Stickers the Porcupine Relocates
Stickers the Porcupine, beloved friend of the Telluride Ski Resort, was relocated this morning. In response to Stickers being continually fed by the public, the Department of Wildlife felt the porcupine would fare much better in more natural surroundings. Stickers was comfortable in the cage during the relocation process while munching on peanut butter and granola. U.S. Forest Service officer Scott Spielman has been monitoring Stickers and claims he is doing well.
“We hate to see Stickers go,” said CEO Dave Riley. “But this was the responsible thing to do for the porcupine. We want to ensure a happy life for Stickers in the wild.”
Stickers the Porcupine became quite a socialite in his own right, greeting and meeting with guests throughout the week, mostly on the runs accessed by the Prospect Bowl lift. But things had taken a wrong turn. Visitors began feeding Stickers a multitude of things not good for porcupines, and because porcupines have poor eyesight, Stickers had been mistaking fingers for food lately.
“Unfortunately, this is a direct result of people feeding wildlife, and now Stickers is always waiting for that next morsel of food,” said Jeff Proteau, vice president of mountain operations for the resort. “He is now habituated to humans, and this is not a good thing.”
The Department of Wildlife moved Stickers to a more desirable location, possibly near Woods Lake to live amongst his fellow porcupines. Stickers will be missed by ski patrol and the Telluride Ski Resort, along with many locals and guests alike. Good luck to Stickers.
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Unfortunately, you can not...
Unfortunately, you can not 'relocate' an animal that has been domesticated and expect it to survive in the wild, unless you relocate to a sanctuary or zoo. Stickers does not stand a chance. The DOW has effectlively murdered the pet. You should have left the porcupine alone, and posted signs to "please wear gloves when feeding Stickers." I'm not condining feeding wildlife at all--but this domestication was already done--so we now have a responsibility to care for the animal. Someone needs to go get Stickers NOW, unless it's too late.
I wonder if Stickers will...
I wonder if Stickers will survive in a world without handouts and salty hamburger grease?
If this is the same porcupine released by Lissa Margetts of the now defunct Rocky Mountain Ark Wildlife Center, Stickers found out that people are the good guys a few years back. Following a run-in with a car that broke its (I’m not going to try and guess the sex) two front teeth, Stickers spent seven months rehabilitating at the wildlife center. I’m not sure what was dished out at the ark, but I’m sure, broken teeth requisite something more exotic than chewy evergreen bark—pureed green bean Jell-O? Stickers was released into the Enchanted Forest, off Lift 10, in March of 2004. Eventually, this habituated pricklepig made his way up to the Lynx poma lift where the operators had an outdoor grill. Porcupines like salt, and Snickers would lick the grease off the bottom of the BBQ. Some herbivore.
So, I have to wonder if Stickers—not to be anthropomorphic—will be satisfied giving up his fast food (he didn’t even have to climb a tree to get it). He certainly won’t miss the attention, I mean; does anyone ever actually pet a porcupine? —MDuffy