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Kitty Cats with a White Stripe

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty
Before we really get into this, let me make something perfectly clear – I am NOT a professional, but have proven to be very much an amateur when it comes to being around and tolerating those very pretty but funny walking little animals with a very nasty body odor problem.
You know the ones I mean - when they walk, it is rather unusual to watch them because the front paws walk normal, just like any furry animal, but their hind quarters kinda follow along and waddle like a duck. I know, it isn’t the point, but I thought I would mention something I personally saw. No big deal -----

 

Four Types of Skunks

According to what I found on the web, there are four separate types of skunk that live in our area, although other species are also known to be here but not in large numbers.

Striped, Spotted, Hooded, and American Hog-Nosed Skunks are the most common. All have the same odor capability but do vary in size. The smallest is the “Spotted Skunk”.
According to “Audubon, Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch” the most common is the spotted skunk

 

“Western spotted skunks are widely distributed through the western US, including

southern Canada and northern Mexico. A similar species, the eastern spotted skunk,

lives in the eastern US. They are found state-wide in all habitats, although

they seem to prefer rocky areas. They are the only skunk to be found in the low desert

portions of the Southwest. Our smallest skunks, they havebeen described by skunk-expert Dr. Jerry Dragoo as “barely more than a handful to the size of a squirrel.” They weigh ½ to 1 pound. Not actually spotted, they have 6 broken stripes, and a round or triangular patch between the eyes. They are more weasel-like than our other skunks, and also better tree climbers. They feed primarily on insects, but also small mammals, birds, and lizards, and occasionally fruit.”

 

Personally, I don’t intend to get close enough to tell the difference.

 

New Home

Oh well – back to my thoughts. We’ve been engaged in an ongoing battle with those little furry but highly fanatical creatures for quite some time. Three years ago, we had our first experience with them, and finally they gave up – (we thought). Yes, they are excellent “diggers” with a very big desire to tunnel under a foundation or something solid to make their home. Unfortunately for us, it was OUR home they were tunneling under.

 

Yet, a New Home, Again

We thought we had convinced them to shop elsewhere for a place to live, but … Well, last year, they did some digging around the area, but nothing around the house. This year, once again, they want to share our domain. Oh, I know --- they were here first --- BUT -----

 

This animal is very tenacious, they don’t give up. You have to be careful that you don’t trap them so they can’t get out. Gauge them as yourself, they can go without water about 3 days, then they expire. Please take my word for it; that’s DEFINITELY not what your goal is.

 

Skunk with a different Odor

Skunks don’t go into a place and live (according to the county animal control officer). They will spend a few days in a nest they build; then go somewhere else, but they do leave a special scent (not the one that is nasally offensive for you) but a specific scent trail for other skunks to follow. The hole they dig will almost certainly become a “skunk motel” for those that follow. (BOY --- That’s a pleasant thought, isn’t it?)

 

They are a very strong animal for their size. We have had them move a concrete block out of the way to dig – or they may use the block as a marker, and dig right beside it – or under it. Either way, you still provide the motel concept. The scent they leave is also very long lasting for them as well.

 

Clorox for Cover
We were told that any brand of bleach was a good deterrent to stop their digging, but you have to use a lot of it, and use it often. About 3 or 4 days, the bleach odor goes away and they start digging again. I won’t give any brand names, but the cheap stuff seems to do the best job. (Personally, I think it has the most offensive odor to my eyes and nose, so guess it is also offensive to them. I’m not really into being very nice at this point.) We are on our 12th gallon, so far this year – (mid-October to mid-November).

 

We found that you will have to mark their hole in the daytime with something easily pushed aside from the inside. We used tissues or toilet paper to partially cover the hole and anchor it on one corner in such a way that when it is pushed out it becomes very visible. Check the tissue late in the evening (we found around 10:00 pm) but be prepared to fill it in as near permanent as possible. Saturating the area with bleach will hopefully give you a couple days. I tend to pour the bleach around 10 feet in each direction. I think it helps. They come back before daylight to spend the day in the nest. Later, once you are absolutely sure you don’t have boarders, you can make the repairs more permanent.

 

Water for the Animals, even Skunks

Anyway, back to what we want. My wife and I have been leaving a pie pan full of water outside our kitchen window at ground level in the summertime for the animals to get a drink from. We keep the container full of water and leave it 24/7 all summer.

 

But thinking about it; that might have been a mistake on our part because we have created a watering hole for the skunks at night. They have never bothered us so far – except in October and November. Soooooo - from now on, we’ll continue to leave the water out in the daytime because we enjoy seeing the bunnies come by for a drink, or the birds that drop by, even the lizards that come and drink – BUT -- from now on, I’m gonna make a special effort to make sure I empty the bowl every evening.

 

I don’t have any answer about how long it will be before they finally give up, but I have every intention to outlive them.

 


Roy
December 2012