Outdoors - Avoid a fight

   My wife and I were enjoying a fall late afternoon on the porch last week. The dogs slept close by soaking up the last of the day’s sunshine. My wife glanced up the driveway and quietly said, “there is a skunk headed toward the house.” Being a nonchalant as possible, I strode to the end of the porch and shut the gate. I was not sure at the time what I was going to do about the skunk, but I knew, I did not want the dogs involved. We have been there before and bathing a couple of dogs was not on the agenda for a relaxing afternoon.

   I have learned, it is best to not pick a fight with a skunk. Even if you win the fight, the lingering smell stays with a person for quite some time as reminder of what transpired. Skunks are famous for carrying rabies, so this is also a concern. This skunk appeared to be healthy, just minding his own business as he sniffed along the ground looking for something good to eat. Where he was walking along the driveway, I thought he was probably hunting moles. Skunks can hear or smell a mole underground and dig them up for a quick meal. We have had problems with moles near the driveway for most of the summer. I was sure he was more effective at removing the moles than I had been, so I let him continue.

   The skunk hunted along the edge of the timber and came down in front of house, stopping under a hickory tree to eat a couple of hickory nuts. The crunching and rustling of the leaves finally woke up the dogs. When they spotted the skunk, they tore off to the end of the porch, barking and ready to attack. They seemed quite frustrated that the gate was closed, which only increased the ferocity of their barking. The skunk looked our way and decided to leave. He was willing to back off and avoid a fight, if possible, also. He seemed to be in no hurry but watched over his shoulder as he made his way up the hill and into the timber.

   I waited an hour or so after the skunk left before I opened the gate to the porch. The dogs had not forgotten the skunk. The ran down to the hickory tree and smelled every inch of the ground. Jag picked up his scent trail and tracked him through the timber and up across the hay field. He must have  lost the trail somewhere in the paintball woods as he did not stink when he came back, though we were prepared for the worst. We keep the recipe and necessary ingredients handy for the skunk spray removal wash. We have had to use it many times over the years.

   Since that afternoon when we were fortunate enough to see the skunk before the dogs did, there have been times we get a faint aroma of skunk in the air. We have not seen him since and are only hoping he chooses to stay away. Perhaps he wishes to avoid a fight as much as we do.