Unwelcome visitors

[Tdog]

In a post that got erased when the gremlins ate Muhammad's server, I mentioned that I shot a skunk in our pasture at dusk the other night, probably July 2. I usually let varmits alone, but one of my dogs got sprayed a few days ago, & I figured this must be the culprit. I didn't quite know how do get rid of the evidence so I left him/her there overnight, hoping a scavenger of some sort would do me a favor. No such luck. So I took it back into the woods the next morning & gave it a toss.
Well two days later, one of my dogs was raising hell, looking out our breakfast room window. The attached picture is what he was upset about. I'm guessing that the three babies [kittens? pups?] gave up on moma coming home & struck out on their own. Unfortunately, their home base was under my house. That probaly explains the nasty smells in my AC for the last month or so.
No sign of the 3 babies today. I hope they have struck out into the woods. I'll probably cross paths with them again, & no one will be very happy about it.
And no, my wife wouldn't let me shoot the 'babies' yesterday.
Does anyone know if these guys are mature enough to have 'the power'?

 

[monkeybreath]

You reminded me of one of our many "skunk stories". A few years ago one of the dogs deposited a dead skunk at the back door - I found it in the morning as I was leaving for work. The smell was one problem. The other problem was that the dog had obvious wounds to one leg. Because I was concerned about rabbies, I made a few phone calls. I was told that they could test the skunk for rabbies if I would bring it in within 24 hours. That was not possible at that time - had to work and the place I had to take it was about 60 miles away in a different direction. Alternatives ? Yes, I could cut the head off and freeze it and then could bring it in when I had time. I was just not up to cutting the head off a dead and ripe and smelly skunk. Other Alternatives ? Yes, I could freeze the entire skunk. OK. I put the skunk in a plastic bag, duct tape, and then another plastic bag, and another and another, more duct tape and so on. And into the freezer. Yes, it took a bit of coaxing with the CFO. The last part of the story is that the CFO took the skunk to town to have it tested, but could not find the place - so she was driving around with a melting skunk in the car. Finally, the good news - dropped it off - and a call a few days later reported no rabbies. Dog has not, however, learned enough about skunks and still chases them.

 

[BWa]

In a word are they loaded ,,, yes , they are big enough to raise a stink /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif .... and being young they will do it quicker for they have not learned that just a threat is enough sometimes ..... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Hope they move on quick , and just a word if it was me I would make sure there was not a home to come back to ,,, like make where / how they got under the house not an option any more .

Bill g.

 

[rps]

Just for your information: if you do need to dispatch them, shoot them in the body not the head. They spray all their juice if shot in the head.

Robert

 

[Oregon_Rob]

Put moth balls under the house. We had a family move into the atick one night. I lobbed leveral handfuls of moth balls up there and they never came back.

 

[Tdog]

Re: Unwelcome visitors - update

I gather that the day I took the picture was their first day to venture out - - and as the day progressed, they roamed further & further from their home base [under my house].
We have not SEEN them since; however, something dug under & into a hollow wall in my barn, & there was a certain familiar aroma from that stall. I bought some mothballs yesterday [I had the same thought Oregon B] & heaved some under the house & into the hole in the barn. I will make some more permanant repairs to keep varmits from getting under the house, if it ever stops raining every day.
I think my wife knows that our next encouter with the 'babies' will have to be our last.