(disclaimer: no skunks were harmed during the making of this post.)
Day 1, Wednesday: After showers and breakfast we made our way out to the back yard to see what we might have caught.
The first trap was sprung! And through the translucent side we could easily see a shadowy form inside moving around.
Risking injury and possible stinkiness, I cautiously approached the trap and leaned down to peer into it. I saw two beady little eyes looking out forlornly. I also saw a very large grey body behind the eyes, and a ratty tail.
This was not a skunk.
Dang.
So I had to spring the little guy. I don’t mind possums. They don’t stink and they pretty much leave us alone. I popped the door open, and he just sat there. I knocked on the back of the trap. He just sat there. So I picked the trap up and dumped him out under the far deck. “Out you go, Mr. Possum!”
He ambled away as quickly as his little pink feet could carry him.
Day 2, Thursday:
Nothing. All the traps were open and unsprung. The bait was still there around three of the traps. Around the trap where the bait was gone, there was a little whiff of skunk scent hanging in the air, mocking us.
We re-baited the traps and the surrounding area, and prayed again that we’d get something.
Day 3, Friday: Before making breakfast I did a quick scan of the traps. The two in back were still open, but the two in front were both closed!
I excitedly announced this news to my wife, who was upstairs getting ready for the day. After breakfast we hurried outside to see what we had. I checked the no-spray trap first. This is a tube-shaped affair that is narrow enough to where the skunk can get in, but can’t move around and most importantly can’t lift his tail to spray.
From what I could tell, there was nothing inside. I picked it up and carefully peered in.
Nothing. Dang.
We walked around to the other trap.
Clearly, even through the translucent side, we could see the tell-tale black and white fur inside. We got it!
Victory was ours! We snapped a couple of pictures and backed away. This trap might allow him to blast us.
Soon after I got to work, I made the call to the wildlife removal guy. He came out sometime during the day and took the skunk and the remaining traps.
When I arrived home I found the invoice for the job, along with a heavy dose of skunk scent around the front door. He’d most likely gotten blasted while packing the little stinker up, and brought the smell up to the front door with him. Sort of a little memento.
Now, all that’s left is decontamination.
Life smells sweet again.
I was digging this skunk series. I know how much of a hassle they can be. A little skunk story for you.
Roughly eight years ago there was a very small rabbit living underneath a bush outside the office. In my brilliance I thought I’d save the animal from certain death by live trapping it and moving it to the wilderness someplace. A couple of days later the trap was sprung and we had ourselves a skunk instead. I was in a tough spot. Release the thing myself or pay $65 for animal control.
Along comes Mitch. Mitch is RPG programmer in our department. He volunteered to release the skunk asking only for Hefty garbage bags and duct tape.
The whole office participated in covering him from head to toe in black plastic using the tape to seal. He also wore a hard hat and clear plastic over his face.
Just picture that.
He did free the skunk and never got sprayed.
I promptly forgot about the rabbit.
That is hilarious! I can just picture this guy looking like some kind of alien creature ambling, Frankenstein-like toward the skunk. It was probably too scared to even think to spray.
Sweet (pungent?) Success! Sounds like Trapper John earned his paycheck on this one! Sure hope it wasn’t a pregnant female. Oh, wait, did I just ruin your day? I sure hope I’m just kidding!
Yeah, we thought of that too… but the expert said he figured if there were a litter we would have caught others with the three other traps. That and the smell seems to be lessening now. I’m sure we’ll have something worse move in, though, like Kodiak bears or something.
HaHa, isn’t it the time of the year for the Great Northern Migration of the Chupacabra?
I think that’s just before Yeti season, so yes. I’ll post pictures.