Liam Carter
In the 1961 children's novel, 'Where the Red Fern Grows' by Wilson Rawls, the protagonist Billy seeks help from his grandfather in building a raccoon trap. The trap involves creating a hole in a log, hammering nails diagonally, and placing something shiny at the bottom. While some readers have expressed curiosity about the trap's effectiveness, others have questioned its legality and humaneness. The novel explores Billy's relationship with his grandfather, father, and dogs, presenting a tale of tenacity and hard work.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of trap | Coon trap |
| Trap components | A hole in a log, nails, and a shiny object |
| Functionality | The coon reaches into the hole to grab the shiny object, but the nails prevent it from removing its hand unless it drops the object |
| Legality | Not legal in New Jersey |
| Effectiveness | Some readers of the book have tried the trap in real life and found it ineffective |
| Alternative methods | Modern traps such as Cuffs or Bandit Busters are more effective and humane |
| Trap construction | The hole is made using a brace and bit, and the nails are hammered in diagonally |
| Trap purpose | To catch raccoons for coon hunting |
| Target audience | The novel is a children's book |
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What You'll Learn
- The nail trap described in the book is illegal in New Jersey
- The trap involves using a log, shiny metal, and nails to catch raccoons
- The novel's protagonist, Billy, learns how to build the trap from his grandfather
- Billy uses the trap to catch raccoons to train his dogs for hunting
- The novel is a tale of a boy's relationship with his father, grandfather, and dogs
The nail trap described in the book is illegal in New Jersey
In the 1961 children's novel "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls, the protagonist, Billy, seeks to buy and train two Redbone Coonhounds for hunting. Billy's grandfather teaches him how to build a raccoon trap by boring a hole in a log, hammering nails diagonally into the hole, and placing something shiny at the bottom. The raccoon then reaches into the hole for the object, but the nails prevent it from removing its paw unless it drops the object.
This type of trap, commonly known as a nail trap, is considered inhumane and illegal in New Jersey. The use of nails or any sharp objects in traps was likely outlawed when teeth on traps were banned. More humane alternatives, such as modern dog-proof traps like "Cuffs" or "Bandit Busters," are available and recommended.
The novel is based on Rawls' childhood in the Ozarks and explores the relationship between a hardworking, tenacious young boy and his father, grandfather, and dogs. It emphasizes the importance of a respectful relationship with nature, where animals are given a "fifty-fifty chance" of survival.
While the nail trap described in the book may have been a creative solution for the characters, it is essential to follow local laws and regulations regarding trapping. Before attempting any trapping methods, individuals should research and understand the legal and ethical considerations involved.
It is worth noting that some readers have questioned the effectiveness of the nail trap described in the book, and it may not always work as intended. As one reader commented, using food instead of a shiny object and placing the nails deeper into the hole could potentially improve the trap's success rate.
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The trap involves using a log, shiny metal, and nails to catch raccoons
In the 1961 children's novel *Where the Red Fern Grows* by Wilson Rawls, the protagonist Billy seeks a pair of redbone coonhounds for coon hunting. He asks his grandfather for help with catching a raccoon to train his dogs, as the metal traps aren't working. The grandfather then teaches him how to build a raccoon trap using a log, shiny metal, and nails.
The trap involves cutting a hole into a log and placing something shiny at the bottom, such as a nickel or a piece of tin, to attract the raccoon's attention. The nails are then hammered into the hole at an angle so that the raccoon can get its paw in but not out. The idea is that when the raccoon sees the shiny object, it will reach into the hole and grab it. However, the nails prevent the raccoon from removing its hand unless it drops the object. Raccoons are known for being hard-headed and refusing to drop the object, so they become trapped.
While this trap can be an interesting and creative way to catch raccoons, it is important to note that some people may consider it inhumane. There are also more modern and humane traps available, such as those that are dog-proof. Additionally, using nails may not feel like a true victory, as it does not require skill or intelligence to outwit the raccoon. In the novel, a respectful relationship with nature is emphasised, allowing the animal a "fifty-fifty chance" of survival. Therefore, it is essential to consider the potential impact on the animal's well-being and explore alternative methods before resorting to this trap.
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The novel's protagonist, Billy, learns how to build the trap from his grandfather
In the 1961 children's novel *Where the Red Fern Grows* by Wilson Rawls, the protagonist Billy is a ten-year-old boy who seeks a pair of redbone coonhounds for coon hunting. Billy's grandfather teaches him how to build a trap in a log to catch a raccoon, as the metal traps aren't working.
Firstly, a hole is bored into the log with a brace and bit. Then, nails are hammered diagonally into the hole, leaving enough space for a raccoon to get its paw in but not out. Finally, something shiny, like a nickel or tin, is placed at the bottom of the hole to attract the raccoon's attention. The raccoon will reach in to grab the shiny object, but the nails will prevent it from removing its hand unless it drops the object.
Billy learns how to build this trap from his grandfather, who offers to help when he realizes that Billy needs a coonskin to train his dogs. The trap is designed to be more humane than metal traps, giving the animal a "fifty-fifty chance" of survival. However, some readers have pointed out that the nail trap may not be considered "sportsmanlike" and that there are more effective and humane ways to trap raccoons.
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Billy uses the trap to catch raccoons to train his dogs for hunting
In the 1961 children's novel *Where the Red Fern Grows* by Wilson Rawls, the protagonist Billy uses a nail trap to catch raccoons to train his dogs for hunting. The novel is a work of autobiographical fiction based on Rawls' childhood in the Ozarks.
Billy, a tenacious young boy, seeks a pair of redbone coonhounds for coon hunting. After seeing a magazine ad for them, he spends two years working odd jobs to earn the $50 he needs to buy a pair. He then walks 20 miles to Tahlequah to retrieve them.
Billy's grandfather teaches him how to build a trap in a log to catch raccoons. He makes a hole in the log with a brace and bit and hammers nails diagonally into the hole. Something shiny, like a nickel or tin, is placed at the bottom of the hole to attract the raccoon's attention. The nails are positioned in a way that allows the raccoon to get its paw into the hole but not out, as its paw gets stuck.
While Billy uses this trap to catch raccoons, he also spends the summer training his dogs to follow the scent of raccoon hides. He delights in how quickly they learn. The nail trap, however, is not considered "sportsmanlike," and Billy feels that it doesn't require skill or intelligence to "best" the raccoon. Instead, he believes that a respectful relationship with nature should allow the animal a "fifty-fifty chance" of survival.
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The novel is a tale of a boy's relationship with his father, grandfather, and dogs
"Where the Red Fern Grows" is a novel by Wilson Rawls that explores the relationship between a boy, his father, his grandfather, and his dogs. The story is set in the Ozarks and centres around the boy's journey to buy and train two Redbone Coonhounds for hunting.
The novel begins with the boy, Billy, seeking to purchase a pair of redbone coonhounds for coon hunting. After seeing an advertisement in a magazine, Billy spends two years working odd jobs to save up the $50 he needs to buy the dogs. He then walks 20 miles to Tahlequah to bring them home.
Billy's relationship with his grandfather is a significant aspect of the story. When Billy encounters challenges in training his dogs, his grandfather offers wisdom and guidance. In one instance, Billy struggles to catch a raccoon to train his dogs, and his grandfather teaches him how to build a trap. The trap, known as the "nail trap" or "coon trap", involves cutting a hole in a log, placing something shiny at the bottom to attract the raccoon's attention, and hammering nails into the hole at an angle to trap the raccoon's paw. This trap is a famous scene from the novel, and some readers have even attempted to recreate it.
Billy's relationship with his dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann, is also central to the story. He trains them to follow the scent of raccoon hides and delights in their quick learning. The novel shares characteristics with a traditional hero's journey, as described by author Joseph Campbell, who explored mythology in different cultures.
In the end, Billy visits the graves of his beloved dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann, and finds a giant red fern growing between them, symbolizing the enduring bond they shared.
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Frequently asked questions
The novel is about a tenacious young boy and his relationship with his father, grandfather, and his dogs. It is a work of autobiographical fiction based on the author, Wilson Rawls' childhood in the Ozarks.
The nail trap is a raccoon trap that involves boring a hole in a log and driving nails into it at an angle that allows the raccoon to get its paw in but not out. A shiny object is placed at the bottom of the hole to attract the raccoon's attention.
No, the nail trap described in the novel is not legal. The use of nails or any other sharp objects in traps is outlawed.
