Jan 11 2009
Porcupines For Water
One of the more interesting survival tactics occurs in chapter two of “Taggart” by Louis L’amour.
Taggart finds himself without water, and nearing death in the desert. He reaches the Tonto but finds that it has run dry. Just as he is about to expire he hears a couple of porcupines digging nearby in the streambed. Taggart realizes that they are digging for water and also begins digging in that same spot. Eventually he reaches water and is able to survive.
I don’t know for sure that this would work, but is certainly seems plausible. I am less convinced of the behavior of the porcupines than of the chance of finding water in this manner in the desert. I have myself dug and found damp earth and water in the desert by digging for various reasons and it certainly could be done, especially in a streambed where water is usually found.
I personally would not like to be in Swante Taggart’s predicament, but it something to keep in mind just in case I’m ever dying of thirst in a desert.
