We’ve always been aware of skunks in the green space behind our fence. We can smell them as they pass by in the evening or early morning before the sun comes up. Ranger went after one on the trail behind us, but I was able to drag him away from the fence before he got too close to the black-and-white critter. The skunk sprayed and the smell was strong enough to make my eyes water. I thought it was a lesson Ranger would remember.
Well, he did. When a skunk got into our yard, he went after it. Before I could get hold of him, he cornered it in a mountain laurel bush. Trapped, the skunk defended itself. Whew! Ranger ran for the lawn, rubbed and rolled, and then went right after it again. Shannon, our daughter, got a good hold on him. Meanwhile, I had my broom and was chasing that critter down the fence line toward the gate. When it raised its tail at me, I whacked it. It realized then a crazed human female was after it, managed to somehow get under (or over) the hog wire fence. The last time I saw that skunk, it was high-tailing it across the trail to the safety of the green space. I hope it stays there!
The thing is, when you’re anywhere around a skunk, you smell it. That is a warning to put some distance between you and that critter. If you get too close, you’re going to be wearing eau d’ Fifi La P.U. Even if the spray doesn’t hit you, it carries in the air around you. I think it sticks inside your nose. For days. If you get sprayed, even after a bath of baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and a little Dawn detergent won’t get rid of the stench completely. Ranger is a case in point. It’s been weeks and he still has the faint odor between his cute puppy brown eyes.
There are all kinds of skunks in the world. Some “serve” in government. Some live in your neighborhood. Some are sitting in a church pew. When you make decisions about who to elect, who to follow, or who to make your friend, stand back and observe. Whatever scent they carry will soon be on you.