BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?

Subject: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 05:09 PM

American skunk accidentally crosses Canada border; looking for drive back

Reuters
Updated: 12:04 p.m. CT Jan 12, 2007

TORONTO - Canadian wildlife officials are looking for a brave driver prepared for a 2,200-mile trip to take a stinky stowaway skunk back to her home in California.

But the skunk, who survived a seven-day journey across the United States and into Canada without food and water, after being accidentally locked away in a transport truck, is having a hard time finding someone to give her a ride home.

"We can never give a no-spray guarantee, of course," said Nathalie Karvonen, executive director at the Toronto Wildlife Center, which has been caring for the skunk since Jan. 5, referring to the black-and-white striped animal's foul-smelling defense mechanism.
"It would have be somebody who would be prepared for that possibility."

Releasing her into the wild in Canada is out of the question, Karvonen said.

"It's totally and utterly illegal from a provincial and federal standpoint to release a California skunk in Ontario."

As well, "skunks are very territorial animals ... "They won't just readily accept a stranger in their territory, so there will be a big skunk fight."

[Note: anti-immigrant policies]

While airlines usually agree to return such "accidental travelers" for free, Karvonen said the response has not been positive in this particular case.

Those with an idea on how to get the animal home can contact the Toronto Wildlife Center at 1-416-631-0662.

[Obviously needs someone adapted to strong odors.]

John

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 05:14 PM

One small lead pill. It's a skunk!

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: Cluin
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 05:42 PM

Wasn't this Hammond's department?

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 05:47 PM

Hmmm... sorry about that. That sounded pretty bad. But, seriously, it is a skunk. There are millions of them. And, they are not so easy to handle, besides the possibilty of rabies. As a boy up country, I was taught to kill them on site and burn the corpse.

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 05:59 PM

It does appear that this one is someone's pet, and apparently they know where it should be delivered.

There was no indication of whether this particular skunk can dance or sing, or is interested in folk culture in any form; but it's probably facing much the same situation as one of our own who's tour dates fell through after arrival in a strange place.

Of course, under the new rules, the skunk may be required to have a passport to get back into the US, although that might be handled if Canadian authorities provide a deportation order so that the skunk can ask for political asylum.

John

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 06:17 PM

If it was a pet, surely it has been descented?

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 06:25 PM

I think lots of people who keep "wild" critters as pets like the thrill of knowing it might, or at least that it could.

Fully armed skunks are not really uncommon as pets, although they're less often found as "indoor pets."

Although the odor is strong, it's not exactly disabling, except perhaps momentarily if one inhales an unexpected strong dose. The real danger is temporary blindness, which can last quite a while (especially relative to how long it takes to leave the road) from a direct hit.

John

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: Cluin
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 07:15 PM

But extended exposure to the smell makes you sick to your stomach after a while. You never really get used to it.

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:04 PM

....uh, Cluin..........Have you tried or something? I mean uou sound pretty authoratative and all.

I'll pass this on to Cletus, John. He had a pet skunk for awhile as a kid so...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: Cluin
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:37 PM

Tried, but not on purpose, Spaw. We had a nest of them living under a neighbour's shed one summer. A learning experience, it was. Did you know that if you grab `em by the tail and get their back paws off the ground, they can't spray?

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:44 PM

Ya' know, that might be true, but I'd have to be one desparate SOB to try it!!!! And one time I almost was..........a long story but I have never been more still or quieter in my life!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:49 PM

Cluin -

There's a wee germ of truth to the tale that picking a skunk up by the tail prevents him from spraying; but the story is most frequently told to youngsters by the same ^%@#!$ ol' farts that tell them that the frozen pump handle tastes really sweet if you stick your tongue on it - frequently with similar effect on the dignity of the believer.

The problem with the skunk version is that the skunk is gonna be really mad when you drop it - and you generally can't run fast enough or throw one far enough.

John

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: Cluin
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 09:05 PM

Depends where you drop it, John. I speak from experience. We dropped them into plastic garbage bags which were then held around exhaust pipes and the vehicles started. Solved the skunk problem.

And yes, it was an older neighbour who told us that was the safe way to grab them. Of course, the skunks wre under HIS shed. And I don'tr recall him catching one.

Subject: RE: BS: A Job for Cletus, or the Reg boys?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 04:23 AM

Opinions are somewhat divided when it comes to skunks, but many farmers consider them better mousers, and much better equipped to deal with rats, than the barnyard cats, and tend to leave them alone unless they get really annoying. Skunks seldom spray in their own den, so you can have a lot of them around without every smelling one, unless the yard dog gets after one.

Since they do eat carrion, in areas where rabies is a prominent threat they need to be watched very carefully for signs of "unusual behaviour;" and if you can't keep an eye on them extermination may be safest; but in many circumstances they're pretty friendly neighbors - as wild things go.

Personal opinion is that they - and most other wild creatures - don't make good pets, de-scented or not; but they're popular with a few nut-cases.

John