PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Pennsylvania Game Commission has struck a compromise on a proposal to allow for the hunting of porcupines in the state.

To make it eminently clear that people can kill porcupines that may be damaging property, one game commissioner proposed removing protections for porcupines and creating a year-round open season on the rodents.

But the commission has decided to split the difference, allowing for porcupine hunting only in the fall and winter. Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser says a hunting license will be required but says that shouldn’t be an issue.

“This is addressing the damage issues that have been going on in many of the big woods, rural, remote communities of north central Pennsylvania. This is an area where a lot of the people who are living up there or travelling to that area are already in possession of a hunting license.”

But the Game Commission has decided to allow porcupine hunting only from September first to March 31st, with no hunting during the spring and summer when the critters raise their young.

Reported By Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio