Source: The Wichita Searchlight (Wichita, Kansas), March 17, 1906

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In 1906, a newspaper in Wichita, Kansas published a story about a rather ingenious plan devised by an elderly Pennsylvania farmer. This particular farmer had a tree on his property that he wanted to cut down, but because of a bad back and a dull ax, he was unable to do the job himself. Undeterred by these setbacks, he came up with a plan to enlist the help of some of his unsuspecting neighbours. Knowing the passion that some of them had for racoon hunting, he carved a racoon's foot out of a potato and proceeded to make numerous "tracks" in the snow that lead to and up the tree. 

Afterwards, he then informed his neighbours that the tree must be filled with racoons, pointing to the evidence he had fabricated using the potato foot. They took the bait, and shortly after, half a dozen men with sharp eyes and sharp axes were taking turns chopping at the base of the tree. The men also brought dogs and shotguns and were filled with excitement over the anticipated haul of racoons. 

The tree finally fell with no one being harmed in the process, including any racoons.