The skunk is dead....

[Flybye]

We had an interesting morning. Our weimaraner (dog) was out in the back yard stalking something that was on the other side of the fence and under our shrubs. My DH and DS peeked through the fence and yep, you guessed it - a skunk :eek:

Apparently it is not the job of the local or state police to remove skunks. Nor is it the responsibility of Idaho Fish and Game. We were advised to wait until tonight and it would go out for a bite to eat and hopefully not come back. We tried to spray it with the hose but it wouldn't budge.

Our other choice was to wait until tomorrow, get a trap, and once the skunk got inside the trap, throw the trap (and the skunk) in the canal and drown the skunk.

Well, our neighbor has trapped a few beavers and we called in hopes that he had a skunk trap handy. He didn't. He came over with a huge smile on his face and a high powered pellet gun. He received the gun at Christmas and hadn't had a chance to use it yet - beaver trapping at his place isn't going so well :D

We dug a hole and he shot the skunk. We buried the skunk. It's all over and it really didn't stink that bad. For this, I am so greatful. There is no other animal so wretched as a skunk.

Want to know what is the funniest thing of the whole story? I went on a bike ride this morning with my NEW bike before the skunk discovery. When I came home I had my bike propped up by the shrubs out front. When I learned of the skunk I immediately brought my bike inside - can't have a stinky ride, right?

My DH says "well you have your bike inside, but no concern for the kids?" :D
They were still outside. I did manage to get them inside, too.

Thought I could share my day.

Stinky, RIP.

[makbike]

Was the skunk sick?

[Flybye]

Was the skunk sick?

Yeah, we are pretty sure. A healthy skunk most likely would have let loose when the dog was sniffing it out or when my DH was hosing it down with water. I have never seen one that "tame". I will take a sick skunk over a health, active one any day.

[Zen]

Who picked up Stinky to bury him?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

He probably got caught away from his home during daylight hours, with no place to escape to, and sought to hide in your bushes to be safe from dogs and people. He probably would have wandered off back home and away from your yard during the night. Skunks are nocturnal and he would have been very unlikely to move out from under the bushes into the open during the day even if sprayed with a hose. It's sad that he didn't at least get a chance to wander away back home during the night. :(

[meridian]

Want to know what is the funniest thing of the whole story?

To me, none of it :rolleyes:

Unless the skunk was acting rabid, I personally would have brought the dog inside and at least given it overnight to make it's way home or off the property before killing the animal (even then I wouldn't have, but that's another subject)

[Kano]

Flybye --

I remember a similar situation a few years ago -- our Mini Poodle found a hole in the back yard that was about big enough for him to head on into the tunnel. I called some gopher guy, or something similar, from the county. He wasn't sure what the hole/tunnel was from, but we do have rock chucks by the bazillions in the fields behind our house, which was what he thought might be the culprit, and being a gopher guy, he doesn't do rock chucks. He also said, "you better hope it's not a skunk! NOBODY does anything about skunks!" I never found anyone to call about rock chucks, and fortunately it wasn't a skunk.

So, gopher guy wasn't much help in our yard -- and we DO have gophers that we HAVE to figure out how to coax to leave one of these days! And I'm thinking some pretty persuasive and permanent encouragement: the buggers uproot my rose bushes!

Karen in Boise

[Mr. Bloom]

I've never seen a live skunk in my life. I'm counting my blessings!:)

Of course, I might prefer a live encounter rather than the nasty "road kill" encounters I have while ride:eek:

Now, this thread will probably jinx me...and I'll have a series of smelly encounters!:(

[r900]

Glad your neighbor dispatched the skunk. A prime carrier of rabies, you cannot tell by their actions if they are rabid or not. It is not worth the risk to let them wander away to become someone elses problem.Damp earth seems to dissapate the smell.Let the daisies flourish over skunkie.

[Tuckervill]

If you just leave them alone, they will go away on their own, and won't spray you. I'm surprised the skunk didn't spray the dog, either, and to me that means it probably was sick or something. They tend to scurry along if you are noisy. You don't want your dog sprayed, trust me!

That skunk has probably been living around and frequenting your yard for some time. You just never knew it--that's how quiet and non-confrontational they are. I'm sad that you felt it had to be killed.

Yes, I do want to know who picked it up! :eek:

Karen

[Cindyloo]

There is no other animal so wretched as a skunk.

Oh I think some humans are far more wretched than an innocent skunk caught out in the daylight and probably terrified. Whether the animal was sick or not, by your description, your friend was a little too happy about blowing the animal away.

[PscyclePath]

Having vivid images of the "Verminator" from Over the Hedge here... :D

Skunks are notorious carriers of rabies, and the early symptoms aren't all that evident. Not sure if your community has been designated as a rabies-prone area or not, but this is worth finding out. We've not had that great a problem here (I'm in Arkansas), but I remember from my time in Germany that large areas were designated as "Tollwutgebiete" or rabies areas... Foxes are the major carriers in Europe, and it's an open, year-round hunting season for these critters.

There are a number of striped skunks that frequent the western area of North Little Rock's Burns Park, where a sizable portion of the bike trail loops around... One of them appears almost solid white, and likes to hang out around the dog park. I've had a few encounters with him over the past couple of years, and there's a standard warning among the frequent riders in the area... "Don't pet the little white dog out there... 'cause he ain't no dog!" They are nocturnal, so you usually see them out on the trail at dusk, or on the occasional night rides thru the park. Gotta watch out for the deer out there, too...

Tom

[mimitabby]

I have seen more than one skunk in my day Mr Silver, and they are like most other creatures; if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. When my mother was young, she almost petted one, she thought it was a cat. It was early morning, dark and foggy. But the skunk had more sense than she did and walked away from her.

Why is a skunk wretched? they are a wonderful little animal who has developed a wonderful way of protecting itself. They live all over the country; they hurt no one. I read this story sadly; i realize that rabies IS a problem, but the bigger problem is the overinfestation of the planet with human beings.. If we don't like an animal, we blow it away.


http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/skunk.jpg

[meridian]

Mimi, that is SUCH a cute picture. Skunks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_skunk) really are awesome critters. I would have seriously considered one as a pet if it were not illegal in my state. I settled for two lovely ferrets instead :)

On another note, if we went around killing everything that may pose a threat to us, our pets, or our precious (smelling) bikes, there wouldn't be much wildlife left for us to enjoy.

If we take a step back and look at things, humans are just as much of an infestation and threat as any ‘nuisance’ animal, but we have no free killing passes for them :rolleyes:

Share Earth

[lauraelmore1033]

I remember taking the kids camping on Whidby Island and being surprised to discover that the campground was chock full of skunks. Dozens of them came out after dark and quietly sniffed us and our stuff out. They were kinda like cats roaming around, but without the "singing" and fighting. We quickly realized it was perfectly safe to roam among them and we were able to make our night time trips to the bathroom without danger of being sprayed.

There was an episode of Mythbusters dealing with removal of skunk spray odor. I think they discovered that is very difficult to induce a skunk to spray. They ended up using skunk stink out of a bottle because they couldn't manage to get any of the skunks to spray even though they were subjected to some pretty heavy duty harassment.

I don't think it is surprising that your skunk didn't spray. Poor little guy.

R.I.P. Skunky:(

[IFjane]

YES! Skunks are awesome little guys. We had one in our yard about a week ago - late afternoon - we suspect it was a nursing female and she was soooo hungry she couldn't wait until dark. She waddled up to the flower bed - she was headed for the spilled birdseed under the feeders - but when she heard us in the house she scurried back through the yard and into the woods.

When I was very young my dad and I found a baby skunk down by the creek in our yard. It was the cutest thing I ever saw! It was quite ferocious and definitely thought it was much bigger than it really was. It kept pouncing on my shoes. Dad and I got some crabcake from the kitchen (shhhhh! don't tell Mom!) and fed it some morsels. No, we did not keep it. In fact, once we put the crabcake on the ground in front of it, we left and never saw it again.

No, I don't want to walk up on one at night and yes, all my dogs were sprayed at one time or another. They can be very unpleasant - but they deserve a place on this planet just like we do.

[SouthernBelle]

We have lots of skunks around here. I've sat on the deck and watched one eating grubs in my back yard. He wasn't but a few feet away.

Another time I walked out front to get the mail, later than usual. Turned around and there was a skunk. I could have scratched his little head. he was traveling along so I just stood and watched him go by.

They've never bothered my cats, who also seem to enjoy watching them from the deck.

[SadieKate]

Since it won't be the last time, you may want to read up on the benefits of skunks and how to co-exist with them. Not only is it breeding season, but your yard may be full of attractive items.

http://www.laanimalservices.com/wildlife_skunks.htm

http://www.fundwildlife.org/coexist/skunks.html

[snapdragen]

Can we not beat up on flybye - she and her family did what they felt was best. None of us knows if the skunk in her yard was sick; I would tend to believe it was by it's behavior. I really doubt it brought great joy to have to kill the poor animal.

[SadieKate]

Wow, snap, I thought I was giving her some resources to deal with the next time. Skunks are part of almost all rural and urban environments.

[Zeek]

This thread has my curiosity peaked. So when does a skunk spray and why? I'm assuming it's when it feels threatened somehow. I've never seen a skunk "in person" but it's good to know that if I ever encounter one, not to automatically assume it's going to spray me.

[Flybye]

Who picked up Stinky to bury him?

That would, of course, be a job for DH :rolleyes:

[Flybye]

Wow, did I open up a can of worms or what?

I am a country girl and have grown up around skunks my entire life. They are pests and they are wretched. They have no natural predators and therefore are overpoplulated. They do carry rabies and they do spray easily. Maybe the ones on Myth Busters were more accustomed to living with people and maybe the ones in the camprgound were accustomed to this as well. The ones that I have been around aren't.

They spray up to 10 feet. It is wretched. It can send you to the hospital it is so awful. I know two people who have gone to the hospital for that. I have had one dog that was sprayed 10 times. My neighbor that shot the skunk? Sprayed twice. Did you know that the spray of a skunk can make unopened food - crackers - taste like the spray of a skunk? It isn't a nose thing, either. The crackers that I am referring to were 3 months old and unopened. Barf. Did you know that the smell can linger in your car for up to 6 months after a near proximity spraying? We had a car growing up and MAN was it awful to ride in. Did you know that tomato juice really doesn't work? I do because I have bathed the dog that got sprayed with it numerous times.

This is not the first time that I have been around a skunk that we have shot, in fact, it is about the 11th time. Now hold your horses - I also fish and eat them. I like hunting. I also smack mosquitoes when they land on me. Horse flies too. I also set out DCon to kill the mice at my house. I eat chicken.

My point? Everything does have a place on the planet. Including US!!! I am not an awful person because I do these things. You aren't perfect because you don't. There isn't ONE right way to do things. You are entitled to your opinion on this matter as am I.

It didn't bring great joy for us to pop off a skunk , (and also I am not going to throw a funeral for it) - but it is a relief to know that it won't be lurking out there when I let my dog out - or when the kids do on accident. It is also a relief to know that I won't be getting sprayed next time I mow the lawn. They are creatures of habit and do tend to return to the same place to "nest".

Thanks for all of your opinions. I don't feel at all bad for what I did. Life in the Western rural setting is perhaps a bit different than the rest of the world. Just remember, there are many opinions and no ONE right way.

[mimitabby]

Flybye you fish and eat skunks? Eyewwww

where i grew up skunks got hit by cars frequently, so their aroma was always present... now when i smell one (from afar) I get quite a feeling of nostalgia from the smell.

[spokewench]

We had a family of skunks living under our shed for quite a few years. They never bothered me and I never bothered them. My cats both got skunked once when we first moved to Flag (where they encountered their first skunks). After that, never happened again. Again, the reason "Cats are way smarter than dogs!" Dogs will get skunked over and over. They just can't resist!

And, I will admit everyone has their own opinions about pests, but Skunks are not on that list for me.

spoke

[DDH]

Flybye, your right tomatoe juice doesn't work, neither does vinegar and believe it or not I have tried the douce thing too. I live in TX in the country and we have an abundance of them too. My dogs have been sprayed and nothing gets it out. You can cut the smell down some with these items but it is a matter of mostly letting it wear off. Then everytime the dogs get wet again, the smell comes right back out. I have tried all those items plus a few of the over the counter items and they don't work either.

As far as shooting the animal, it's like anything else, some agree and some don't.
We had coyotes crossing our pasture about a month ago in broad daylight and these are not animals that come out in the daytime hours in populated area's normally so it was a little un-nerving and if my husband could have gotten the rifle out in time to shoot them he would have. Do I like it, no, but I have domestic animals and I have a 12 year old child, and if they are getting so bold as to come out in the daytime in a populated area, then they are a danger.
I believe that a skunk that would come out in broad day light is sick or rabid and I don't think I would have taken a chance to have left it either.


I eat meat, and I hunt, but it doesn't make me any less of an advid animal lover, point being I understand where you are coming from.

[SadieKate]

We had coyotes crossing our pasture about a month ago in broad daylight and these are not animals that come out in the daytime hours in populated area's normally . . . .Guess you haven't spent much time in California, have you? American River Parkway, Mt. Diablo, ALL of Southern California, etc. These are animals that have become very used to humans and live very successfully in the urban setting.

[SadieKate]

Wait, wait, wait. We've all managed to diplomatically share our opinions about skunks without calling each other names. Can we keep it that way? Please?

[Veronica]

. They are pests and they are wretched. They have no natural predators and therefore are overpopulated.

Sounds like humans to me. :p

I think smoking should be against the law at National Parks. It's gross to see cigarette butts on the ground anywhere... but at Crater Lake... geez.

We have skunks, raccoons and feral cats in our backyard. It's always interesting to watch how they interact.

V.

[mimitabby]

Sounds like humans to me. :p


exactly. pave the forest and put in another wallmart dang. those critters. they should go back where they came from! oh.. we are where they came from :confused: :mad: :eek:

[Veronica]

You know I absolutely refuse to shop at Walmart. You can't shop at Walmart and simultaneously lament the loss of the middle class in America. In order to get such cheap prices, they force manufacturing to go overseas.

V.

[nicole309]

When I lived in Michigan my boyfriend and I were driving through the neighborhood on a very hot day. We saw this poor little skunk walking up the road mid-day. His tail was droopy and it looked as though he was panting. We drove by and then a few blocks later we looked at eachother and said "We have to go back and help that skunk". So we drove around the block and sure enough the skunk was still slowly walking up the road. When there was shade he would stop for a second and catch his breath. We weren't sure what to do. I thought maybe he was thirsty, but how to get him water? I didn't feel bad enough to get sprayed!! So, we ran back home and got a bowl of water. We went back and the skunk was still walking along the road. We realized the skunk was making a pretty straight line. We went up half a block and set the water dish down and then waited in the car. Sure enough the skunk found the water dish and took a big drink. In the next shady spot he laid down again for about 10 minutes. We sat and watch until he got up, obviously in better shape, no longer dragging his tail on the ground and moving at a much quicker speed. At this point we decided to continue on with our day, but I would like to think the little guy was ok after that.

[Running Mommy]

We all have our own opinions here, but calling someone stupid is uncalled for!

I don't agree with some of the things I read in the posts here, but I would never go so low as to call names. And then to suggest that you hope someone or something KILLS that person???!!!:eek:

NO. Back up!! C'mon ladies. This is a diverse forum, with diverse views and beliefs. The fact that until now we have all coexisted in a rather peaceful way is what makes me love TE. Lets not go down the path that so many other forums have...

[onimity]

You know I absolutely refuse to shop at Walmart. You can't shop at Walmart and simultaneously lament the loss of the middle class in America. In order to get such cheap prices, they force manufacturing to go overseas.

V.

but you can buy a bike there for $68.97. Try that at your LBS! :rolleyes:

Seriously, I agree. There is no free lunch, the price of a bargain is always passed on.

I also agree with those opposed to shooting the skunk, but think we all have to make our own decisions about that sort of thing. My mom used to kill ground squirrels (with a baseball bat! :eek:) when they started burrowing in her vegetable garden. I understood that to some degree, we ate for a good part of the year from that garden, but it still really bothered me. Now that she has no kids at home she plants the same and lets them have their share.

I eat meat but think it's a real shame that we kill animals (or raise them in awful conditions) for our convenience, or simply because we don't like them, and that we destroy beautiful landscapes and habitats for our own 'needs,' which often amount to the safety/convenience of repeating strip malls, wider roads to access them and cheap red meat.

We know the sorts of animals that live in a place when we choose to live there also, no? I don't understand why people feel the need to dominate and fence in their own bits of the world, and to kill the pests -- dandelions, skunks -- that would encroach on it.

I know a lot of people have different opinions on this, and I don't think there is always a simple or universal answer. I just don't understand the need to kill an animal encroaching on 'our space.' I live in the foothills and it is not uncommon for a bear or mountain lion to be shot for roaming into residential areas and behaving dangerously. That makes me really sad.

Speaking of skunk shooting... the father of a childhood friend shot a skunk once. It had been living under their deck and had sprayed the cat a few times and so had to be eliminated. So he shot the skunk which promptly ran under the deck and below the house where it died. The smell was unbelievable and it cost them thousands of dollars to tear up the deck and get under the house. It put him off the skunk shooting, though!

Lots of opinions on this one, and I like the variety and that we can all express our different feelings on the matter.

Anne

[maillotpois]

DH shot a mocking bird with a pellet gun once. (We were living in the city limits in San Diego).

The d@mned thing kept going off at 3 in the morning. It was like one of those car alarms that sounds all the different alarm tones over and over. We tried throwing rocks at it, shooing it away. It was in a neighbor's tree. Weeks and weeks this went on. Finally he went to the sporting good store and bought a pellet gun. Then one night, in the pitch dark, he shot it. I don't know how he did it, but the thing never came back, so he must have hit it.

We felt badly about it, but we slept better than we had in weeks.

[pooks]

You know I absolutely refuse to shop at Walmart. You can't shop at Walmart and simultaneously lament the loss of the middle class in America. In order to get such cheap prices, they force manufacturing to go overseas.

V.

I'm with you on this one.

I won't buy anything made in China any more. And it's not always about cheaper goods. When I pick up a designer coffee mug in Starbucks and see "Made in China" on the bottom, I am not believing for one second that it would have cost twice the already exhorbitant price if it had been made in the US. That's not even about delivering cheap goods; it's just about bigger profits for the multinationals that are running the world.

[onimity]

Sarah,

I used to live in Orange County and had a similar bird in the neighborhood. It was uncanny how well it could imitate a car alarm:

whoOOOp-whoOOOp-whoOOOp-whoOOOp eRRRnh-eRRRnh-eRRRnh-eRRRnh bEEdup-bEEdup-bEEdup-bEEdup whoOOOp-whoOOOp-whoOOOp-whoOOOp

It was the exact same pattern as our neighbor's alarm (which went off frequently) and the bird had it down pat.

I suppose the little guy was trying to attract the ladies SoCal-style.

Anne

[Meg McKilty]

Meg, did you forget your coffee this morning? :)

V.

BTW, I was drinking hospital coffee at about 0400 this morning, so it might have something to do with it. That is some nasty coffee, folks.

[SadieKate]

Meg, there are times when animals must be eradicated from an environment. FlyBye’s post gave very little information about the skunk’s behavior but to her it could obviously have been sick. A skunk (or dog or cat) with rabies cannot be tolerated. None of us could see what FlyBye saw. I personally wonder that she’s had 11 serious encounters with skunks, making me think that something in her yard is an attraction for them, but I’m certainly not going to judge her for this one incidence. There is absolutely no evidence that what she did was wrong because there is not enough information.

There is respect in putting an animal out of its misery.

[snapdragen]

Personal attacks are unacceptable. I have deleted the offending posts. If you can't play nice, don't play at all.

Thank you!

[yellow]

DH shot a mocking bird with a pellet gun once. (We were living in the city limits in San Diego).

I'm sure I don't need to tell you that if he had killed the thing, it would have been a violation of the MBTA. :p It's a good thing the wildlifey lawyer I know works for the state and not the feds ;)

I once had a fellow tell me he was going to turn me in for violating the MBTA because I collected an owl feather in the woods.

In a sick kind of way, I miss mockingbirds. They are completely absent from this part of Oootah.

(Note to all: this is meant to be humorous. really.)

[maillotpois]

Sarah,

I used to live in Orange County and had a similar bird in the neighborhood. It was uncanny how well it could imitate a car alarm:

whoOOOp-whoOOOp-whoOOOp-whoOOOp eRRRnh-eRRRnh-eRRRnh-eRRRnh bEEdup-bEEdup-bEEdup-bEEdup whoOOOp-whoOOOp-whoOOOp-whoOOOp

It was the exact same pattern as our neighbor's alarm (which went off frequently) and the bird had it down pat.

I suppose the little guy was trying to attract the ladies SoCal-style.

Anne

O.M.G.!!! That is EXACTLY what this bird would do. That's amazing.

And Yellow, you can call the Feds on me any time.... :p

[Flybye]

Meg, there are times when animals must be eradicated from an environment. FlyBye’s post gave very little information about the skunk’s behavior but to her it could obviously have been sick. A skunk (or dog or cat) with rabies cannot be tolerated. None of us could see what FlyBye saw. I personally wonder that she’s had 11 serious encounters with skunks, making me think that something in her yard is an attraction for them, but I’m certainly not going to judge her for this one incidence. There is absolutely no evidence that what she did was wrong because there is not enough information.

There is respect in putting an animal out of its misery.

Just so you don't think I live amidst junk cars and in a stink-hole, the 10 encounters happened when I was in high school and we moved into a home that had been abandoned for about 8 years. The skunks, who are creatures of habit, used the area as their home - garage, outbuildings, bushes, etc. The one we shot the other day was the first I have ever had in my yard as an adult.

Snapdragen - Thanks for deleting the offending posts. They belong on another cycling site which I shall not mention.:D

[SadieKate]

Oh my gosh, that must have been a job to clean up.

[Flybye]

Yes, it was. The previous owners were not very clean. We stripped carpet and repainted the entire house.
I thought my parents had lost their mind when we moved out there. It was a 3000 sq ft home on almost 1 acre and they picked it up for $45,000.
They sold it last spring for $210,000.
Pretty fair profit.
They knew what they were doing the whole time.:D

[Lise]

In a sick kind of way, I miss mockingbirds. They are completely absent from this part of Oootah. Yellow, if I could catch the one in the tree outside BF's bedroom window, I'd ship it to you. In a very humane way that was in full compliance with all federal laws, of course. :cool:

J. has threatened to shoot said bird, but it's usually mumbled around 3 AM..."ah'm going to...that bird...shotgun...snoooore" It is rather aggravating. The bird, that is.

I once dated a guy who was an officer in the Chilean navy, and went out to shoot rats in the alley out back of his Chicago apt. He was incensed when I told him it was surely illegal to discharge his firearm in the alley...he felt he was doing a public service! :p

PS: Thanks, Snap, for keeping it civil around here. L.

[snapdragen]

I have a group of crows that sing me awake every morning :eek: So pretty....NOT!

[DDH]

Guess you haven't spent much time in California, have you? American River Parkway, Mt. Diablo, ALL of Southern California, etc. These are animals that have become very used to humans and live very successfully in the urban setting.

No ma'am, I haven't been to California. I hope to go there some time in the near future, I have a friend I want to meet really badly in Southern Calif. :D

[SadieKate]

OMG! She called me ma'am! You must be from Texas?!

Being half-Texan on my father's side I can say that. Ma'am isn't heard very often in these parts.:D

[DDH]

LMAO, I am cracking up here!!! Sorry, it just came natural for me, Kinda like saying howdy, instead of hello.

[nancielle]

Did you know that the smell can linger in your car for up to 6 months after a near proximity spraying?

Gag. Sadly, yes. Several years ago while driving home from class I encountered Skunkzilla waddling in the road. I didn't have time to stop but I was able to position the car so that I drove over it (not squashing type drive over), looked in the rearview mirror and saw it continuing to waddle on its merry way. Pat myself on the back for dodging that bullett...until the next morning when I was leaving for work. Turned the key and as the car got warmer eau de skunk got stronger. And there's nothing you can do about it. Needless to say, nobody wanted to carpool with me.:rolleyes:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

LMAO, I am cracking up here!!! Sorry, it just came natural for me, Kinda like saying howdy, instead of hello.

....."Howdy??..... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :p :D

Hey what's wrong with all you guys anyway? Dh and I LOVE to hear ALL the birds at dawn- at the first hint of daylight. We sleep with the windows open so we can hear the mockingbirds, crows, bluejays, sparrows, cardinals, wrens, chickadees, hawks, blackbirds, doves, woodpeckers....it's a beautiful symphony that just sort of lulls us along and doesn't keep us from going back to sleep- it just flavors our half dreams in a nice way. When I hear crows I envision Van Gogh's painting of black crows over the golden corn. The bluejays make me think of the Adirondac pine woods. The doves remind me of mournful windy cliffs in Maine. The sparrows remind me of my city early childhood days. Each birdsong evokes rich memories and soothes me when I am half asleep. We are sad that for the past two years all the mockingbirds that used to be in our neighborhood have suddenly disappeared. The abundant honeybees are completely gone from my gardens and flowering trees as well this year. Scary. :(

[Zeek]

Wow, did I open up a can of worms or what?

I am a country girl and have grown up around skunks my entire life. They are pests and they are wretched. They have no natural predators and therefore are overpoplulated. They do carry rabies and they do spray easily. Maybe the ones on Myth Busters were more accustomed to living with people and maybe the ones in the camprgound were accustomed to this as well. The ones that I have been around aren't.

They spray up to 10 feet. It is wretched. It can send you to the hospital it is so awful. I know two people who have gone to the hospital for that. I have had one dog that was sprayed 10 times. My neighbor that shot the skunk? Sprayed twice. Did you know that the spray of a skunk can make unopened food - crackers - taste like the spray of a skunk? It isn't a nose thing, either. The crackers that I am referring to were 3 months old and unopened. Barf. Did you know that the smell can linger in your car for up to 6 months after a near proximity spraying? We had a car growing up and MAN was it awful to ride in. Did you know that tomato juice really doesn't work? I do because I have bathed the dog that got sprayed with it numerous times.

This is not the first time that I have been around a skunk that we have shot, in fact, it is about the 11th time. Now hold your horses - I also fish and eat them. I like hunting. I also smack mosquitoes when they land on me. Horse flies too. I also set out DCon to kill the mice at my house. I eat chicken.

My point? Everything does have a place on the planet. Including US!!! I am not an awful person because I do these things. You aren't perfect because you don't. There isn't ONE right way to do things. You are entitled to your opinion on this matter as am I.

It didn't bring great joy for us to pop off a skunk , (and also I am not going to throw a funeral for it) - but it is a relief to know that it won't be lurking out there when I let my dog out - or when the kids do on accident. It is also a relief to know that I won't be getting sprayed next time I mow the lawn. They are creatures of habit and do tend to return to the same place to "nest".

Thanks for all of your opinions. I don't feel at all bad for what I did. Life in the Western rural setting is perhaps a bit different than the rest of the world. Just remember, there are many opinions and no ONE right way.

Very good and enlightening post--thank you, Flybye.

[Zeek]

DH shot a mocking bird with a pellet gun once. (We were living in the city limits in San Diego).

The d@mned thing kept going off at 3 in the morning. It was like one of those car alarms that sounds all the different alarm tones over and over. We tried throwing rocks at it, shooing it away. It was in a neighbor's tree. Weeks and weeks this went on. Finally he went to the sporting good store and bought a pellet gun. Then one night, in the pitch dark, he shot it. I don't know how he did it, but the thing never came back, so he must have hit it.

We felt badly about it, but we slept better than we had in weeks.

I could be wrong (Lord knows it's happened before) but is it legal to kill a mocking bird?

[Eden]

Hey what's wrong with all you guys anyway? Dh and I LOVE to hear ALL the birds at dawn- at the first hint of daylight. We sleep with the windows open so we can hear the mockingbirds, crows, bluejays, sparrows, cardinals, wrens, chickadees, hawks, blackbirds, doves, woodpeckers....it's a beautiful symphony that just sort of lulls us along and doesn't keep us from going back to sleep- (

hmmmm birds are fine, but when we sleep with the windows open the birds wake up (and excite) the cats, and since we get veeeerrry early dawns during the summer way up north here in Seattle, having riled up kitties romping over your bed (or scratching at the door if we kick them out) doesn't do much for your sleep....

[Lise]

I could be wrong (Lord knows it's happened before) but is it legal to kill a mocking bird?
Well, surely it's a sin (referrence To Kill A Mockingbird). :rolleyes:

Frankly, I don't know how likely it is that one would kill a bird by shooting at it in the dark. I do love birdsong in the morning, just not the same incessant three notes at 3 AM!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I do love birdsong in the morning, just not the same incessant three notes at 3 AM!

I can understand how that would disturb many people's sleep. I guess I am lucky in that even angrily cawing crows sound like soothing music to me. :)


Well, our neighbor has trapped a few beavers and we called in hopes that he had a skunk trap handy. He didn't. He came over with a huge smile on his face and a high powered pellet gun. He received the gun at Christmas and hadn't had a chance to use it yet."
.....Well there's a guy who apparently did seem to get some joy out of it! :rolleyes:

We had a ground hog/woodchuck in our garden last summer who decided to burrow a home under our shed and eat our vegetable garden up every day. I borrowed a Have-a-heart trap and he fell for the apples and peanut butter and we trapped him in about an hour. :eek: We drove him far away to some abandoned fields and let him go there. I can't imagine that trapping a skunk would be an option though. I'd have just let him wander off eventually- he probably wouldn't stay right where big hound dogs are living for very long.

There used to be a skunk living somewhere right on Main Street in our village. Every night he would go rummaging for dropped goodies in back of Ralph's Pretty Good Cafe. I ran right into him with my little pug dog one evening- he was huge and gorgeous. Me and little Kinky just politely backed off and let him be! The restaurant crew knew enough to always check carefully before going back there at night, they all knew about the skunk. Everyone managed to coexist ok. :p

[maillotpois]

We get crows at 5 am here. That's okay. It's almost light. This mocking bird was at 2 - 3 a.m. Dark. Psycho bird.


If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.

[maillotpois]

You're a weak admin.

Not likely.

I learned in third grade no matter how much you disagree with someone you don't call them stupid. Period. Don't turn this on her.




Frankly, I don't know how likely it is that one would kill a bird by shooting at it in the dark. I do love birdsong in the morning, just not the same incessant three notes at 3 AM!

He's a good shot. Or maybe it was dumb luck. Either way, we'd be happy to give J some pointers....

[Lise]

He's a good shot. Or maybe it was dumb luck. Either way, we'd be happy to give J some pointers....I'm sure he'd appreciate them!

I agree, keep it civil, folks.

[Veronica]

Not likely.

I learned in third grade no matter how much you disagree with someone you don't call them stupid. Period.

LOL


V.

[Running Mommy]

Ahh girls that is the wonderful thing about the "ignore" option...
I think I just found a new reason to "ignore" someone!



Sadiekate + ma'am = :D

I got a chuckle out of that one DDH! :D :D

Only 'cause I've had the distinct pleasure of sharing a beer with her recently.

BTW- going to be back in Moab in two weeks....Riding my new baby...Enjoying a post ride beer... anyone game?? :D

[Veronica]

Isn't Moab really hot in the middle of July?

We're planning a 3 - 4 week road trip and considered adding in Moab (gotta get back from Denver somehow!) but figured it would be too hot to really enjoy.

V.

[Running Mommy]

Ohh V when you live in Phoenix, "hot" is all relative! I looked at last years temps on wunderground, and it never got over 105. Anything less than 110 is heaven for us. But the thing with moab for us it that it cools down at night. Here it doesn't get under 85 overnight. So even if you get up at o dark thirty your still running/riding in heat. In Moab we get up early and get our rides in while it's still cool. As long as we are off the trails by mid day we are golden. It was 103+ the last time we were there and it didn't phase us.
In fact now that I think of it, Yellow called me around 12:30 pm and we were still on the trails. When I called her later and told her we were playing on the slickrock when she called she was like 'Whhhaaattt?? You were still out there in that heat?! Oh yeah, your from Phoenix..."
But then the best part is enjoying that cool beverage after a long mornings ride....:D I'm getting giddy just thinking about it!

[SadieKate]

Sadiekate + ma'am = :D I don't get no RESPECT! :D

V, I've ridden in Moab in July. I don't recommend it unless you can force yourself to be on the trails at sunrise. It does not cool off at night by the standards held by us'ns who live near the Sacramento Delta. It was friggin' hot at night in the middle of June! I've also been in Moab in July when it was 114.

Remember that there is little to no shade on those trails.

Kaleidoscope ice cream is excellent however.

[Running Mommy]

Yeah it would be too hot for most folks. But I also hit the pavement when it's 109+ out and the heat is radiating off of it. The best is when my tires smell like burning rubber. Heat... Yeah, bring it on baby! OY!:cool:
But then again if your not used to it, it can kill ya. I am careful when I go out there, and like I said we will be off the trails by noon.
Hydrate like a big dog, keep the noggin cool if ya can. (frozen bandana's for the neck are fab) and don't venture out on an epic ride... Short stuff is in order this time of year.
And yeah, we start early, very frickin early. But here in Phoenix I'm used to being up at 5:00 am for my runs, so it's no big deal.


Mmmmmm Ice cream... mmmmmm....

[Veronica]

We'll stick with our plan of heading on to Panguitch. :D We're early birds... but still.

Have a grand time while you're there.

V.

[IFjane]

Pepe says RIP, Stinky...

[Xrayted]

I've coexisted with many wild animals lounging about my yard over the years but I would hesitate to think that a skunk is dangerous, just stinky. I think there may have been reason to assume that skunky was a wee bit ill but then again they do have very docile natures. I guess I would have given him a day or two to wander off on his own and if he didn't, I would then have set out a humane trap and carted him off. Of course, we had so many of them in Amish Country PA that we actually had guys we could call who would trap them and remove them. Put some raw chicken in and they were all taken care of. I actually owned a Have A Heart trap that I used on a few skunks and more than a few groundhogs. I never was sprayed even once. We had a friend with a pet skunk when we were teens and he was very cuddly. (the skunk too.)

and just to add in my .02... Snap is my hero. :cool: Don't mess with Snap, please. **givin' the hairy eyeball**

[short cut sally]

I was reading this thread first thing this morning, listening to the crows, robins, and killdeer out my window and thought I had to share my skunk story from this weekend at work. An 11 year old boy, was dared by his sister to go and catch the skunk that was at the country dump (meaning private owned, back yard kinda thing)..little boy took sister up on the dare. Not only did he grab the skunk, he got sprayed and nipped on the finger. Needless to say, he started his rabies series that night and I had to send him to the waiting room after triage for a room to open as we were full. The ER stunk, the lobby stunk, and that poor boy stunk, I even attempted spraying him with air neutralizer, didn't help. Skunks in our area are 2nd after raccoons for carrying rabies. The skunk made it away without harm. I think the skunk was trying to protect himself in this case. I myself dont mind the skunks. They eat the grubs out of our lawn, and I know people kill them purposly (like my brother) because they spray his dog (who chases them). They aren't any different than any other little critter out trying to get a meal. I am a little hesitant about seeing one in the day, but I get up during my prime sleeping time too to get a midnight snack, so i might be out of my element also at midnight. If the creature acted funny, I think I would've called the DEC to come and get it and dispose of it properly, which they sometimes send a sheriff or state police to help them if need be. Now that's what I would do, my DH is another story. 22 guage comes to mind. Still, a dead animal poses just as much threat if it has rabies, and another animal comes along and eats it. Better to dispose of properly I guess. All I wanted to do was share my weekend skunk story, and hope my opinions don't offend anyone, as they weren't meant to.

[mimitabby]

Shellyj
i enjoyed your story. It shows once again, the skunk minding his own business... but with a happy ending, he didn't get blown away for protecting himself. I spoke to a friend of mine who is an ER doctor about this very thing. Had he ever had a skunk sprayinig victim come in during his 25 years of practice? no, he hadn't. but if he had, he'd refer the people to the kind of remedies that are on line, like bleach solutions and tomato juice...

passed a skunk a couple years ago while on my bike. the skunk minded its own business and I.... pedaled fASTER!

[SadieKate]

May I say once again that FlyBye didn't give us enough info to determine whether the skunk was fine or not? Let's let it go.

I'm now using that wonderful "hide thread" option because it is obviously topic that is going to be beaten to death without changing anyone's mind.

[Veronica]

I'm now using that wonderful "hide thread" option because it is obviously topic that is going to be beaten to death without changing anyone's mind.

That's why I keep trying to change the subject. :p

It's so easy to judge others when you weren't there.

I think she should have skinned the skunk, tanned the hide and worn it as hat. I wonder what skunk meat tastes like. ;)

V.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm now using that wonderful "hide thread" option because it is obviously topic that is going to be beaten to death without changing anyone's mind.

You're right. There are clearly two differing opinions and neither side is going to change it's mind no matter how much it gets argued back and forth.
I personally think the entire thread should be deleted. It's been unproductive and unpleasant for everyone no matter what side they were on.

[Running Mommy]

Is the skunk thread DEAD yet??:D

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We should change the title to: Is the skunk thread DEAD yet??:D

Or....
This thread STINKS.

[maillotpois]

No use beating a dead skunk....

[snapdragen]

No use beating a dead skunk....

One more like that and I'm wiping the entire thread.....:)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The Skunk is dead. Long live the Skunk!

[snapdragen]

The Skunk is dead. Long live the Skunk!

stoppit!stoppit!stoppit!stoppit!stoppit!stoppit!stoppit!stoppit!stoppit!stoppit!

[SadieKate]

You want to let sleeping skunks lie?

I just had to peek.

[Eden]

you guys are going to make Snap snap.....

[SadieKate]

Will she crackle and pop also?

[snapdragen]

snap's not here anymore, she just ran screaming from the building.....

[SadieKate]

Ah, another productive work day.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I stink, therefore I am.

[snapdragen]

Where's that hairy eyeball when you need it!

[Kano]

I think she should have skinned the skunk, tanned the hide and worn it as hat. I wonder what skunk meat tastes like. ;)

V.

IT would likely make a GREAT helmet cover!

And probably taste like Chicken -- doesn't everything taste like chicken?

Karen in Boise

[Veronica]

Chicken does not taste like chicken. It tastes like chicken.

Huh?

Yeah, I bet a skunk skin hat would be great in the winter.

V.

[Eden]

http://static.zoovy.com/img/givemetoys/W180-H164-Bffffff/tt_skunk_hat.jpg

[Zen]

Unless someone is in imminent danger and there is no other avenue, I cannot in good conscience kill a living thing no matter the degree of perceived grotesqueness or mere inconvenience to me of said thing.

[Veronica]

What do you do about ants? Flies? Aphids? Cock Roaches? Mice? Slugs?


V.

[mimitabby]

since i have cats i have never had mice in the house (excepting a couple of rats the cats brought in) but when I found a mouse in my office, i caught it and carried it outside and let it go.

insects? (biting insects, roaches)
Slugs?
for those, i am a remorseless killer!!!!!

[snapdragen]

The Thread that Would Not Die!
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Zen]

Because it has an essential role in the ecology of the forum :D

[LBTC]

I can't believe this thread is still here!

If we surround it in butterflies, will it stink less?

[snapdragen]

I truly thought it had become compost, but nooooooooooooooooo. Back it comes, like a stinky swallow to Capistrano. :D

[Zen]

It will fade in it's time, grasshopper.

[Trek420]

Slugs?
for those, i am a remorseless killer!!!!!

Slugs? I set out beer for them. The cheap stuff of course, the Drakes Blond Ale is for me.

They die happy. :D Should leave them a bowl of lemon drops? :p

[snapdragen]

Should leave them a bowl of lemon drops? :p

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!:eek:

The horror! The horror!

[Grog]

Snap succeeded at posting the hundredth message on the tread there. :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Snap succeeded at posting the hundredth message on the tread there. :)

Yeah, SHE'S the one keeping it alive! :eek: :rolleyes:

[maillotpois]

That devious Snap. You just can't turn your back on her.

We have HUGE banana slugs here. They eat the outdoor cat's food and leave huge trails across the deck. Once, a large banana slug got on DH's bike seat and he didn't realize it was there and sat on it and ended up with slime butt - which he brought to the office! :eek:

I won't kill the banana slugs. At least not intentionally. They sometimes get underfoot. Or under butt, in DH's case.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We have HUGE banana slugs here. They eat the outdoor cat's food and leave huge trails across the deck. Once, a large banana slug got on DH's bike seat and he didn't realize it was there and sat on it and ended up with slime butt - which he brought to the office! :eek:

He should have used a Banana Keeper.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=15728&highlight=banana+keeper

[snapdragen]

Yeah, SHE'S the one keeping it alive! :eek: :rolleyes:

bwahhaha! *twirls moustache* My plot has been discovered.



I won't kill the banana slugs. At least not intentionally. They sometimes get underfoot. Or under butt, in DH's case.

'nanner slugs are the mascot for UC Santa Cruz

[mimitabby]

we used to have a lot of slugs, then they moved out and now we have SNAILS!!!
I HATE THEM!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

we used to have a lot of slugs, then they moved out and now we have SNAILS!!!
I HATE THEM!!

When Life hands you a bunch of snails.....make escargots! :)

[Kitsune06]

you've got it backwards... you have a lemondrop, you slug it... *not* leave it out for the slugs!

I feel like I came to the party late. Too bad, and yet I have not yet regretted keepin' my mouth shut on some issues. ;) For such a smart mouth, lots of dumb sh*t comes out of it ;) So anyway....

LOVE the banana keeper thang, Lisa, but you *need* to remember to take it out at the end of the day.... leave it in there a week and you won't remember if it's a banana or a slug in there... and ohhh the fun you could have, guessing. :) I wonder how much potassium a slug has compared to a banana? I suppose you could add some water from your bottle and have insta chamois butt'r... ... *SHUDDER*

ohhhh my.:eek:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

LOVE the banana keeper thang, Lisa, but you *need* to remember to take it out at the end of the day.... leave it in there a week and you won't remember if it's a banana or a slug in there... and ohhh the fun you could have, guessing. :) I wonder how much potassium a slug has compared to a banana? I suppose you could add some water from your bottle and have insta chamois butt'r... ... *SHUDDER*




EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Trek420]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!:eek:

The horror! The horror!

Why not? We all like Drunken Chicken, why not Drunk Skunk?

Perhaps you'd rather have a little side dish of steamed banana slug in garlic? :p I mean slugs are just homeless snails after all. :cool:

[Kano]

:eek: What? :eek:

Nothing in this thread for twenty four hours?

How did we manage to let this happen??????

:D :D :D :D :D

[Wahine]

Does anyone remember if the Pepe le Pew cartoons ever had any plot other than Pepe falling in love with eht cat that got paint on her back??

"Ahhhhhh, mon cherie."

[mimitabby]

http://gallery.ronshimek.com/albums/userpics/10003/Skunk_13vii06_Wilsall_Backyard_02_r.jpg

look how the fur on his tail sparkles! what a wonderful little creature.

[salsabike]

Our late cat Sara, a muscular Abyssinian who was convinced she was starving even though we had dry food out 24 hours a day, and would eat anything...has this become a run-on sentence yet?--once ate a slug. We knew that because we HEARD her struggling to chew it as she came inside. SMACKSMACKSMACKSLURPSMACK

I hope this is helpful. hahahahahahaha.

[Trek420]

we used to have a lot of slugs, then they moved out and now we have SNAILS!!!
I HATE THEM!!

Maybe the slugs didn't move out, just put houses on to disguise themselves. :D :p ;) ;)

[LBTC]

Walking the dogs the other night, DH stepped on something that made a peculiar wet cracking sound. I was sad to see it was a snail....and it was flattened. :eek: If a snail cracks on the sidewalk and there are no slugs to hear it, did it make a sound?

[snapdragen]

Alright! This is going into each or your permanent records! I'm keeping my eye on all of you....

[teigyr]

Alright! This is going into each or your permanent records! I'm keeping my eye on all of you....

Does this mean I won't get into college?

google search for slug

Australian doctors have issued a bizarre warning about eating slugs after a student contracted a potentially fatal brain disease when he swallowed some of the slimy gastropods for a dare. Advising those with a taste for escargot to stick to reputable French restaurants, the medicos said there had been numerous cases of meningitis since 1971 caused by people eating garden snails or slugs.

One child died after eating snails and one patient contracted meningitis after eating lettuce covered with snail slime, a report in the Medical Journal of Australia due to be published Monday said.

Sydney University parasitologist John Walker said the most recent case was a Sydney student who ate two slugs from the garden as a dare for 20 dollars (13.80 US).

Walker, said tests found the man's meningitis was caused by a worm normally seen in rat lungs but carried as larvae in slugs and snails.

The worm caused the brain lining to swell, forcing doctors to drain fluid from inside the man's skull.

He was hospitalised for 17 days and it was five months before he could resume his studies.

Walker reported the man's friend also swallowed some slugs as part of the dare but promptly vomited them up, foregoing his 20 dollars.

[Zen]

...stick to reputable French restaurants...

As opposed to irreputable French restaurants?

[jeannierides]

We had an interesting morning. Our weimaraner (dog) was out in the back yard stalking something that was on the other side of the fence and under our shrubs.


My daughter & family have a 6 month old weimaraner/Chesapeake Bay retriever (took me this long to learn how to spell it). She is beautiful, but at 6 months already weighs 51 pounds!!:eek: She's eating (or at least chewing) the furniture - wooden(!) furniture!!:eek: :eek:

:p :D ;) Sorry, girls, but I just got back from 5 days away and found this thread!:eek: At first I was :rolleyes:(what a story) then :eek: (someone called a name??) then :D !! Opinions expressed. No names called. Thank you, SadieKate, so happy you got rid of whatever the offending post was... then, you gals just made me LMAO :D :D :D I just had to bring it back around.:p

[Trek420]

As opposed to irreputable French restaurants?

Did you know that abalone are related to snails? And much better with garlic I think.

[Wahine]

I had bar-b-qued oysters the other day with butter and garlic. Yum. Being a prarie girl we don't get too many sea oysters, only prarie oysters and those don't taste nearly as good.

[Zen]

Did you know that abalone are related to snails? And much better with garlic I think.

That makes me think of conch fritters, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I believe I'll take a pass on those prairie oysters though, thank you:eek:

[maillotpois]

OOOOOHHH - Conch fritters!! Yum! Spent a couple of weeks in the Bahamas a few years ago.....

I will pass on the oysters in any form, prairie, ocean, BBQ, raw, Rockefeller, whatever... BLECH.

[Trek420]

I had bar-b-qued oysters the other day with butter and garlic. Yum. Being a prarie girl we don't get too many sea oysters, only prarie oysters and those don't taste nearly as good.

I've never had prarie oysters and don't intend to. This is my favorite place to get oysters from around here. Most of the oysters you'll get around Pt. Reyes are from Johnson's Oyster Farm.

http://pointreyesvisions.com/NewFiles/R_PR_BW_Pages/Man_scallop.html

One of my favorite jaunts is to go to Drakes Beach, the little park concession there has fried oysters or in nice weather they BBQ outside.

Then go to the Pt Reyes lighthouse for a little extreme stair climb :) Sometimes they close the stairs if the wind's too strong.

[crazycanuck]

Mmmm..Bluff Oysters..mmmmmm..

What's wrong wit saying howdy? HOwdeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..

And I thought i wasn't going to visit this thread..oh dear me....

Have I told you how funny it is to watch Kookabura's mating? *snort* Their call whilst doing the hunka hunka burnin love thing is classic..*snort*

C

[mimitabby]

oh no, CC took it to a new low!!!

[salsabike]

So tell us about this love song, CC!

[Flybye]

My daughter & family have a 6 month old weimaraner/Chesapeake Bay retriever (took me this long to learn how to spell it). She is beautiful, but at 6 months already weighs 51 pounds!!:eek: She's eating (or at least chewing) the furniture - wooden(!) furniture!!:.:p

Our weim is 2 years old and weighed 70 something pounds before she got knocked up :D We had her bred and her babies will be here around the 24th of July. I will be sure to post pictures when I get back. She's beautiful and spoiled rotten. She couldn't be more loved. Proof that I am an animal LOVER right there :D

Here is the challenge to all of you wonderful gals! I am going to be away from the computer for a week while I camp with the skunks ;) in the great outdoor wilderness of Idaho. We have many adventures planned such as a train trip, rafting adventure, and camping. I challenge you to keep this thread going until I come back and I will try my best to find a Mountain Man Rendezvous - don't know spell that one - and get myself a genuine skunk hat and take a picture. I may even use it for my new avatar. I will post it when I get back.

You may be delighted to know that we will have no firearms with us on the trip :eek: but we will be catching fish and man those hooks are sharp - bwahahaha.

Love you ladies -

[SadieKate]

Thank you, SadieKate, so happy you got rid of whatever the offending post was... then, you gals just made me LMAO :D :D :D I just had to bring it back around.:pDon't thank me. Thank Snap, our strong and patient mod.:)

[mimitabby]

Flyebye, we're up for that challenge. Have fun in the woods and look out for ticks!!

[mudmucker]

http://gallery.ronshimek.com/albums/userpics/10003/Skunk_13vii06_Wilsall_Backyard_02_r.jpg

look how the fur on his tail sparkles! what a wonderful little creature.


I am so late to the party. Mimitabby. Tooooo funny!

[snapdragen]

Oh sure flybye - encourage these brats! :p I'm just glad to know you weren't scared off....

Have fun, where in Idaho are you camping?

[Zen]

Anybody up for some CATFISH NOODLING (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRLOQKlzdx8) ?
No hooks involved :D

[Tri Girl]

Anybody up for some CATFISH NOODLING (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRLOQKlzdx8) ?
No hooks involved :D

Shut up, Zen! That's a serious sport here in OK! ;) My DH's side of the family has some.... redneckiness... minor stupidity syndrome.... (can't say anymore). He has a cousin who went noodling and the guy he was with lost a finger to a catfish.
WHY, OH WHY would you stick your hand into an unknown and dark place... it's beyond me! :)

I'd wrestle that skunk before I'd noodle.

[Zen]

Shut up, Zen!
WHY, OH WHY would you stick your hand into an unknown and dark place... it's beyond me! :)

I'd wrestle that skunk before I'd noodle.

Now that's sport fishing! :p

[chickwhorips]

I bet a skunk skin hat would be great in the winter.

I would guess so too, and just think, you wouldn't have to worry about anyone being on your wheel, they would be to scared! :eek:

[Aggie_Ama]

HOWDY!!

I just read the whole thread and that is all I wanted to say. At my university total strangers said it to each other to make the 40,000+ student body seem smaller and friendlier. It was a tradition, so "Howdy, Damnit!" (a bumper sticker I had)

[RoadRaven]

Just rising to Flybyes challenge to keep this thread alive. When I first started reading I thought - no way am I going to get involved in this one... but then it started to become very educational...

Banana slugs???
Noodling for catfish???

There is a whole world of trivia I am yet to be enlightened about!!!

So, to make this relevant... the only skunk I have ever seen was in a rubbish bin when I visited the states and it was waiting to be collected by the skunk patrol police or whoever collects skunks from bins in California!

I did almost have a crush on Pepe lePew... I felt so sorry for him, he was soooo in love...

And some trivia... hmmm... I know what the dot over the letter "i" is called...

Without googling it, do any of you know???

[snapdragen]

///adds roadraven to the list of those that must be watched.

;)

[mimitabby]

isn't it called a dot?

tell us, i'm curious.

reminds me. yesterday on our ride we saw a Bactrian camel in the same place we saw it earlier this year. The owners now also have a Dromedary camel!

and i saw a dead mole shortly after a bald eagle flew over us; but no skunk encounters.

[snapdragen]

/em
/eye
/em
/eye
/tee
/aye
/bee
/bee
/wye

another added to the list.....
:D

[Zen]

Hey,
shouldn't the sixth one be "ey"
maybe?

[snapdragen]

/aims stink-eye at zen.

(fixed spelling error too...)

[RoadRaven]

*ignores Snap and her stinky eyes...*


Its a tittle!

The dot over an i is a tittle!!!

:p

[Zen]

I knew somebody was givin' me the ol' stink-eye!
And here I was blaming the cat:D

[mimitabby]

stink EYE? i thought the stink came from...
oh never mind

[snapdragen]

stink EYE? i thought the stink came from...
oh never mind

'tis a kin to the hairy eyeball, which you are now getting.:rolleyes: :p

[chickwhorips]

Snap I just want to say you are such a good person, great moderator and just all around hard worker.

Please don't give me the stinky or the hairy eye.

[mimitabby]

yeah, even if your eyeballs are hairy and stinky. we still love you anyway.

[Zen]

I thought a tittle was a delicate laugh.

[Wahine]

I saw a dead rattlesnake on the road yesterday.

I thought a tittle was something nasty. And Hairy eyeballs are definitely nasty.