Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Post Holes


Whenever we would get the post hole digger out, Dad would have me operate it but would still usually mention wanting to someday catch and train one of these animals. The North American Badger.

He thought, that owing to their speed and skill in digging holes, even in hard country roads, that they would be excellent post hole diggers if trained properly. He always said ground hogs dig diagonal holes that would be good only for fences in the hills. But Badgers dig vertically. Thus making them the obvious choice where flat ground like ours was concerned.
The question was then how do you train a badger, should you be unfortunate enough to catch one. The answer I think, is the same as to the question how do you milk a porcupine. Very Carefully.


19 comments:

Lee said...

Just think if you could find a porcupine with thick enough spikes, you could hire both it and the badger...and retire at ease! ;)

Jim said...

Good post, Cliff! I wonder how fast they can dig?
If you get one I could probably train it right for you, like I did Karen's cat.
..

Peter said...

He's a bit of a mean lookin' son of a gun to go training I think Cliff.

Idgie @ the "Dew" said...

I'm not sure, he looks amiable enough to go along with your plan.

(Yah right. I'll mail you some antiseptic and bandages for when you try it.)

Anonymous said...

My Dad used to fish with them...POST HOLES that is. I don't know where he got them from. He told me once that they were difficult to keep on his hook though. He was very strange when it came to the kinds of fishing bait he used. When people asked him what he was using to catch all those fish he'd say "Flea eyes, Chigger brains, White mice tails and Post Holes."

Paul Nichols said...

All I got to say is that you better be happy to have all that diesel-powered farm equipment to dig your post holes. Of all the tools I ever had, the post hole digger was the one I hated.

Nuff said.

EV said...

Whoa!!! The North American Badger is a critter to stand aside from - I'll opt for digging my own post holes. That's not withstanding having been spun around a few times hanging on to a power auger. Great mascot, though. Hey, Wisconsin? ;0)

Ralph said...

Cliff
If you ever catch one have Marilyn give me a call and let us know what hospital you are in.
Ralph

Unknown said...

Grandma's power ice auger has been put into service digging post holes on more than one occasion. Minnesota multitasking.

Jamie Dawn said...

I think those critters are as fierce as the Tasmanian Devil. I'd say you best leave them alone.

Rachel said...

I've always heard that you didn't want to mess with a badger. He is cute though!!

Once my Dad stuck his hand down in a groudhog hole and got bit on the finger! He was not a happy man!! I'd rather not say what happened after that. After all, I am an animal lover.

Dan said...

He looks as though he's saying, "Stop badgering me!"
i like the flea eyes and chigger brains comment, but I must add grasshopper feet and chicken lips.

Anonymous said...

Cliff,
I knew you were smart, but I didn't know you were a PHD. Post Hole Digger, that is.

nora leona said...

Nice post about a post hole.

eyes_only4him said...

he looks kinda hungry..

Anonymous said...

Just have your daschund catch one, and then you can spend your leisure time toting it around on a leash, maybe have it's claws removed...get it a little house to live in...maybe some toys, perhaps a club upside the head or two

PinkCat said...

Very cute, very cute.

Take care xx

Raggedy said...

Hahahaha!
Hugs

ptg said...

Catch a badger? I have had a few of them try to catch me.