Soaps.com - MESSAGE BOARDS

Hey Nonnie...

Our little friend came back at sunset... and thankfully it was outside the yard this time.

The hubby dispatched it with the rifle he borrowed from his father. His Dad must have had faith in his shooting skills... because he only gave him one shell!

The skunk body was much bigger than the last time... and it was too big to carry on the shovel... so I put it in a mason jar box, and carried him down the road at arm's length... GAGGING and spitting the whole time (me, not the skunk... LOL).

I think I will go shower for an hour... now, where did I put that tomato juice???

Oh darn, I wish those little critters would stay away from civilization and live a long, critter life. We have coyotes near my house - only because a big development was built up on the hills behind my house. Now, they have nowhere to go but to live under the bridge in a gully, and drink from the creek. I'm glad they're around tho, because they have been cleaning up the gopher, rat, mice, etc. population. They haven't been agressive with people or their pets, but noone around here puts pet food out that might attract the critters either.

AnnPage - It surely didn't sound to me as though you enjoyed helping the smelly little creature meet it's untimely demise. It sounds like it probably was rabid and the damage it could have inflicted on humans and animals could have been catastrophic and it would have ended up being put down soon anyhow. As you might or might not know, I'm very computer-challenged so tell me how to get to the thread where they are attacking you for this. Don't worry about the others - they're always lurking around in cyberspace shooting off their mouths and looking to get attention. Would you prefer to take this to the Y&R whatever-you-call it which is where I thought I was posting this when I posted about skunks? LOL

I think you wanted the Y&R Buddies thread. I have posted there a few times.

It probably was better to post this topic where you did... as it gives the greatest number of posters the opportunity to read, and comment.

Do y'all have goats? That is why most of the folks out here keep Grand Pyrenees dogs. I know the F in Law dearly wants one... because he wants to get some goats. And you will laugh at this part of the story... He thinks that if he gets goats, that I will be willing to learn to milk them daily!

Most folks here have Boer goats, but they are 'meat' goats, instead of 'dairy' goats. If I was so inclined, there is a breed of Italian Goats that are known for the high butterfat content of their milk. This is the best milk for making goat cheese... but why would I go to all that trouble when there is Whole Foods, and Central Market in the big city?

And you don't have to worry about finding that attack thread... I have a feeling that one of my new cyber stalkers will be here in no time to tell you what they think.

Have a great day, Hon!

I have to go and check on my baby chicks (I have 26 tiny ones at the moment) as well as 11 pullets. I had to shove eight of the pullets into the cage yesterday, as they were very close to the skunk, and fixing to be it's dinner.

There is rarely a moment of peace here on the farm. But at least the cows are usually quiet.

[/quote]I don't think I offered a personal attack at all. I used to live in country where skunks, porcipines, muskrats, beaver, weazels, foxes, badgers, etc. The problem is, some people leave food out for their animals, and then find they have a critter problem as well. Two years ago I had a rat infestation due to my bird feeders. I had to remove the feeders and have been looking high and low for a free-standing feeder that has a guard to catch the 'over flow', but have yet to find one.

PS, probably was not a very advisable thing to handle an animal yourself if you suspected rabies. I would have called Animal Control for them to verify and document.[/quote]

You were nothing but gracious and charming. I was referring to the less than friendly posters on another thread who suggested that I: "Curl up and die", "Burn in Hell", "rot in Hell", and "Die Sick B@#$&". Less than friendly women to say the least.

This place can be a nice place, as long as you don't disagree with the group mindset.

Now, back to the skunk.

We are in a county that is so poor... that there is only one animal control person for 90 square miles. There have been so many cases... that it is impossible for them to come out each time there is an incident.

PLUS... they needed to have the body chilled, and preserved to be able to do the brain fractionating tests to determine rabies. And that stinky thing was NOT going in my freezer!

Next time... if there IS a next time... I will do it all differently, I promise!

Thanks for your concern... I REALLY do appreciate it.