2.6 Animals in the wild - porcupine  (Page 2/3)

Uncle Richard lived on the next farm. He looked after birds that were hurt, or tortoises that were run over. Once he had even looked after a leopard until it was better! The children knew that he would be able to help the porcupine. Dad went to call him and the children tried to give the poor animal some water.

Uncle Richard came as soon as he could. He had brought his special bag.

"I can’t see too well with all those prickly spines. I’m going to make him sleep and then we'll take him to my place," he said.

Uncle Richard gave the porcupine an injection. Together he and Dad lifted him into his truck and Uncle Richard took him back to his farm.

Tracy and Steven could hardly sleep. They were so worried about the porcupine. In the morning Tracy phoned Uncle Richard.

"Your porcupine is a girl," he said. "She's much better. Someone had shot her with a pellet gun. There was a big sore around the pellet. I took it out. She'll soon be better. You can come and help feed her if you like."

Tracy and Steven helped Uncle Richard with the porcupine. They listened carefully and did as they were told. They did not touch her too much, or make loud noises near her. They only gave her the food that Uncle Richard gave them.

"I thought porcupines ate slugs," said Steven

"She's very weak," said Uncle Richard. "I want to build up her strength first. By then she will be ready to find her own food. She mustn't get too fond of any snacks that she won't find in the wild. If that happens she may go to houses looking for more. The people in the houses won't like a porcupine coming into their kitchens and she might get shot again."

After a week, the porcupine was ready to go back into the wild. Steven and Tracy watched her go up the path where they had found her.

"She's almost running," said Steven.

"I'm glad she's better, "said Tracy

• Put these sentences into the correct order:

1. Steven went to fetch his father.

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2. The porcupine lay down in the path in front of them.

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3. Steven and Tracy watched the porcupine go back into the wild.

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4. When Tracy phoned Uncle Richard, he said the porcupine was nearly better.

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