry we can not remove healthy wildlife and relocate it . It's illegal to relocate wildlife in Massachusetts. - about 1 hour ago #101003846422"
Good news!! Thanks.
By Lee
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 2:12pm
Good news!!
Thanks.
Who is the worse menace? The
By Lee
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 1:37pm
Who is the worse menace? The creature with the low carbon footprint or the one with the infinitely larger one?
UCLA Particle beam lab working on a fix for varmints
By anon
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 2:26pm
http://pbpl.physics.ucla.edu/About_Us/Bios/Carl_Sp...
And the rabbits aren't eating all the stuff?
By SwirlyGrrl
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 4:57pm
Seriously. Take a step back and look at the options.
Kill the Woodchuck, maintain the habitat, and woodchuck the second will arrive.
Meanwhile, the ravenous rabbits will eat everything for all of them.
The real answer is to take appropriate measures to screen out both of them. That means fencing off the plants.
Relocate it...
By anon
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 5:19pm
... into my arms!!! So cute!!
I worked in a Mansfield office park some
By MC Slim JB
Fri, 07/09/2021 - 7:47pm
years back that did a nice job of preserving nearby forest and wetlands and keeping old trees and other wild flora near the buildings. We got to watch a new family of woodchucks, mom and kits, waddling around right outside our ground-floor office windows every late spring / early summer. Them little ones were awful cute, usually five or six to the litter, and grew really fast. No nearby vegetable gardens to ravage.
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