This story begins with a squirrel problem. The squirrels are getting all our pecans and there won't be a single pecan on the tree when it's time for them to fall. I borrowed our son's live trap and set it with some delicious shelled pecans to catch them and relocate them to a farm. The squirrels showed no interest and continued to climb the tree and take the pecans.
I got up early yesterday morning, looked out the window and could see something in the trap. It was larger than a squirrel, had a long bushy tail and digging like crazy trying to get out of the cage. I had caught a skunk. What in the world were we going to do? I raised the window and the air was clean. He had not sprayed, yet.
When my hubby got up, he didn't have a lot to say. He appeared to be calm, but in his mind he was working on a plan.
My stress began to build. I got on the computer and searched for a solution. You cover yourself just in case you get sprayed. You approach the cage slowly and quietly so as not to scare the skunk. It helps if he can't see you. Lay a tarp or blanket over the cage and open the door to the trap. The skunk will come out and leave. Sounded simple, but could I do it?
I picked up my devotion book and just opened it to a page and read. The devotion was about faith and prayer and a reminder that He is always there for us to call on. The last paragraph stated, "Regardless of what the crisis in your life may be, lay your problem before Him in trust and He will transform your crisis into a blessing". I could feel that that message was for me.
While eating breakfast, I told my husband my plan. He said he had an idea and he would take care of it. I convinced him that I could do it my way, so with 5 plastic garbage bags, and duct tape, grocery bag over my head with section for eyes, nose and mouth cut out, he got me all covered up. Then the dust mask and eye goggles were put in place. By this time the skunk had curled up in the corner of the cage and was fast asleep. I'm sure he was exhausted.
With tarp in hand and my body covered, I was ready to go.
The trap door is solid so the skunk could not see me. Quietly and easily, I walked toward the cage, my heart started pounding. I stopped and stood for a while to calm myself down plus that's what you do to keep the skunk calm. Gradually I got to the cage and covered the trap, then stooped down and with the tarp in my hand, I felt for the lever to lift the door and lock it open. I figured the skunk would see the opening and crawl under the tarp and out he would go.
It didn't happen. The other end of the cage was exposed enough that I could see from the kitchen window that the skunk was still curled up in the corner and fast asleep. I got my reach extender and went out and gently pulled the tarp over the cage so the open door was exposed. During the day, I looked several times from a distance and it appeared he was still sleeping.
Over 3 hours later, a puff of wind came and gradually blew the tarp off the cage. The skunk stood up, looked around and sniffed. After a while, he walked out and scampered off to the woods leaving no trail of skunk smell behind.
I have smelled skunk and knew we have them in our area, however, I had never seen one. That was my blessing. He was so cute!
Source: What would we do without computers?
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I just loved this story!! Kudos to you for being so patient and kind with Skunky!!
What an enchanting and lovely story. Your narrative is sumptuous and of the nature I would use to relate it to children, who would be spellbound and then rife with questions when it was finished. It would be fun to even bring your "get-up" to show them for laughs. Thank you for this. Your messages were integral to my needs today, so you did so much more than tell a lovely story.
I echo J'Marinde's sentiment. A lovely digression to start my day. Thank you.
I just noticed that to the left of the last picture, there is a cross from the shadow of the bird feeders on the post. My grandma told me many times, many years ago, "If there is a will, there is a way".
This is my Mama! 75 years old and spry as can be! I just wish I could have been there witnessing this event in person. I also wish she had posted a close-up picture of her 'uniform' so we could get the full effect of the situation. Thanks for sharing this Mama and yes, where there's a will there's a way! Love ya!
OK. Here it is. My skunk uniform after removing the safety glasses and dust mask.
What a wonderful story! I'm so glad you were able to give the skunk his freedom and avoid getting sprayed! Love the outfit, too! Lol!
That was a brave thing to do. However if I caught you bringing squirrels to my farm, where they would effect my livelihood I would be upset. Before you relocate any wildlife you need to check with the authorities. It may be illegal, as some rodents carry disease.
We have permission to relocate the squirrels to this farm which is a large wooded area and not close to any homes. These squirrels are beginning to be a real problem. I have tried shooting them but I can't hit the side of a barn.
Wow! I won! Thank you so much for all your votes and comments.
Those cute little fancy rats have gotten all the pecans.
They worked so hard running back and forth all day for weeks gathering the nuts and taking them back to the woods. It must be a sign that we are going to have a hard winter.
One more comment on the shadow of the cross in my last picture. We recently cut a row of tall pines on the east side of our house, which shaded the yard until about noon.
The sun has moved more south and the shadow of the cross does not show up as perfect as it did that day right after I got the tarp over the trapped skunk. I truly believe that it is a sign that God was with me and answered my prayer.
On sunny days, when I look out my kitchen window and see the shadow of my bird feeder post which makes the cross, it's an inspirational reminder that all is well.
Just in case anyone is wondering about the blue trash bags, I'm a litter gitter. I belong to a team of 12 volunteers that do a litter walk every 6-8 weeks on our road and keep it clean. We use bags that are furnished by the state. These bags are reversible with orange on one side and blue on the other.
It has been over two years since this story was written but I received it today and loved it! Thank you for making my day.
Thank you for sharing....
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