THE MOMENT OF TRUTH!!!

 EEEHAWWWW

CAUGHT!!!!!

Well well well .... what do we have here???  The PREDATOR wins again, or at long last.  Yes, the entire time I was in Arizona, the interlopers were romping around my back yard having a field day.  That time has come to an end.  Although, I must say this is A skunk, but maybe not THE skunk.  

I couldn't stand it.  I snuck out in the dark and put my flashlight right on his head.  I chuckled and ran back in the house.  HAPPY DANCE!!   HAPPY DANCE!!

 Once it got light enough, I went back, very gingerly and quietly removed the board across the top and took this picture.  Yup ... that's a skunk alright!!

 I went back inside to await the 8:00 hour and a phone call to the County.  Exactly as I expected, they pawned me off on the State.  The State not only did not answer the phone, but they never called me back the entire day.  Guess I'm on my own.

I called everyone I knew, looking for recommendations on where to drop him off.  I tried bribery on several occasions, hoping to con someone ELSE into letting him go.  I guess I'm too softhearted.  He's so cute, I just couldn't kill him.  Lucky for me, the Pumpkin Patch answered the phone.  I was just wondering if I could dump the skunk in one of your orchards out of town.

A location was affixed, at which time I began to shake, rattle and roll.  OMG .. now I have to box him up, load him into the truck and haul him over there without scaring him into spraying.  You can't imagine my heart rate.

I gently flipped up the back panel (cut and set for the occasion) with nothing more than a few stomps of his feet.  Next I got a huge black trash bag to put over the door end.  I grabbed an old blanket to add extra protection to the truck bed.  Only your best friend would offer up his new Ford for the occasion, even if it was only to see the side show.

Even more gently, we opened the tailgate and I slid the cage to the edge.  The suspense was horrible.  I even donned old burnable clothes just in case.  So silently I picked up the cage and set it down here.
 

 My plan was to wait several minutes and let him calm down.  The cage was quiet.  I pulled the garbage bag off as my heart felt like it was coming out of my chest.  PLEASE don't spray me little dude.

 I heard laughter from the safety of the truck.  Now comes the moment of truth ... open the cage door and RUN LIKE CRAZY!!! 

 I very quietly ... like a lioness sneaking up on her prey ... made my way to the cage.  In a flash, I was able to open the door and hit the latch.  YES!!!!  The door is OPEN!!!  I ran faster than I've ever run before!!

Nothing.  We waited.  Nothing.  I had my video rolling, but the skunk never came out.  I banged on the cage a little, rocked it back and forth and finally got close enough to uncover the back.  There he sat, smelling the edges of the cage.  You're FREE you little brat ... get the heck out of here!!  No movement.

 We finally left him alone to contemplate his new surroundings.  

I returned at 3:30 in the afternoon.  The dang skunk was napping.  He raised his head just enough to see me, then went back to sleep.  WHAT THE HECK??  I threw a big stick at the cage.  He didn't even lift his head.

He has totally accepted this as his new home and refused to leave.  Hey buddy, I need that cage to catch your friends.  I made it a point to catch up with the Sheriff because I knew he had connections.  He said since they are nocturnal creatures, he probably won't leave until after dark, but if I catch another one, just call.  No problem there ... you're now on speed dial!!

I made one more pass by after dark and I SWEAR, that skunk is still happy as a clam ensconced in his new digs.  Now my problem is ..... what if he decides this is his new home and goes BACK to the cage in the morning?

The good news is he's gone and I didn't get sprayed.  HALLELUJAH!!!  Hopefully today I'll get my cage back just in case there are more roaming my castle grounds.