There are some wonderful things about living in the country. The silence, the sweet fresh air, the wide open space, the great big sky, and every last little inch of it is filled with wildlife! We’ve seen majestic eagles, playful squirrels, shy deer, and more… including stinky old skunks.
I’ve seen them off in the distance, or on the road as I head in to work in the morning. The unmistakable waddle with that big fluffy black and white tail in tow. In our own yard I haven’t seen one, but boy have I smelled one. Our cats “live” in one of our sheds with nice cozy little cubbies, blankets, a heating lamp, heated watering bowl, and food. Well at least there is supposed to be food.
Every time I stick my head in the “cat-house” the food dishes are empty! And it’s not the cats that are eating it. I know this because when I stick my head in there my nose jumps off my face and waits outside. IT STINKS Like Skunk. Some people I’ve talked to said that normally when skunks hunker down somewhere they don’t spray, they don’t like the smell as much as anyone else. Well I can tell you this guy must have given the cats a little taste of the badness, just a little squirt to make sure they know whats up. That way they steer clear when ye-olde-stinker comes around to eat ALL the cat food.
It doesn’t seem like there is anyone from Saskatchewan that hasn’t had to deal with a skunk. Skunks always seem to be passing through, probably on their way back and forth to catch the Stamps or Blue Bombers games. Since they are so common everyone has a story, or a piece of advice.
My parents live out of town and have had to deal with skunks many times, so much so dad constructed his own skunk trap! So I’ve got the trap, I’ve got it set with a hair trigger on the trap door, and it’s baited with… right now a raw egg that’s been cracked but not busted open. So far it’s been 48 hours and no skunk in the trap.
Dad says I should slap a sardine in there. What would you use? What has worked for you before? Tell me your skunk story in the comments on our FB page.
-Nic
