Lil' Stinker (my lil' happy ending story)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We had seen some fresh holes and a big woodchuck living under our small barn next to my tomato garden. We put out a Have-a-Heart trap next to my garden with some apple in it, and the next day we had our Chucky. We drove him way out into some expansive wild (unfarmed) fields and released him. Two weeks later we saw another one moved in. Again we set the trap with apple, and again got the new woodchuck and drove him far away to release. Then last week DH found a little red squirrel in the trap we reset and opened the door and shooed him out.
Just to be sure, we set the trap again yesterday with more apple.

This morning I went to check it and found....
Attachment 4116

Lil' Stinker!!!

This presented a problem....you can't really grab a trap with a skunk in it and throw it in your car and drive around.

We decided to simply release him again so he could go home, wherever that might be. We don't have dogs in our yard that might attack the skunk and get sprayed, so that does not present a problem, and the skunk will not bother my garden much. They mostly just come out at night and are pretty shy.
So DH and I got a big blue tarp that we held in front of us as a shield- we slowly approached the trap, holding the tarp up in front of us, and then gently laid the tarp over it and tucked it in all around as a spray barricade precaution. We had heavy gloves on. Working from behind, we opened one end of the tarp where the door was and used a long metal hook to unhook the trap door and then hooked it open. Stinky remained calm while we moved slowly and quietly.
Now the trap is open with tarp covering part of it. Stinky keeps looking around with his pretty sparkling eyes and his twitching pink nose, but is he trying to stay hidden in the far closed end of the trap where he has tarp cover and feels safe. His fur is very glossy and beautiful. I know that tonight he will venture on out on his own to continue his little stinky life journey.

Needless to say, I think we won't set the trap again until we see another woodchuck.

[TsPoet]

Skunks are one of the prettiest animals out there. I also really like the offence/defense system which is awful, but not harmful. We could all learn from that concept.
When I interviewed for the job I currently have, I went for a walk along the river to check out the area and saw 3 cute little black kittens amongst the rocks. I went closer to see if I could help the abandoned little tykes. Momma skunk came out and politely told me they were neither kittens nor abandoned. She didn't bother to spray me, just made her presence known, and I happily backed off and continued on my way.

[Trekhawk]

We had seen some fresh holes and a big woodchuck living under our small barn next to my tomato garden. We put out a Have-a-Heart trap next to my garden with some apple in it, and the next day we had our Chucky. We drove him way out into some expansive wild (unfarmed) fields and released him. Two weeks later we saw another one moved in. Again we set the trap with apple, and again got the new woodchuck and drove him far away to release. Then last week DH found a little red squirrel in the trap we reset and opened the door and shooed him out.
Just to be sure, we set the trap again yesterday with more apple.

Thanks Lisa for posting the picture. My boys think he/she looks very cute. Wonderful to see one looking so full of life. The only ones we have seen before this were squished on the road.

[Mr. Bloom]

I've never seen a furry skunk
I never hope to see one.

But if I see a furry skunk,
I'd rather see than be one.

[Meg McKilty]

Oh, what a happy and humane story!! I am so proud of you, Lisa!
And, see here: they do not spray every one and every thing in sight!

[mimitabby]

yay!!

great photo, btw.

oh LIsa, I got one of those croussant bags for my bike. It's THE PERFECT
SIZE!!!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

yay!!

great photo, btw.

Um, I used my ZOOM lens.

oh LIsa, I got one of those croussant bags for my bike. It's THE PERFECT
SIZE!!!!!!

You mean from Velo-Orange? They are great! Wish I could carry my morning croissant in mine...but then it would get squashed by my flat tools and tube, etc.... That's ok, croissants don't last too long around me anyway.

[SouthernBelle]

We have a regular little skunk visitor in the yard. They dig up grubs and insects. (s)he is not the least bit afraid of me. I went out late one evening to check the mail and turned around and there she was. About 5 feet away. I just stayed where I was til she passed on through.

[Zen]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmCROISSANTS.........................
light,flaky,buttery CROISSANTS.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

(lil'stinker is a cutie)

[Tuckervill]

Oh, that is just the cutest little thing! It looks like a baby. I guess you used the zoom lens, or you got really close!

Reminds me of the Bambi movie.

Karen

[Zen]

I've never seen a furry skunk
I never hope to see one.

But if I see a furry skunk,
I'd rather see than be one.

Skunks get no respect, I tell ya'

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh, that is just the cutest little thing! It looks like a baby. I guess you used the zoom lens, or you got really close!

Reminds me of the Bambi movie.

Karen

Yes, he was a baby. Not including the tail he was about 8 inches long nose to rump.
I did use my camera zoom feature, but I stood about 6 feet away from him to photograph him. He didn't seem to mind. after dinner, I left him with the open trap door and a bowl of water near the trap exit in case he was dehydrated from his day in the trap.

Last night around 8 we went out with a flashlight to check that he had gone from the open trap. He was gone, back off into the "wilderness" of our neighborhood. He might decide to live under our barn.

You're right, I should have called him Flower!

[Jolt]

Too funny! We have a skunk that lives under our shed, and we call him Pepe LePew!!

[northstar]

Dang, he's a cutie! Fun story!

[lauraelmore1033]

Oh, I approve! I do so love a happy li'l stinker ending!