The skunk is dead....

[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?

[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).

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!

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. 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.

[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.

[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]

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 =

I got a chuckle out of that one DDH!

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??

[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.... I'm getting giddy just thinking about it!

[SadieKate]

Sadiekate + ma'am =

I don't get no RESPECT!

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!
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....