ashcomp: (Default)
ashcomp ([personal profile] ashcomp) wrote2007-11-07 11:48 am

Barry's Big Adventure

Got up this morning to find that our perpetually set groundhog trap had caught a skunk. Most feared of all possibilities. What in the hell do you do with a trapped skunk? Murder not being an option, here.

Called the vet for advice. Advice: call county animal control. Hallelujah! They'll make this nasty problem go away. . .our tax dollars at work.

Called animal control. No, they would not come and make my problem disappear. They kindly told me that I could release it on my own property, or at some other specific location I didn't bother to make a note of. Transporting Mr.(?) Skunk also not an option.

When all else fails, Google is your friend. Found several descriptions of effective ways to deal with skunk spray--the best, of course, being to avoid it. But there was also good advice found on a search of "release skunk from trap". I.e., approach slowly, letting the nearsighted critter see you. Keep a good tarp or other cloth before you as a shield. Drape the cover over the trap; skunks evidently don't waste their spray on targets they can no longer see. And finally, carry a stick or something to jam the trap door so you don't have to stay around to hold it open. Then open the door and get the hell out of there.

And, anticlimactically, it all worked. Skunk departed, nothing got sprayed, not even the trap, and my new tarp doesn't have to be thrown out.

I'll settle for that. Happily. My only regret is that posting about the whole thing was an afterthought, so there are no pictures.

[identity profile] foresthouse.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I am REALLY sad there are no pictures of cute but trapped skunk. (Because all skunks are cute, yes?) But glad you didn't get sprayed!

[identity profile] threeringedmoon.livejournal.com 2007-11-08 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
What did we do before Google? (I know, I know: called around to all our friends in hope of a solution.)

We have a lot of skunks around here. Fortunately, Mia and Lody are total wimps and don't want to mess with them.

ext_15581: Very Large Array (Default)

[identity profile] ashcomp.livejournal.com 2007-11-12 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I did notice that an awful lot of the de-skunking advice available is about getting the smell out of your dog. . .

[identity profile] gilraen2.livejournal.com 2007-11-12 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
google is definitely our friend. and you are a HERO! i'm wondering what judy did during this time of trauma? left town? hid in the bedroom?
ext_15581: Very Large Array (Default)

[identity profile] ashcomp.livejournal.com 2007-11-12 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh. . .I'm reminded of the old Grin 'n Bear It cartoons, where the Soviet politicians all stand around with HERO badges on their greatcoats.

Judy went zipping off to her all-day professional society meeting, and was quite willing to hand off this particular domestic problem. I will say, since her current contract has almost completely dried up, it was probably well worth her getting out and being seen in those circumstances. We were really enjoying the extra $$ she was pulling in, even working half time from home. It was an ideal arrangement.