SKUNK

[oldnslo]

Having been around rabid skunks and having my farm quarantined twice due to live stock dieing from rabies I would be very careful around them. I have had one that followed me like a dog at 5:00 AM when I went out to do chores. He was also rabid but not in the aggressive stage yet.

Usual rule of thumb used to be: If you see a skunk during day light be cautious. They are a nocturnal animal and rarely travel by day unless disturbed or sick.

Roy

 

[20 20]

And I don't think they catch mice. .

Beeeeep wrong answer for you today, sorry no cookie. Mice and moles are part of their main diet.

 

[beenthere]

20_20
Not a problem here. But I googled it, and says the striped skunk (one I am most familiar with) is not fast enough.

Species food patterns do vary. Hognose Skunks root for insects and grubs, thus earning their nickname as 'rooter' skunk. Spotted skunks consume more rodents, small rabbits, and other invertebrates than the larger species. The larger-sized Striped Skunk's diet is made up mainly of insects including bees, and various larvae. They are not fast enough to pursue prey; therefore, they usually stalk or hunt by lying in wait. Skunks do not cache food, but they will raid the caches of other mammals especially weasels.

Now, going to get that cookie.

 

[20 20]

beenthere; you get a cookie I have seen striped skunks with moles. More of an ambush hunt then a chase. As far as mice go I've never seen a skunk chewing on one, just read about it. Around here in the winter the skunks go after the moles a lot, more or less just wait them out.

 

[N80]

Drowning is not humane. And don't mistake me for PETA VEGAN GREEN PIECE either. I've hunted all my life. Drowning causes fear, pain, struggle, and aspiration of water. I've got no problem with anyone who wants to kill a varmit or pest in a humane way, but not matter how hard anyone tries to convince themselves otherwise, drowning is cruel and uneccessary. Period.

As for diet, skunks are omnivors. They'll eat anything but rodents are known to be a major component of their diet.

 

[beenthere]

N80
I don't want to belabor the discussion, and I thought the same as you about drowning.
Until I put a trapped chipmunk in water. There was a brief swimming struggle, then some bubbles, then no struggle. Just a lifeless form in the water. Didn't see anything like the jerking motions that an arrow or bullet will cause to an animal (or the thrashing that a shot cat goes through). So my take is that drowning is more peacefull and humane than a bullet.
Watching the drowning wasn't something that I did with glee. But it was bloodless, as well as quick and appeared to be painless. Can't say I can describe more accurately as I have not experienced it. The closest thing to this death was when I worked at a vet and we euthanized animals with a shot. Little to no struggle, and they just went lifeless (limp). I suspect that letting blood out (thinking similar to when one gives blood at the Red Cross) where the result would be no pain, just passing out when the blood finally left the brain. Drowning may cause the same "passing out" when the lungs fill with water and cannot get oxygen to the brain.
Morbid subject...sorry.

 

[JB4310]

Drowning is not humane. And don't mistake me for PETA VEGAN GREEN PIECE either. I've hunted all my life. Drowning causes fear, pain, struggle, and aspiration of water. I've got no problem with anyone who wants to kill a varmit or pest in a humane way, but not matter how hard anyone tries to convince themselves otherwise, drowning is cruel and uneccessary. Period.

I agree, I would much rather get a bullet in the head than have to inhale water till unconscious. That's actually one of my greatest fears, of ways to die.

As far as dogs and skunks go, My brother had a hybrid timber shepherd that would kill anything smaller than him, cats, rabbits, squirrels even other dogs. was not a viscous dog with people at all, but I never would of left him with a baby. Anyway I was walking him one evening, no leash, he spotted a skunk and before I could even try and stop him he had it in his mouth. the skunk let out his last gasp from both ends.

The dog beat the skunk to death by whipping him back forth like I've never seen before.

JB.

 

[SARG]

N80
Drowning may cause the same "passing out" when the lungs fill with water and

Just a bit of rescue trivia ....... the lungs do not fill with water when a man or a skunk drowns .......

The stomach will fill with water but the body closes the airway off ...... which is how folks are resuscitated after a drowning.

The water that is forced out during CPR is from the stomach.

 

[N80]

Just a bit of rescue trivia ....... the lungs do not fill with water when a man or a skunk drowns .......

The stomach will fill with water but the body closes the airway off ...... which is how folks are resuscitated after a drowning.

The water that is forced out during CPR is from the stomach.

Not entirely true. The glottis can spasm (closed) preventing aspiration of water (and also air) resulting in death. However, aspiration of water into the lungs is just as likely. You are probably less likely to resuscitate someone that has lungs full of water than someone who has lost consciousness just to asphyxiation from spasm of the glottis. Water can enter the stomach in both cases.

The above is true for humans, I doubt there is much data on skunks.

Regardless, just hold your breath for a moment. When it feels like you need to take a breath, exhale what is left in your lungs and then don't inhale for a second. When you see what that feels like, multiply it by a hundred. (disclaimer: don't actually do that if you are sick, driving, on a ladder etc etc etc etc etc).

Whether you aspirate water or die from asphyxiation due to spasm of the glottis, it is awful. Ever heard of waterboarding?

A well placed bullet to the head is painless.

 

[jimmyj]

This thread is the greatest. Other than religion and politics, we have covered it all! LOL