Sunday, November 15, 2020

Maybe I Celebrated A Wee Bit Too Early

 The Good News:

At 6:00 in the morning I drove over to the new skunk homeland to find the trap empty.  YAY!  It finally left and a big surprise to me, did NOT attempt to make the trap his home.  Probably because it smelled bad.  Something must have scared him because I could smell skunk more than before.  Not bad, but enough to know it was a skunk.

I wore old clothing and rubber gloves.  I wrapped the trap up and placed it on another tarp in the back of my truck.  No use taking any chances, even if the entire thing is already wrapped. 

Just for giggles, I had set up my game camera that night, knowing I wouldn't see him any more, a fact I intended to gloat over.  I laughed because, well,  HAHA I caught him.  Now all I will see is kitties, the house cat kind, right?


 The HORRIBLE News:

I had eight videos of that same orange kitty cat going back and forth.  He even stuck his entire head in the other smaller trap, but didn't get caught.

The next video SHOCKED me!!!   NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Okay, so I KNEW there would be more than one skunk.  OMG I HAVE TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN!!!  I'm not sure my heart can stand the stress. 

 There's a loose board way down the fence line and apparently he or she came in that way.  Watch it smelling the ground ... probably looking for the baby I caught.  I'm only thinking baby because it appears to be much smaller than this one.  BIG SIGH.

I watched the next video with slumping shoulders and more big sighs.  Obviously I have my work cut out for me.  This is how it's been coming in and escaping all this time.  Big diggers these guys .. who knew?  

Although rather disappointed that my trial is not over, I'm still just as determined to rid my property of this menace.  I did some more investigation to find their territory is rather large ... two miles is about the max.  The second piece of good news is the new skunk homeland is two miles away with an irrigation canal between it and me.  

More Bad News:  The males will roam over THREE miles.  Anyone want to do a tail check and tell me whether I have a male or female??


 SO ... I reset the trap, repairing the tarp where it had pulled 6 inches of it through the one inch holes in the bottom wire.  That little bugger was STRONG to be able to do that.  In the meantime, I'm shopping for another piece of property further away.  The problem being I have to leave the trap 24 hours before I can pick it up.  

I shouldn't worry ... who the heck is going to steal a skunk trap that smells like skunk??   The saga continues.  I reset the trap and game camera last night.  We shall see what happens.

Sigh .........

 

 

12 comments:

  1. Oh no!! Here you go again. At least this time, you have the power of first hand experience behind you! :) Even though we are laughing from all these miles away, we feel your pain and fully support you. One adventure over the past summer with a skunk has me on your side!

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    1. Cool recipe with no meat got The idea from Bob’s eye about a year ago . No matter how much you refine it or change it it still comes out great No crockpot but large chunks an I simmer it for about three hours no crockpot but I simmer it for about three hours my problem is I make so much that I have to feed the neighborhood
      https://www.theseasonedmom.com/crock-pot-vegetable-soup/

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    2. Thank you Patsy ... I need all the support I can get over this one! LOL

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  2. Two tricks you can use one is real close to the hole is a Solar powered motion sensor light put it right in front of the hole The other is a Motion sensor Garden hose sprayer Although you may need to buy some more hose if it’s along way outback

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8DA9FDlHJc

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    1. Rats the recipe went in the wrong reply box

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    2. I've seen those sensors that set off water. That might be a really good idea. Maybe if it got wet enough, it would go away.

      Got the recipe. Are you suggesting I have skunk soup? Hahahaha ... I have to say the recipe sounds really good! Thanks!!

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  3. Word got out you were giving out treats.
    Years ago Kathy had a Skunk problem and used Lots and Lots of Mothballs. Stinkers for Stinkers. It worked.
    Be Safe and Enjoy the challenge.

    It's about time.

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    1. I tried the mothballs first thing. After $50 worth, I gave up. They didn't seem to care.

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    1. Yes Dave .... yes it is. I think that's MOM. Won't this be fun!!!

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  5. Yep that's a big one! Time to go to AZ then you don't have to worry about them anymore! LOL...

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    1. Trouble is they will have free rein if I'm gone, like they did last time. That is NOT a good thing. Hoping to get rid of them first.

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