This One Could Have Been A Stinker!

Here is precisely the concern I had with channeling Carl Spackle and moving forward with the olde homestead deportations, Mr. Skunk!

I knew it was inevitable that a skunk would wind up getting caught in one of my traps if I kept it set and baited overnight, so WAHLAH, and my own fault!

I heard something in the trap last night when I put Trixie out to do her business, so I grabbed my flashlight and went to investigate. DRAT!  Wouldn't you know it, a skunk!

He was oblivious to my presence and was focused on trying to escape, but then again I didn't announce my arrival.  He was gnawing on the sides of the trap and I was able to get the below pic showing his very healthy and sharp teeth -

I didn't want to leave him in there any longer than he'd already been in there and certainly not overnight either.

The nice thing about the older Hav-a-heart traps in they have solid doors on both ends, which let me easily walk to the trap without Mr. Skunk seeing me.  I was then able to flip the metal brackets holding the doors closed and by the time I made it back into the house, he was already out and making a beeline for the neighbors shed and he did NOT spray!

With all these animal related posting recently, I'm feeling like a mix of Marlin Perkins (Mutual of Omaha)\Jack Hannah (zookeeper and director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium)\Steve Irwin-esk (Australian environmentalist, conservationist and zookeeper)

CRIKEY!

It's Peach Season!

My peach tree is loaded with peaches!  So much so that the added weight have some of the branches drooping close to the ground, even though I pruned the tree to be able to walk and mow beneath said limbs without any issues.

Unfortunately, the tree has some sort of fungus, which it has had for years now and it also affects the fruit too.  Many rot and mold up on the tree, some have spot damage, etc.  However, that being said, the peaches are still delicious!

As you might imagine the local critters do not care about a blemish or bruise or mold, nope.  They are still drawn to and seem to come out of the woodwork to feast on the fruit that falls.

The deer, however, have no problems eating both the peaches while still on the tree and the tender ends of the tree limbs, see pic below, as they're the perfect height -

At the same time as the peaches are ripening, areas of my lawn and veggie gardens show signs of a skunk.  Plus I've seen it out there when I let Trixie out at night to do her business.  It takes off running when the light comes on and I step out on the back deck.

It's out there digging for grubs, so I welcome it's presence and the removal of as many grubs as it can gorge on.  However, what I do NOT like is when it digs for said grubs in my lawn because it destroys the lawn and makes a mess -

And not to mention that the darn skunk is pooping EVERYWHERE, gross -

Also, I've been watching a woodchuck sneak over from the neighbors yard, through my fence, to grab a peach and dart back over to and under the shed.  I've come to learn that peaches are a woodchucks kryptonite, so it's time to take advantage of this fact and set my traps!

Tuesday evening I bait and set my trap but instead of waking up on Wednesday morning to a trapped woodchuck, I instead woke to a trapped skunk, alas!

I didn't want to mess with the trap and skunk, so I simply propped open the traps door and the skunk eventually made it's way out, through the fence and under the neighbors shed -

I'm not dismayed and still wanting to take advantage of the peaches, so I reset my trap Wednesday afternoon around 4ish, and now we wait!

Just over an hour later when I emerge from my shower what do my wandering eyes see but Mr. woodchuck trapped - 

Being freshly showered and hungry myself I contemplated on whether to deal with it then or wait until morning.  Since woodchucks are gross - their poop anyway, I opted for an evening drive -

And YES, as you might have guessed, this SOB left me a present in my trunk, well actually 4 smelly and wet and gross present pieces, GROSS and PU!

One problem solved...

Sunday AM Visitors

At 9:11AM on Sunday morning, while making breakfast, I noticed mr skunk here making it's way, hurriedly, to it's lair under the neighbors shed. Leaving a stinky trail behind him for some reason.  At late night filling it's belly with grub.

At 9:14AM, just a mere 3-minutes later the below two dogs came a running.  Assuming drawn by the smell but minutes too late.  It would have made my day had I been able to watch the dogs attach the skunk and get sprayed!  Leash law in Franklin clearly doesn't apply to everyone's dog, so getting sprayed would have been a justly reminder to keep their pets on their leash.

The skunk will still be here and it's obvious so will the leash-less dogs, so a good spraying is still a possibility...

Happy "Grub" Hunting!

Our tomato garden is getting tilled by a critter or two most nights these last couple of weeks.  It's a good thing bad thing really.  The bad things is it's an indication of grubs and some critter with a strong smell and sense knows they're there and digging for them.  The good news is the critter is getting to them and eating them (I hope).  So long as they stay digging in the garden I'm good with their efforts, however, it's when they move to the lawn that I take issue.  Again, the good things is they're eating the little buggers (pun intended) but not really at the expense of the damage they can do to a lawn...

Here are a couple examples of their handy work -

OH LOOK!  Look who likes freshly fallen peaches that just so happen to be tied to the paddle of the trap that you ventured into!  What a mess too.  Looks like a youngster and he gave 110% effort trying to get outta that trap.  The inside bottom of the trap was full of dirt, so much so that it was difficult to pick up -

I gave him the whatfor with strict instructions of what's acceptable and what is not if he wanted to continue dining in our yard, then flipped the trap locks and set him on his way...which as I suspected, was right under the neighbors shed -

P U!

Yuppers, another pesky critter who's curiosity got him in a bind.

This little dude built a mote around the trap in an effort to get free.

Little stinker let loose a little take-that-stink when I open the trap and nudged him out.

What A Stinker

The latest critter to stay the night.

This youngster was too temped by the smell of delicious Pepperidge Farm Oatmeal bread.

Gotcha!

"Say hello to my little friend" (what Tony Montana, aka Scarface, screams as he blasts the door with his "little friend" (a gun)).

Okay, so I'm not screaming and not blasting any doors.  Simply saying hello to my new little friend Mr. or Mrs. Skunk.

Like Mr. Woodchuck, this dude enjoys corn on the cob from Jane and Paul's Farm in Norfolk.

Made a darn mess too, digging up the lawn under and around the trap, trying to escape.  Over the years I've had terrific success in relocating skunks.  Never got sprayed.  However, since I no longer have a truck the only alternative I had was the trunk of my car and I didn't want to risk that, no sir.  Instead I unhooked the trap latches and let Mr/Mrs skunk free itself.

So long as it doesn't mess with the chickens we'll be fine.

Minimizing Our Skunk Damage

Skunk relocation is easy. All you need is a skunk and you're on your way -

Step 1 - trap skunk:


Step 2 - package skunk:


Step 3 - release skunk:


Walla and when done properly there's no spraying!

I was lead to believe that skunks were black with a white strip. Clearly this one didn't get the memo.

Le Pew

FYI -

Dead skunks can still spray! Trust me, it's true and that's all I'm saying.

"Whitey"

Nope, I'm not referring to James "Whitey" Bulger, the reputed mobster who's on the lamb, and also on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

I'm referring to monsieur skunk, pictured above, who's attraction and love of peanut butter has landed him in his current dilemma. I don't believe that white skunks are rare these days but certainly unusual and quite attractive.

I'm sure this dude has some counterparts, or partners in crime if you will, still on the loose but that'll come to an end soon enough.

You see these foraging critters have been doing a terrible number on our lawn - holes dug everywhere in search of one of their favorite morsels! They're after grubs, which apparently we have a lot of and have been raising unbeknown to us. Now, some might argue, get rid of the grubs and your skunk problem goes away. Although, this is true the damage they're causing now needs to be addressed now before they ruin the entire lawn, so we don't have the luxury of waiting until the grub solution kicks in.

Now comes the tricky part, the "skunk relocation" program. Keep your fingers crossed that Pepe here doesn't decide to give me, and the surrounding areas, a parting gift...

Pepe Le Pew Perhaps

We caught this skunk in our Havaheart trap last weekend - he too likes peanut butter. We didn't want to fuss with him and risk getting sprayed, so instead of trying to relocate him we quietly snuck-up and unlatched the trap locks and let him alone to work his own way out. He was gone not too long after. Since skunks eat mostly insects, many of which are pests to humans. They are therefore very beneficial to have around.

The trap has been reset in the hopes of catching more of the many (too many) grey squirrels that we have. I'm not sure where they've all come from but with the cold weather moving in we're all of a sudden overrun with the pests. We've already caught and relocated (6) of these earlier this year. Perhaps, I'll introduce them to the "blue barrel"...