My new bunk mate, the skunk!
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Yes, turns out a western spotted skunk has taken up residence at our cabin. Spotted skunks are much smaller than their striped cousins, and as an apex predator, aren't that afraid of humans. They're much less likely to spray (though it's much nastier), and make great pets! Since little stinkie pie has eradicated the mouse / rat population at the cabin, we decided he gets to stay... (dogs trained to ignore him, etc). He's a nocturnal beastie, so we really don't cross paths much.
After a month or so down there, he started to make a hole in the wall right under my bunk a few nights ago, will give him a shortcut to his fave spot in the kitchen on the mouse trail. Made for a very entertaining night as hilarity ensued. Really is a tiny little thing, and absolutely adorable!!! Almost got eskimo kisses from him when I looked under the bunk to see what all the commotion was!
Meanwhile, had bear almost every night, and even a big mountain lion... all heading down to the last of the free food for the year (wild grapes, apples, and the last foraging food of the year, acorns). Sadly, think the puma got a neighbors dog, as the hounds retrieved a paw from a kill site on the property (all kinds of creatures fighting over it). Meanwhile the locals are shooting constantly at all kinds of crap, pretty typical when you're in the wildlife food zone... which also includes a lot of commercial pot farms, and the migrating trimigrant population (but they're more likely to be rats than to catch them).
Here's our the little Stinkie Pie, freaking adorable if ya ask me!
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: An organ grinder’s tune
he's cute.
he's cute.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
Very cute, and practical as a
Very cute, and practical as a rat/mouse trapper, but...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
The times Family Dawgs got
The times Family Dawgs got sprayed (not H.I.M.) they were Super - Malodorous for days.
It's 'Methyl Mercaptan' which is the chemical in play.
So you could get SP de-scented, if you could trap and transport to Vet.
Or, you run the risk of Stank-Spray in the future.
Just don't get it Angry.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
It would be near impossible
It would be near impossible to get smell out if little Stinky Pie ever decided to let loose inside your cabin.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
http://users.humboldt.edu
http://users.humboldt.edu/wfwood/chemofskunkspray.html
Actually the 'Skunk' off - aroma in Beer is Methyl Mercaptan... But actual Skunks have some more complex stuff going on (see above link).
"...The defensive secretion of the spotted skunk differs from that of the striped skunk in that it only contains thiols and the thioacetates are not present..."
They say Peroxide, Baking Soda, and Bleach work for removing the odor.
http://users.humboldt.edu/wfwood/skunkspray.shtml
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Tim
"Stinky Pie" is a rodent that
"Stinky Pie" is a rodent that chewed a fuckin hole in your wall.
He won't be so fuckin cute when he sprays all over that 1973 mini shag you got there.
Arson will be the only fuckin cure then.
Just sayin
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Frank3
this isn't going to end well
this isn't going to end well
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
BLM burns down all cabins in
BLM burns down all cabins in our area, only reason ours isn't gone is we've done them a favor (and of course, reminded them of the law a few times). If a native mouser wants to live there I'm fine with that (we'd get rid of a raccoon / striped skunk / etc). It's a working mining claim after all, not a summer cabin on the lake, wildlife usually run the area (though the dogs are trained to keep the bear and big cats away from the cabin while we're down there (do a great job too!). So it'll be his home this winter, not ours... much better than having the place fill up with mouse shit over the next few months. The things tiny too, fit in the palm of your hand... in an imperfect world, I'll vote for cohabitation
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Get Him / Her a mate. You'll
Get Him / Her a mate. You'll have a bunch of little Baby Skunkeroos by Spring !!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Furious E
Bunk that skunk!
Bunk that skunk!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
Sea Boar eats those things up
Sea Boar eats those things up like Lays potato chips
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Dan
Western Spotted Skunks are
Western Spotted Skunks are very smart & cute! We have them in Branscomb.
They hardly ever will spray you. Cool little mammals.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: smiley
the weird, wild world of
the weird, wild world of skunk owners
...from Vice
https://youtu.be/GcQQyeypXOk
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jazfish
You a brave one, Noodler.
You a brave one, Noodler.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
From what I read, Mama Skunk
From what I read, Mama Skunk is pregnant about 2 months before giving Birth. The 'kits' are weaned after 2-3 months but hang w/ Mama Skunk for up to a year. I think it's just Wonderful that Mr. Druba is working with BLM to preserve the Cabin as a safe space for Stinky Pie and future offspring.
We should rally 'round and get them to sponsor some Grant Money towards the Skûnk Preservation Fund.
Consider me voted as " YEA " .
Skunk Lives Matter !!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
Thought about starting a "go
Thought about starting a "go skunk me" fund site, but fortunately the little guy seems to be pretty self supportive. And the BLM is fully supportive of our stream restoration project with the local conservation district. So successful it even made it up to the real skunk secretary of interior Zinke (talk about a real stinky!). So liberal miners actually pull one off in a conservative world, way to stink up the status quo!
But before I go back to wearing my usual musician / medico / meteorologist hats, here's a few more skunk pics for ya'll
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
S/He is a cute little
S/He is a cute little Skunkarooni.
Hope it survives the Winter and spawns many Skunk children.
Nice of you to give "Stinky Pie" a cushy place to crash and kill the Rodents.
Although it seems SP is ripping up the walls and insulation, let SP enjoy those luxuries before they accidentally burn it down.
You are a Good wildlife Pet parent.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Also, I am amazed that your
Also, I am amazed that your Dogs did not leap upon SP and get Stanked - Up.
Hüsky would have attempted a Fracas, gotten sprayed, and be sleeping outdoors for a while.
Good for you training your Pups to behave.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
Always a big fan of
Always a big fan of cohabitation... especially in a cabin built in the 20's
(our 74 year old neighbor built us a new staircase as a thank you, with his chainsaw no less, LOL, too bad fixing the cabin is against the BLM's laws).
But always rooting for the wildlife, those drought years were really hard on them... trees no longer had sap to fight the beetles, etc. Now after two good wet winters, the forest is looking healthier again (still a lot of dead trees), and the deer / turkey / squirrel populations are up, as are the bear and cougar. Sadly, so are the ticks, had to pull two off this last trip! (and the dogs were covered).
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Nice - looking structure. I
Nice - looking structure. I can see how it might attract various Wildlife Creatures.
If it were mine, I would re-shingle / tarpaper when the BLM thugs were not around, and then put up the plastic Roof - tarps again to make it look like "Nobody ever repaired Nothing".
The Trees & Sky look like Malheur County or somewhere out there in Eastern OR.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
My buddy brings his hounds,
My buddy brings his hounds, he's an excellent trainer. They're taught to ignore deer, squirrels, etc... (including skunks). There was a recent roadkill raccoon, so he used the tail to train them not to chase them either. Only big cats and bears will get them howling!
The sisters (and don't blame Coors!)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
We're in pot growing heaven,
We're in pot growing heaven, SW Oregon style... when the trimigration started, amazing how many blonde dreadlocked dudes started appearing out of every nook and cranny along the creek!
But there's a bunch of old apple trees from the original gold rush days (Johnny Applegate), along with wild grapes (choking off all that grows). That's created one hell of a wildlife party down by that part of the creek! The bear poop has peach pits in it too, so not sure where that's coming from. Acorns will be the last food to forage on (save any local salmon runs). Then everything will slow down for the winter.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Nice - looking Hounds. Some
Nice - looking Hounds. Some guy at Dawg Park had a pair of those, but not too well - trained. They would bark and Howl at imaginary squirrels in the trees.
The whole 'Baying' vocalization was OK for a few minutes, but got old after that (an hour or more).
I really don't miss them much. They were not there for the Social Scene. Actually they never interacted with other Dogs or people.
But they sure could make Noise...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
Hounds can be real brats...
Hounds can be real brats... they need to be ran a mile or two every other day or they can be obnoxious (not lap dogs!). Most folks go for perdy instead of realizing what they were bred for... chasing game loudly (vs a bird dog that's silent, etc)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Yes,
Yes,
Hüsky has an Extreme yearning or need for a good run every day.
He is a Working Dawg, but left to His own devices, would kill small -> medium animals for Snacks.
Soon to rejoin the Sled - Dawg training group, I hope. They train when the temps are under 50 degrees.
I take H.I.M. biking during the Summer, but only a few Miles at dusk, when it's Cool.
He'll go 8-9 miles w/ the bike during cool Weather. Maybe more, but I have not tried.
However, this thread is for "Stinky Pie" the Skunk.
Good for you & pals to support that Cute little Minkey with hospitality & Kibble.
Fondest Beast Wishes !!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
I've enjoyed your Husky posts
I've enjoyed your Husky posts, always a good time... had a malamute back in the day, but school / work made me unfit to keep her, so off to a large farm she went (was a great mouser, better than the cat!)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: charmskooldropout
Lives with a skunk and enjoys
Lives with a skunk and enjoys Disco stu posts.
Hmmm
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
We've had a continuing family
We've had a continuing family of little skunks living in our old goat barn for a number of years.
They're very polite - the cats like them too.
No sprays on us or the cats ever.
They love the grapes and blackberries.