A Little Help with Vermin or Racoons

[OnBendedKnee]

^
That's always been a fear of mine. Skunks.
I used to run super early in the morning- like at 4:30 and would cross the paths of skunks all the time. I even thought of wearing little bells on my shoelaces to sort of warn them and hope they would scamper off, but never got around to it. I had a game plan though- if I was ever sprayed I'd beeline it straight to the ocean, and no matter how cold or ridiculous, I was going straight in and using the surf and sand, like sandpaper, to rub the stench off of me. Don't know if that would work, but it was always in the back of my mind each morning.

[Ilyanna]

Ilyanna, I'd post picks but then [g]Gear[/i] would make fun of me for being too soup kitcheny (I know that's not a real word, but no other adjective fits as well).

Just tell him I'll beat him up if he keeps me from seeing garden pics, that'll scare him.

And, lastly, with our neighbor? Liz and I think he's gay. Sure, retired CHP and all, but he spends too much time polishing is cars and motorcycles and we never see female company over at his place. He's also one of those quiet guys who barely mutters any salutation when you walk by him. Best left alone really.

A quite, gun-totin' ex-CHP who spends his free time taking care of cars AND motorcycles? Yep, 100% gay, obviously.

FWIW, I like LC's suggestions best. I detest poisoning of creatures just because they're annoying.

ETA - @ Maggot: rofl! I bet it was the best head-rub in that skunk's life, too

[Lady Cop]

my monster groundhog/woodchuck, Lardbutt, eats half my garden every year.

so i got a havahart trap and put a nice juicy corncob inside. he ate the corn, and gave me the finger as he scurried back to his hidey-hole.

[sally]

I had a pet skunk named Pepper when I was a kid, they make good pets believe it or not. He had his stink gland or whatever you call it removed, but he would still try to spray the dogs, it must have been frustrating for the poor guy when nothing would come out.

[Riotgear]

I think we should all support and encourage OBK wearing little bells on his shoes.

[Ilyanna]

Ha, and you thought you'd have to post pictures for Gear to make fun of you. Silly OBK
(Sorry, man, you're on your own. You absolutely brought that onto yourself.)

[Riotgear]

What are you talking about Ily? I fully support this man's right to express himself in whatever way he deems fit.

[OnBendedKnee]

It was wearing tiny weenie little bells on my shoes or play the kazoo as I ran- those were my options.
Surprising skunks is what gets you stunked up. And skunk stunk is no way to get through your morning.

Outside of newspaper delivery guys, who's out at 4:30 to judge me for wearing sparkling, twinkly, albeit, noisy shoes?

[Riotgear]

Shine on you crazy diamond, SHINE ON!!

[OnBendedKnee]

I KNEW you would get me. I mean, really get me.

[Riotgear]

I better get out of this thread before someone says "takes one to know one".

[Duchess]

After having one of my horses gelded I spent the remainder of the day & evening going back & forth to the barn to check on him. The last time I went up I got sprayed, the skunk and I startled each other. The smell came off my body easily enough but it lingered in my hair for weeks and I tried every remedy you've heard of. I reeked.

[OnBendedKnee]

In your hair?
That would be the worse. I take it tomato juice didn't work.

Was there ever a point you considered pulling a Britney Spears and shaving your head?

[Duchess]

Tomato juice did not work contrary to how often it's pushed as a solution & no, not once did I think about shaving my head. I laugh about it now but it wasn't funny for awhile. It affected my life.

[OnBendedKnee]

Just as none got on your Blackberry, all is good.

[Carsman]

I was driving home from a luncheon this afternoon, when I saw a dead skunk on the side of the road that a car had hit. I thought, better hold my breath for a bit, till I get a mile or so down the road. As it turned out, the skunk must have been hit a while ago as there was no smell at all.

[Tammy75]

Years ago, I had 2 Chihuahuas. Between the 2, they got sprayed 5X. The first time it happened I lost 5lbs because I was sick to my stomach for a week.

I think if it was a skunk, you would smell them, even if they didn't spray in your yard. I am leaning toward possum or groundhog.

[Riotgear]

So skunks can be used in conjunction with chihuahuas to put together an effective weight loss plan.

Great tip!