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DANGER FROM WILD ANIMALS |
| "Danger from Wild Animals - Panthers, wild cats, wolves and bear were the most troublesome depredators and they were the means of much serious damage to the stock of the settlers, most of which was driven to the mountain ranges, where luxuriant grasses abounded from May till October. Colts, calves and pigs were frequently attacked and destroyed by these 'varmints,' as the settlers called them. But while there was little or no danger to human beings from these animals, the black bear being a notorious coward, unless hemmed up, the 'women folk' were 'pestered' by the beautiful and, on occasion, malodorous pole-cat or skunk, the thieving o'possum, the mink, weasel, etc., which robbed the chicken roosts after dark. Moles and chipmunks, also destroyed their 'garden truck' in early summer, while hawks and eagles played havoc with their fowls, and crows pulled up the young corn and small grain which had not been sown deep enough. (1914, Arthur, John. Western North Carolina, p.269.) |