[AT] OT - Skunks

[Will Powell]

My grandfather always told me the story about Mr Smiths (forgotten his name) Skunk. Mr Smith was trying to trap a skunk and was using a clamp trap. The skunk had got caught 4 times and had gotten out losing his paw each time. The skunk was walking around on stumps. Mr Smith kept trying and was determined to get the skunk. 

My Grandfather came up with a trap that would drop a log on the skunk so he got together with his friends and got the skunk. Mr Smith was not happy that the skunk was gone and knew somebody had beat him to it. Then, next Sunday my Grandfather and his friends went to church and then confession. His friends went first, then my grandfather. My Grandfather disclosed his indiscretions not mentioning the skunk. After he was finished the priest calmly said to say his penance and then yelled "Why did you steel Mr Smiths Skunk!" I guess his friends gave him up... 


Another thing that I learned about skunks was from my Uncle. He was had a doctorate in Chemistry from Columbia university. We have a cabin in Upstate NY and on one fishing trip a skunk sprayed on the side of the cabin... Was not a nice thing... My uncle got out his paper and came up with the chemical symbols for what was in the spray and deciphered what chemicals we had at hand that would break it down... He arrived at Gasoline. I don't remember how we applied the gasoline but it did knock out the scent. 





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Bruce" <davidbruce at yadtel.net> 
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 1:21:44 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [AT] OT - Skunks 

I find cat food to be an excellent bait <g>. 
Some years ago I had a skunk that would walk up to the door waiting for 
his share of the bounty. Called him Stinky. 
If you haven't tried cat food as the bait for the trap consider trying it. 

David 
NW NC 

On 3/30/2010 12:14 AM, Rupert wrote: 
> Hello Mike, 
> You could consider turning it into a pet. :-) Skunks are very good 
> mousers so will keep the mice away and maybe rats too. They are also 
> good at keeping unwanted solicitors away. :-) We had one living under a 
> grainery that did regular patrols around the other buildings including 
> the house every morning for about 5 years before something happened to 
> it. We never saw a mouse while that skunk was around. Even the poodles 
> we had got along with it. Only worry was it might tangle with visitors 
> we wanted. 
> IMHO, don't try to shoot it under the deck as you will smell it for 
> years if it decides to spray. About the only way to remove it that I 
> know is what you are doing- trying to trap it. Maybe try a different bait. 
> 
> Rupert 
> 
> On 3/29/2010 8:51 PM, Mike Meulenberg wrote: 
> 
>> I have several skunks living under my deck, I managed to trap one in a live trap, but the other(s) have proven to be much more elusive. My deck is about 12 x 20 and is about 10" off the ground at the side furthest from the house, and gradually tapers up so that there is very little space where the deck meets the house. I've looked under there, but can see nothing. I know that there is still at least one under the deck because when I stomp on the deck it releases a little skunk funk. I would love to hear any ideas you guys may have for flushing it out of hiding. Thanks, Mike M 
>> 
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