He's Baaaaaaaack - Oh Joy

[ShodokanJenn]

So. A few years back, we started noticing the presence of a skunk on our property. He never sprayed and he avoided us for the most part, so we didn't think much of it. Then he set up residence under our porch. And we named him. WHY did we name him? Names denote affection. Who loves stinky animals who carry rabies??? Anyway, his name is Leroy. He's gotten so used to us that he doesn't even move when we are on the porch at the same time as him. A couple months ago, he seemed to disappear. But tonight?

I went outside to get the mail. There was Leroy, lounging (as much as a skunk can lounge) on the porch. And just now I walked into the bedroom, and - OH LUCKY US - he sprayed outside the window with a fan in it, so our bedroom has become a cube of condensed skunk smell. I can't WAIT to sleep in there tonight...

 

[Glo809]

Greetings

In a previous post, I noted that a skunk was under my delivery van, I work overnights and there was an issue on how shooie I could get, it took me 20 minutes to safely leave and tnen continue on my route...

 

[Anarchy]

I've no firsthand experience of skunks (other than the smell of where they've been) but I do know some of their relatives with less developed stink.

All mustelids are suckers for food, the smallest varieties eat about half their body weight in meat a day, but ime, can be picky about which meats they like.

Here's the big question, is he more or less likely to squirt where he gets fed?

The answer to that might determine whether you make a little friend, or end up shooting the little bugger. Or paying to have its stink glands doctored.

I don't know about the rabies anti serum that would be given after a bite by an infected critter, but I had 5 shots of the ordinary vaccine (attenuated virus) a few weeks back, it hardly made my arm sore, and I was only slightly flu-y later that day.

If you love little wild critters, it could be worth paying for a three shot course of jabs, which would simplify treatment if you did get a bite.

Don't know if this is used In the united state, The French fed rabies vaccine on bait to wild foxes, to reduce the reservoir of potential hosts for the virus. So vaccinating you little critter might be an option too.

 

[Deleted member 33052]

You have my sympathy, Jen. When I was a kid, we had a pet skunk. Even though he was de-skunked, he still managed to smell up the house. He had a temper, a long memory, and held grudges. I adored him. :)

His name was Ferdinand, btw.

 

[Ronin]

Thank you for sharing :)

 

[Deleted member 541]

Gotta say..... We have a resident skunk also, and this summer I have spent so many nights waking to the smell of skunk that I'm kind of glad Autumn is here. Once I'm awake I can't go back to sleep, so I spent many nights swearing at the little shit and praying he'd walk out in traffic..... sorry, but dead skunk, is the best skunk IMO!!!!

 

[ShodokanJenn]

Thanks for all the stories, everyone. I personally love having our skunk. I wasn't thrilled at first, but once we named him, I started feeling a certain affection for him. He's so cute. And honestly, he's only sprayed near our house once in the years he's been around. I'm wondering if it was even him that sprayed - maybe another skunk wandered into his territory and there was a fight? Regardless, our room smells good again. :)

 

[expectingbetter]

Oh, I am so glad to hear that you are not irritated by his presence!
So now I am not the only one who was so excited you have such wonderful black and white company :D
I love you gave him the name.
So don't forget to send him my regards when you spot him next time :roflmao:

 

[Gs172003]

So. A few years back, we started noticing the presence of a skunk on our property. He never spra...

Lol my dog got ahold of one once. Took three days for the smell to go away

 

[Gs172003]

Thanks for all the stories, everyone. I personally love having our skunk. I wasn't thrilled at f...

They only spray as a last resort so something had him cornered