A Skunk Followed Gypsy Home One Day...

[Gypsy Rose]

and stayed!

Some of you may know that I like skunks. Just for fun, and because I don't want to forget, here is the story behind it all.

One day, in July of 1999, I was riding home in the ditch, and Gypsy suddenly pricked up her ears and stopped dead. I was like "What the..."!

At first, I didn't see anything- maybe because I wasn't looking at the ground. Then I saw what she was looking at. About 75 feet in front of us, there was a little baby skunk coming straight at us down one of the dirt tracks in the ditch!

I had always been taught to stand still when I saw wildlife, and even Gypsy seemed to know this. She stood her ground as the little skunk came closer. Trouble was, the little critter kept coming closer! Just when I thought maybe backing up would be a good idea- that and the fact I think Gypsy wasn't going to give me a choice much longer- the little skunk veered off toward the field side of the ditch.

Gypsy and I continued on toward home, and every once in a while, we'd catch a glimpse of the skunk following parallel to us in the field. I thought that was definitely different!

Just before my property line, the field turns into a narrow area of woods. By the time I hit the edge of the woods, I didn't see the skunk anymore. At the time, I didn't think anything of it, and continued home.

I mentioned it to my SO when I got back, and we both thought that was definitely an interesting experience. In the next few days, the incident drifted to the back of my mind, and I didn't think much about it.That is, until later that week...


More to come - eventually with pics!

[mtnmollie]

Wow! Great story G/R.

What will happen next?

[vicklynn]

Aww poo, a teaser post. Cant wait to hear more.

[Gypsy Rose]

He,he! That's what makes it fun! I want a few more people to read this far before I add more, lol!

[vicklynn]

Read folks, read...lol

[mtnmollie]

I read it again- does that count? :cowboy:

[Remali]

Ahhhh....I love these fun posts, great story! More, more.....!!!! :)

[Gypsy Rose]

There will be lots of stories- I'll be breaking them up, or they get too long. Besides, this is fun- don't want it to end too soon!

But, Vicky, I'll take pity on you!

[Gypsy Rose]

I read it again- does that count? :cowboy:

:p I will tell a little more in a minute. I want to save these without cutting too much out- so I will start another post, he,he!

[PoniesRock101]

hehe! baby skunks are so cute! :)

[mtnmollie]

Take yer time G/R and dont let us needle yah. :cowboy:

[Gypsy Rose]

A few days later, I was washing dishes, and looking out the kitchen window. I saw a movement in front of the hayshed, and got a big surprise. Out came the little skunk!

I got my SO to come and see. We watched the little critter sniff around the yard, checking out just about everything. I realized again how small she was. Was she old enough to be wandering around without her Momma? I had no clue.

We decided it wouldn't hurt to put a little food out for her. The problem was, what do skunks eat? We didn't really know. I knew they grubbed around for food, so I assumed they ate grubs and insects, like bears. She- (you'll find out later how we found her sex out, lol!)- wouldn't touch the corn we had out out for the deer, so we put out leftover table scraps for her, both meat and vegetable. Found out real quick that skunks like tomato and onion, lol!

Before I go any further, I must tell you about the cats we had at the time. I had Hopscotch, a 12 year old calico, Sabrina, a calico kitten, and Sylvester, a year old long haired black and white cat.

It seemed like the skunk and the cats didn't have a problem with each other, so we assumed there was nothing to worry about.

He,he! That is, until the day my SO was working on the drive shaft of the pickup!

Sylvester had a habit of crawling on his chest whenever he was working on a vehicle- you had to watch him if you were working under the hood, too- he'd crawl all over the engine!

So my SO was working on the pickup, and I was helping, and trying to get some things done indoors, as well.

Sylvester had been pestering my SO, crawling on his chest and getting shoved out of the way every so often. This went on for a bit, until I heard my SO start hollering...

[mtnmollie]

he he he ....

a cliff hanger it be. :cowboy:

Then what happened?

[PoniesRock101]

tomatoe and onion?! lol another cliff hanger? awww

[vicklynn]

tomato AND onion, no wonder they smell.
And another cliff hanger...awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Arrow]

Hmmmm....I like complete stories! You're such a tease!

[Gypsy Rose]

No fun if I tell it all at once- besides- my tendinitis wouldn't let me- I'd be done typing when I was halfway through, lol!

That's my excuse, and I'm stickin' to it!:p

[mtnmollie]

I can wait.

Just call me Patient Pollie. :cowboy:

[Arrow]

Tendonitis is painful--I feel for you!

[Gypsy Rose]

If I'm not on here all day and night, I'm fine- type too many long posts, I pay for it, lol!

Lots of skunk stories to tell- I want to be able to tell them all.

[Arrow]

Well, if WB can have a 20-page long kitten thread, you can have a skunk thread!:innocent::whistle:

:eek:No, WB, no--not the trout, not the trout!:eek:

[Gypsy Rose]

"Get your *%#@ skunk out of here!"

Never seen someone come out from under a vehicle so fast, he,he! Unfortunately, I missed what had happened - I didn't see anything amiss. He must have scared poor little Skunky witless, lol!

When my SO finally mellowed down some, I asked him what had happened. Apparently. he'd been working under the truck, and Sylvester had been pestering him like usual, wanting to lay on his chest. After a bit, the cat must have gone away, but the next thing he knew, he thought Sylvester had come back and was pawing on his chest. So he kept shoving the paw away, thinking it was the cat. Until he felt claws and looked over. There was little Skunky, staring him in the face, almost like "Watcha doing?"

Ha,ha! I did try to explain that there was no way I was going to tell that little skunk what to do!

We saw her quite a bit during the day that summer, though she prowled around at night like a normal skunk would, as well.

One night, we were coming home from a friend's after dark. It was fall, so I was feeding Gypsy extra hay late in the evening, well after dark. When we got back, my SO parked the pickup with the lights shining in the hayshed, so I could see to feed her before I went in the house.Keep in mind that Skunky lived in the back of the hayshed.

More later!

[mtnmollie]

uhm- Skunky?

Not Spunky Skunky- or Striped Skunky- but just Skunky- LOL.

Another cliffhanger! oh my - :cowboy:

[Gypsy Rose]

He,he! For the life of me, I couldn't think of a name, and at the time, we didn't know if she was male or female- not as if I was going to take a look, he,he!:crazy:

[mtnmollie]

he he ...:cowboy:

[Remali]

Great story, I love it!!

[PoniesRock101]

awwwwwwwww......... another cliff hanger lol!

[vicklynn]

Someones gonna go over that cliff in a minute...looking for the continuation...lol

[Gypsy Rose]

I'm going to eat something- then you'll get some more!:p

[Ryle]

You are so evil! I checked in for the next installment of the skunk saga and there was nothing here but your little teaser about "more later":p Pure evil.

[Gypsy Rose]

I got out and walked in the hayshed, and came out with the hay. As I rounded the corner, there was Skunky coming up the path! I stopped, and waited to see what she would do.

My SO thought I was crazy, telling me to get out of there, quick. I told him moving was the dumbest thing I could do. It had been a while since either of us had been out in the yard at the same time with Skunky- she'd been coming out more and more at night.

Just as I thought, before she got within 10 feet of me, she turned around and went into the back of the hayshed.

She pretty much spent the winter in the hayshed- every once in a while, when it was a warm winter day, she'd come out and get something to eat.

The following spring, we ended up with two more kittens- their mother was a drop off- pregnant of course! Sylvester disappeared that summer- we're afraid an eagle or a hawk might have gotten him- he was crazy enough to fight a crow for a ham bone one day- but that's another story!

One of those kittens was Damien- some of you have seen pics of him.

Skunky and the cats all continued to get along, so it wasn't too surprising when we started noticing Damien smelling like skunk every now and then. Not strong, just a faint odor. The best we could figure, he might have been sleeping with her.

We KNOW he was playing with her- we'd seen them together out in the driveway. That stopped for a bit though, when one night, he got spayed, lol!The best we can figure, he startled her.

More later...

[vicklynn]

Awww poooo. here we go again.

[Arrow]

Hmmmm...I'm rapidly losing patience...

[Gypsy Rose]

Pics will be coming soon, Vicklynn- be patient!

You, too, Arrow!

[Arrow]

I'll try to be patient--it's a good tale!

[PoniesRock101]

haha! and it continues...........

[Remali]

Poor Damien....!

[lovesfortune]

Oohh... just had time to start reading this now... MORE PLEASE!! WHere are the promised PICTURES!?!?! :)

[JackieB]

OK, I'm all caught up and ready for the next installment, too!

[mtnmollie]

yeah G/R! You rock! :)

[Gypsy Rose]

You will have pics tomorrow- maybe evening- I want to see what I have in my photo album to scan yet- don't want to miss any!

Good work takes time, he,he!

[Gypsy Rose]

Okay, one piccy- this was one of the newer ones, actually- I told you all I have to dig!

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=2368

[mtnmollie]

Wow! That looks like a skunk! Oh my!

[Gypsy Rose]

Isn't she cute? You ain't seen nuthin' yet! I just have to get the rest of them scanned in the computer- didn't dare upload too many until I got my flash drive, lol!

[AppyLady]

What a cute little skunk!

[cloedoll]

Wow, just caught up with the story, itsa cute story!! That skunks is supa cute, hehe!!

[Arrow]

Cute pic--waited for the rest of the story with bated breath!

[PoniesRock101]

Yay! skunk pic!they are so cute!

[Gypsy Rose]

The following spring, Skunky emerged from her semi hibernation. One of the things I discovered was that she didn't seem to have a problem being out in the yard with us, so long as we kept a certain distance from her, about 10 feet. Well, me, anyway- my SO was still leery ever since the truck episode, he,he!

I used to go out and hang clothes on the line around 8:30 or so about twice a week. Skunky started learning when I might be out, and she would come and eat while I was hanging the clothes, and I would talk to her. It was pretty neat. Unfortunately, I don't have a pic of that.

One day a friend of ours came to visit. He wanted to know if he could borrow my SO's angle grinder to cut a sunroof in his car. He was told that he could, so long as we were there. He didn't have time that day, so after he left, we thought nothing more about it.

About 2 weeks later, the friend came to visit. He no sooner got in the door, when he turned to me and said, "You'd better keep that (can't even really censor the words he said, other than blank, blank blankety blank-lol!) skunk of yours the blank out of the yard!"

I asked him what he meant. Apparently, he'd come over to use the grinder one day when my SO and I weren't home. He never got to use it- Skunky had something to do with that!

More later.

[mtnmollie]

he he he he - The watch skunk.

People need to learn to follow rules.

"He was told that he could, so long as we were there."

[Gypsy Rose]

Skunky and friend- 2005

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=1308

[NJrider]

Oooo how cute! I'm loving reading about Skunky and can't wait to see more pictures! I loooove skunks!

[Gypsy Rose]

Thanks, NJrider, a lot of people do not! It's always nice to find a fellow skunk lover!

[Remali]

Awww I love skunks too....and who needs a watch dog when you've got a skunk?!! Or two?!

[PoniesRock101]

YAY another pic! whoo hoo! wiht a squirell! i actually saw 3 squirells the other day, i never see any normally!

[TheBadLands]

I just wanted to say I have been following this! It's a lot of fun!

[Gypsy Rose]

Thanks, pallavesta- there will be more tomorrow!

[JackieB]

A watch skunk! That's funny!

[Gypsy Rose]

It gets better, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out what happened with that one, lol!

[mtnmollie]

Well- is it tomorrow yet? What happened?

[Gypsy Rose]

One hour to go yet, and I'm headed for bed- the later I go to sleep, the later the story tomorrow!:innocent:

[Gypsy Rose]

Evidently when our friend got out of his car and headed for the garage, he never got as far as the door. In front of the door stood Skunky!

So our friend decided he was going to head for the house- have no clue as to why, since we weren't home, unless he thought the house was open, and the grinder was in there, lol!

Before he got there, Skunky beat him, and was standing in front of that door. Needless to say, the guy decided he wasn't going to stick around, he,he!

When he told us this story, my SO and I looked at each other, then my SO told him, "Well, you were told you couldn't use the grinder unless we were here- maybe next time, you'll wait until we're home. If you think either one of us is going to tell that skunk what to do, you're crazy!"

[Arrow]

Ha ha--the reeeeeeeeest of the story! Very cute!

[Gypsy Rose]

More coming later- lots more adventures, trust me!

More pics, too!

[jeezitsjacki]

haha this is a great story.. havent seen it until now but I will for sure be checking back!

[mtnmollie]

If you think either one of us is going to tell that skunk what to do, you're crazy!"

he he he he ...

A very decerning skunk.

No need to spray if they just stay out of yer space. he he .

[FrogInABlender]

I love this story so I've got to mark it so I can get the rest of the story. Thanks G/R!

[Gypsy Rose]

For the next year, Skunky came and went- sometimes she'd stick around for weeks at a time, then, she'd be gone again.

I can't remember if it was the summer of 2002, or 2003 when she showed up well after dark with little baby skunks. Unfortunately, we never got to see these in the daylight.

However, at one point, we had a little problem with Damien- he thought he could go sleep with Skunky when she had the babies- wrong answer! The only reason we know he was doing this was because we would see Damien sticking his nose in the skunk hole at the back of the hayshed.

His curiosity backfired big time early one morning about 4 A.M. My SO let him in the house, and Damien came straight into the bedroom and jumped up on the bed. I WAS sound asleep at the time.

Not for long! I went flying off the bed as soon as the cat hit it.

"What the...eeeeuw! what did you let him in here for?"

My SO actually asked me what I was talking about!

"Can't you smell it?" I said.

THEN the smell finally hit him, lol!

Little tip: Nature's Miracle Odor Eliminator works great for getting rid of skunk smell!

Next time, I will tell about Skunky and the coon.

[mtnmollie]

Nature's Miracle Odor Eliminator -

What is that? I never heard of it?

[Gypsy Rose]

http://www.naturemakesitwork.com/home/index.php

They have skunk odor remover, but I've never tried it- never had to.

All I did was wipe Damien down with a 50/50 mix of Nature's Miracle and water, and the odor was gone. And believe me, he got a full blast!

[Arrow]

Good stories, any more pics?:)

[Gypsy Rose]

Tomorrow for sure- I have to put them up in sequence- you'll see why when the time comes.

[Gypsy Rose]

Okay- not the best one of her, but it will have to do until tomorrow!

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=2425

[PoniesRock101]

Natures miracle oder emliminator?YAY! i'm not the only one whos had to use that! lol

[shewasmyshadow]

Cool story!

Now I have to give me skunk "experience"...

I was out riding my neighbor's land (very rough land with lots of woods and gullies) and we saw a skunk. My gelding had spun and shot out of the gully before I even registered what it was. It was probably a good thing because we were close enough to get sprayed and I could hear the skunk pounding out a warning. Rashad has always been like that with wildlife. The time we were riding double in the woods he saw a wolf and WOW I never even got to see it. My friend who was on the back said she got a good look and it was a wolf or a BIG coyote. Rashad had us out of harm's way before we had a chance to blink. He doesn't do it with deer though. So I guess he realizes they aren't a threat.

Some people seem to thing it's a bad trait that he doesn't wait to be told to get away, but I'm guessing if you were pioneering across the wild unsettled land back about 150+ yrs it would have seemed like a pretty handy thing. :)

OP: I felt like I could add my story cause yours is taking too long. LOL. :D JK!!! Oh, and what does SO mean? I was guessing Stable Owner...

[FrogInABlender]

...Oh, and what does SO mean? I was guessing Stable Owner...

I was wondering the same thing, but my guess was "Significant Other"

[shewasmyshadow]

oh, yeah...that makes sense. :)

[mtnmollie]

What does OP mean?

OP: I felt like I could add my story...

[shewasmyshadow]

LOL. It means Original Poster-I think...

[Gypsy Rose]

Okay, you guys- sheesh! Yes- Significant Other, he,he!

Thanks for sharing your experience, shewasmyshadow. Horses are pretty smart, he,he!

[Gypsy Rose]

Before Skunky showed up with her babies that summer, a young racoon showed up, all alone. We'd always had coons in the yard, but normally, one of that size had its mother hanging around.

Luckily he and Skunky seemed to get along fine, and shared the food dishes, along with the other coons that would show up.

One night, however, soon after skunky brought her babies up, we heard a ruckus outside.

The poor little coon, whom we'd named Roscoe, was being beat up by two larger adolescent coons.Oh, great! It's not like we were going to go out and break them up!

As it turned out, we didn't have too much to worry about. As we watched, all of a sudden, a black and white blur went charging into the middle of the fray. Coons scattered every direction!

We never did figure out whether Skunky was worried about her babies, or if she was just mad because she'd gotten woken up, he, he!

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=1304

[shewasmyshadow]

LOL. That IS funny!! Serves those coons right! They used to throw their babies out of our tree. They would fall about 30 fts straight down. Hitting branches on the way. They would always try to climb back up and get thrown out again. Sheesh! Those coons sounded like grizzly bears. LOL. My brother, who was visiting from Alaska, was scared to death. :D

[PoniesRock101]

hehe! i can imagine it now!thats how my dog gets when he get woken up. hes always like GET AWAY i'm sleeping!

[Arrow]

:D

[Gypsy Rose]

Tomorrow, there will be a surprise, and more pics!:)

[PoniesRock101]

YAY more pics coming soon! :)

[mtnmollie]

Great story G/R.

[mtnmollie]

LOL. It means Original Poster-I think...

Thanks. I thought it ment Thread Starter but I knew that could not be right. LOL.

[JackieB]

Great story. I can just see Skunky charging out there

"Hey you idiots! You woke me and my babies up and you're about to get a full dose of my spray. We'll see if that cools things down a bit. I work too hard every day to have to put up with this nonsense in the middle of the night! I can recharge the scent tanks in a matter of hours, so I have no problem emptying them right now!"

[Gypsy Rose]

Could be right on that one, JackieB!

More coming in a bit- have to eat supper!

[Gypsy Rose]

Before I get to the surprise, I almost forgot this story!

In late summer of 2004, Skunky disappearead for over a week. I was scared something had happened to her.

I went down to the neighbor's to get a burning permit-(the neighbor lady was a fire warden), and saw something moving by the side of the driveway that looked really strange.

I got closer, and the critter flopped over, and I realized it was a skunk with some kind of container on its head.

I was sure it was Skunky.

I stood there for a second, trying to figure out what to do.

Then I went into the house,where my neighbor and her husband, were sitting at the kitchen table.

"I think that's Skunky out in the yard with some kind of container on her head! I need something to get it off!"

Needless to say, I had 2 people looking at me like I was crazy.

I couldn't think of anything else to do but go back outside and see if I could just pull the container off.

Before I go further, I've gotta tell you- the neighbors were both in their late 70's at the time- they're both gone, now, and I miss them. She had congestive heart failure and diabetes, and he had many health issues as well.

When I headed back outside, the neighbor lady came behind me. "This I gotta see!"

Skunky let me come right up to her. I kept talking to her so she'd know I was there. She couldn't smell or see with that THING on her head!

I tried pulling it off, but it wouldn't budge.

I stood there and thought for a minute, then headed back for the house. I asked for a sharp knife, and I went back out again, with the neighbor lady right behind me. Her husband told us we were both crazy.

I poked a hole in the container, and pulled it off Skunky's head(it was airlocked).

She backed up a few feet, shook her head, and headed off toward their garden.

It was another full week before she showed back up at the house, and then only at night for a while. But I had my Skunky back!

Needless to say, that was the talk of the neighborhood for a while!


My computer's running super slow tonight, so I don't know if I'll get to the surprise or not. I'll try to have it up tomorrow at the latest, lol!

[mtnmollie]

Wow! Skunky is lucky that you were there to rescue her. :cowboy:

[PoniesRock101]

and skunky returns..................

[Remali]

I wish there were more people like you out there, you saved that poor skunk's life....that's great!!!

[lacyloo]

skunks are wonderfull little creatures.. when I would trap nuisant coons, and possums..
I would occasionally catch, spotted skunks.. They are smaller and way more pretty than a normal skunk.. They seemed to LOVE bacon.. I even kept one a few days and it would it bacon out my hand.. it was young and I was gonna think about keeping it but It somehow got out the cage.. but they are very fasinating creatures.. :cool:

im basically holding my breath , waiting on the rest of the story..

[Gypsy Rose]

skunks are wonderfull little creatures.. when I would trap nuisant coons, and possums..
I would occasionally catch, spotted skunks.. They are smaller and way more pretty than a normal skunk.. They seemed to LOVE bacon.. I even kept one a few days and it would it bacon out my hand.. it was young and I was gonna think about keeping it but It somehow got out the cage.. but they are very fasinating creatures.. :cool:

im basically holding my breath , waiting on the rest of the story..

Ha, ha! Not only bacon, they love pizza, too, lol!

I can believe you having it eat out of your hand, though, trust me!

Next segment coming right up!

[Gypsy Rose]

The summer of 2005, Skunky gave us a rare gift.I was mowing the lawn the first week of July, and my SO was doing something across the yard.

After I'd been mowing for a little bit, my SO came over and had me shut off the mower.

"You've got to see this!"

I asked him what, because I looked across the yard and didn't see anything.

I went back to mowing, and pretty soon, he came back again, and pointed across the yard.

There was Skunky by the feeder with 2 baby skunks!

Needless to say, I had to stop mowing and watch them for a while.

At first, we thought those were the only two, but the following day, other baby skunks started appearing, and at final count, there were five!

I can't remember all the names we gave them but I sure remember Dot, and Double Dot, named for the spots on their heads. They also stuck around the longest.

It used to be quite a sight,-Skunky and her five babies all eating out of one feeder, with the cats looking on!

It got so that I could take pictures of them out the bathroom window, if I was quiet about it!

I was mowing the lawn the first week of July, and Jake was doing something across the yard.

After I'd been mowing for a little bit, Jake came over and had me shut off the mower.

"You've got to see this!"

I asked him what, because I looked across the yard and didn't see anything.

I went back to mowing, and pretty soon, Jake came back again, and pointed across the yard.

There was Skunky by the feeder with 2 baby skunks!

Needless to say, I had to stop mowing and watch them for a while.

At first, we thought those were the only two, but the following day, other baby skunks started appearing, and at final count, there were five!

I can't remember all the names we gave them but I sure remember Dot, and Double Dot, named for the spots on their heads. They also stuck around the longest.

It used to be quite a sight,-Skunky and her five babies all eating out of one feeder, with the cats looking on!

It got so that I could take pictures of them out the bathroom window, if I was quiet about it!

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=2908

[Gypsy Rose]

Another pic:

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=2910

No, you're not getting them all at once!:p

[vicklynn]

Awww, how cute.
Did I tell you I dream 't that I had a baby skunk as a pet.
I dont do skunks...lol

[mtnmollie]

I had a skunk in high school.

He was a de-skunked skunk.

[Gypsy Rose]

My vet offered to de -scent Skunky if I wanted to trap her and bring her in. I pointed out to him that since she was not a house pet, she needed her defense in order to survive. I'll give him this, he was still willing to give her her shots! I felt that skunky would never have handled that- after all, she was still a wild critter!

[KittySawrus]

Found you!!
Yayy, I'm so glad you told me about this!! I love hearing all your stories, they're fab.
Baby skunkys are so cutesy :D

I think I should be a vet in the USA, just for the skunks :P

[PoniesRock101]

awwwwww thr baby skunks are ADORABLE!

[Toodlestoo]

I don't know how I missed this thread for so long!! Great, great story.

[Gypsy Rose]

Within 2 weeks after Skunky showed us her babies, we noticed that she was slowing down, and didn't look too well.

I was pretty worried about her, but I didn't know then that she was actually pretty old for a skunk living in the wild

A lot of times at night, when the babies would come out and eat, she would come out for a little bit, eat, and then slowly make her way back to the hayshed.

A lot of times, Roscoe would be out with them, and he seemed to kind of watch over them, just as Skunky had done for him.

One afternoon, Skunky came out with the babies, but didn't seem to pay any attention to them. She wandered over to the food dish, ate a little, and drank.

I was watching out the bathroom window, and called out to her. She lifted her head and looked in my direction, then wandered out into Gypsy's pasture by the house.

Skunky had left the babies a few times before to go hunting by herself, but somehow, this time seemed different.

As she wandered off, she kept looking back at her babies, and then at me. (I didn't know at the time that skunks can only see about 3 feet in front of their faces, but obviously, she was listening to me.)

I suddenly had this awful feeling that Skunky was saying goodbye.

"Don't worry," I kept telling her. "I'll watch your babies!"

It took a few minutes before she disappeared into the woods. She looked back one last time, and then she was gone.

I never saw her again. Skunky had left us was 3-4 month old babies to watch over!

[Gypsy Rose]

Skunky and coon friends:

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=2427

[KittySawrus]

:O oh, that's so sad! But it's kind of cool how she kept looking back at you.
Wow. Skunky babies !!
*bounces around waiting for next instalment*

[Gypsy Rose]

Out of the 5 skunk babies, there were 3 that were kind of unique.

One had a beautiful almost all white tail, and was the runt. I called her Spunky, because she wasn't scared to stick up for herself. 2 others had dots on their head. One had only one dot, so he/she was called Dot, of course(not sure of the sex on that one! Not like I lifted the tail to look!).The other had 2 dots, so we named him Double Dot(figured out later he was a male). I can't remember what we named the other 2.

It was a blast with them around! They loved to play, and wrestle.

One time, we sat and watched about 3 of them get into a huge wrestling match behind the hayshed. You never saw such carrying on! Did you know that skunks can do somersaults, and twist almost like cats?

Squeaking, snarling, chasing each other around!

And then there was the fun they had with the coons!

Anyone that says coons and skunks don't get along, hasn't been in my yard!

They used to go back and forth with each other over who's turn it was at the food or water. None of them got really mean, though.

Except for one skunk, who we figure was possibly the babies' daddy.

Spunky

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=1400

[Gypsy Rose]

Almost forgot about this pic, lol!

Skunky, babies and Damien in the foreground, and Taz behind the bush:
http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=1306

[Remali]

They're so cute! I wish more people respected and liked skunks like you do. I love the names you picked out for them! At one of our nature reserves here there is a red skunk (well, it is no longer alive, it is mounted), have you ever seen one of them? It is red and white, very pretty!!

[Gypsy Rose]

No, I haven't- that would be interesting!

[JackieB]

Such a wonderful story. Bless you for saving Skunky when she had the container over her head.

[shewasmyshadow]

So how tame were the babies?

[Gypsy Rose]

He,he! Now that would be telling things ahead of their time, now wouldn't it?

Don't worry- more coming tomorrow!

[PoniesRock101]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww they are so cute!

[shewasmyshadow]

He,he! Now that would be telling things ahead of their time, now wouldn't it?

Don't worry- more coming tomorrow!

Oops. I thought that was the end. :innocent:

Patiently waiting...:popcorn:

[Gypsy Rose]

Give me a little bit, and I'll have another story up- got to get some things done here first, lol!

[Gypsy Rose]

While Skunky was still alive, we noticed another adult skunk hanging around.

Unlike the rest of them he didn't seem quite as friendly. He'd chase the younger ones out of the food dishes if he got the chance, and he was pretty much a loner.

After Skunky passed, he started picking on a few of the young skunks. We finally figured out he might be a male when he chased one of the skunk babies relentlessly.

Luckily, he was so big, he couldn't fit in the hole behind the hayshed, as the other skunks discovered pretty quickly.

Finally, one night, Double Dot had had enough. Bruno wouldn't let anyone near the food dish, and in this yard, everyone shares, normally. It's really wierd. You'd have skunks, coons and squirrels all eating together, with Gypsy looking on.

When Bruno chased Double Dot away one too many times, he didn't even get any warning! Double Dot sprayed him square in the face! That's when we discovered that 4-5 month old skunks could spray!

Unfortunately for Bruno, I think that was part of his demise. We found him dead on the road the following morning. He may have been hit by a car, but we're not sure, because there was no blood. Since skunks mainly travel by smell, and his nose would have been swollen and useless, that's probably what happened.

It may sound mean, but that's one skunk I don't miss. we ourselves were leery around him!

[PoniesRock101]

really 4-5 months they start spraying? poor bruno, but he seems like quite a bully.

[Gypsy Rose]

More pics:

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=2909

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=2907

[PoniesRock101]

aww very cute! love all the pics!

[Arrow]

Love those pics, and the story!

[Gypsy Rose]

I'll have another story and more pics up tomorrow.

[vicklynn]

Awww, they are so cute. Bob asked me, can ya de skunk them. I said yes, we talked about getting one, but the neighbors would be leary around here, and with us so close to the street, it would probley get run over.
Dogs chase, for fun, so it would probley be scared any ways. So no skunk for Bob.(me, Id be the one taking care of it)..lol

[Remali]

Looking forward to more!!

[qh trail rider]

Great story! Keep wondering where (and if) it will end.

My mom always has a bejillion barn cats. A few years ago, she had 4 or 5 skunks sharing the cats' food. They would eat side by side. Strange sight. Somewhere I have some pic's of them. I may have to try to dig them up.

[Gypsy Rose]

After Bruno pased on, things pretty much settled down to normal for a while.

As the weather got cooler, the little skunks started staying away longer and longer.

Over the winter, we did see Double Dot a time or two, but that was about it.

The next June, though, one of the skunks had babies, and brought them to stay in the hayshed. I honestly can't remember which one was the mother.

This batch was friendlier than the one before.

They also were independent little buggers. It wasn't long before they were coming out of the hayshed by themselves without mommy, which didn't thrill her.

One day, I was hanging out laundry, and a few of the little critters were eating out of the food dish. ( I think there were two batches that year, because we ended up with different ages of babies running around.)

I was watching them, and looked away to hang up some jeans. When I looked back to the basket to grab another pair, I stopped. A little skunk was runniing towards me, and he was almost to the basket when I saw him.

I stood there looking at him, as he jumped back, then forward and back and forward again.

Finally, he took off toward the hayshed.

As the summer went on, those little buggers started realizing that if they jumped on the woodchute, they could con me into going out before daylight to feed them.

Fun part was actually geting the food out to them! They'd run around my feet, and I had a hard time walking to the feeder! Never could convince those litte buggers they'd get it faster if they let me walk to the dish! Tweedledum and Tweedledee were the worst!

This was a daily occurrance, until they went to sleep for the winter.

My poor SO!! One morning, I was taking a shower, and the skunks wanted to be fed. He took the dish out, came back in, and told me."You're crazed!" He wasn't used to skunks running aroungd his feet!

[Gypsy Rose]

Tweedledum, Tweedledee, Little Piglet and siblings

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=3143

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=3138

[mtnmollie]

[FO While Skunky was still alive, we noticed another adult skunk hanging around.

Unlike the rest of them he didn't seem quite as friendly. He'd chase the younger ones out of the food dishes if he got the chance, and he was pretty much a loner.

Finally, one night, Double Dot had had enough. Bruno wouldn't let anyone near the food dish, and in this yard, everyone shares, normally.

When Bruno chased Double Dot away one too many times, he didn't even get any warning! Double Dot sprayed him square in the face!

Unfortunately for Bruno, I think that was part of his demise. We found him dead on the road the following morning. He may have been hit by a car, but we're not sure, because there was no blood. Since skunks mainly travel by smell, and his nose would have been swollen and useless, that's probably what happened.



Wow. So the moral of the story is dont be a bully. :)

[Remali]

That's just so adorable, I love how they gathered around your feet like that! We had some wild turkeys that used to do that at my mom and dad's house....I would go out to feed them and they were so hilarious the way they'd coming running up to me (and turkeys run really goofy!).

Great pictures of them!

[Gypsy Rose]

Yep, mtnmollie- it was kind of strange how that event played out- in some respects, that skunk got what he deserved! All the wild critters in this yard pretty much get along- if one wants to be a pain, well...

One time, when Skunky was still alive, a stray male cat started showing up in the yard. He was a big bully- the other cats were scared of him. Old Skunky seemed to know who belonged in the yard and who didn't, because one night, he thought he was going to share the food dish with her. Wrong answer! She chased him out of the yard! I don't think she wanted to spray so close to her food unless she had to!

Remali, the only bummer with Tweedledum and Twedledee running around my feet was the fact that it was always dark, so there was no way to get pics, lol!

Thanks- more pics coming soon- I'm starting to run low, though!

[Pinky]

*wants a skunk*

That sounds so cute :D
More, more!

[Gypsy Rose]

Tomorrow!:)

[Gypsy Rose]

In late summer of 2006, when the skunks were a lttle bigger, they started spending more and more time on their own, coming out by themselves to eat.

One day, we noticed one we called Bruiser (for his size- he was big, lol!) at the water dish, and something just didn't look quite right.

As he was drinking, we noticed he kept falling over sideways, and having to pick himself back up.

We put food and water outside the hayshed for him, so it would be easier for him to eat and drink. The only thing we could figure is that he was either sick, or had gotten into a fight.

The next day, we were going to go to town, so I went out to the garage to get the van.

I didn't get very far inside the garage door before I stopped.

There was Bruiser, laying on the floor, far from his food and water. He was trying to move, but he kept falling over.

He had to get put back in the hayshed! I stood there and thought for a minute, then went and got my SO. I slid a shovel under him, and we had to use another shovel to keep him from rolling off. That must have been a sight, the two of us carrying a skunk between us on a couple shovels!

Somehow we got him inside the hayshed, and moved the food and water in front of him.

He looked so bad off, that we were sure we were going to come home to a dead skunk.
He looked like he'd gotten into a big fight with one of the other skunks.

But when we got home, Bruiser wasn't in the hayshed, and that evening, we saw him crawling out from the back of the hayshed to go and eat.

It took him about 2 weeks to get over that episode, but he fully recovered.

Wish I had some individual pics of him- he was one big skunk, but a friendly galoot!

[Gypsy Rose]

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=3292

[mtnmollie]

When yer sick- and yah dont have family to take care of you- you get in big trouble.

I bet he would of died without yer help.

[KittySawrus]

One time, we sat and watched about 3 of them get into a huge wrestling match behind the hayshed. You never saw such carrying on! Did you know that skunks can do somersaults, and twist almost like cats?


Aww! I love watching cats play and fidget :P they just shouldn't bend that way :huh:

I'm glad the Bruiser boy recovered! Good thing you found him, though...ugh, imagine coming home to a dead skunky :( not so good...

[PoniesRock101]

awwwwww............. thats great! that he recovered!

[Gypsy Rose]

I've got another story about Bruiser coming tomorrow!

[Gypsy Rose]

Bruiser was the largest of the baby skunks . Luckily, he was also pretty friendly.

That fall, he hung around for almost a week after the others disappeared. He'd actually follow us around the yard here and there, just to see what we were up to.

One day in November-it was a pretty warm fall that year- he came up to the feeder at noon, and acted like he wanted food. So I went out there with the food dish, and he came towards me, then changed his mind, and trucked across the yard. I went back in the house for a little while, and pretty soon, my SO came in the house, and said, "You've got to come see this!"

So I went out, and across the yard, in the woods, there was Bruiser, PLAYING with the neighbor's dog! I'm not kidding! The dog would run after Bruiser, and he'd turn around and run after the dog! This went on for a good five minutes!

Definitely good for a laugh! You could just barely see them through the trees. If I thought I could have gotten pics of it, I would have.

After a bit, they both tired of the game, and the last we saw of Bruiser, he was headed down the ditch, probably looking for a winter den.

I didn't see a skunk in the yard through the whole year of 2007. However, in February and March of this year, we did see little heads poking out from under my SO's trailer across the yard.

Last skunk story to date will be tomorrow.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=3140

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=3136

[PoniesRock101]

awwwwwwwww............ that has to be ADORABLE! reminds me off when pepper (our miinature sznauzer) started playing with our cocetiel, she was following him around walking behind him. then she would rub her head against him! it was WAY to cute! then this is what made me laugh, she would tap his paw with her beak and send him plying back then walk up to him and rub against him agian!:hysterical:

[Gypsy Rose]

Now that's funny!

On his way over to play with the dog, Bruiser walked alongside my SO across the yard, he,he! My SO made the joke about walking his skunk instead of a dog!

[Remali]

...."walking the skunk...." I can just picture that too!!

[mtnmollie]

Now that's funny!

On his way over to play with the dog, Bruiser walked alongside my SO across the yard, he,he! My SO made the joke about walking his skunk instead of a dog!

he he he .

The tame - wild skunk. :)

[Gypsy Rose]

And so we come to the last skunk story to date.

On September 2 of this year, I was sitting at the kitchen table, figuring out my monthly bills, and glancing out the window from time to time. There's always something to se back there- squirrels, blue jays, doves, pigeons, acat or two, a skunk-wait a minute! A skunk?

I stood up and looked again. Sure enough, it was a small full grown skunk at the water dish! From the looks and the size, I figured it had to be Tweedledum or Tweedledee- I never could tell those two apart, lol!

Of course, there was no food in the food dish at the time, so I went to take her a plate. She went off a little ways, then came back as soon as I went in the house.

One thing I wasn't too thrilled with, when Gypsy got too close to her, she ran at her like she was going to chase her. That's when I got a closer look at the skunk, and realized that she was scraped down to raw flesh all the way around her neck! The only thing we could figure is that she'd had a similar experience that Skunky had, and managed to free herself.

Well, Tweedledum (or Dee), went through the first plate of food pretty fast, so I decided to take out some more. She stayed at the food dish when I went out, so I talked to her and watched her. Good thing, too! It was maybe 6 feet from the skunk to the other food dish, and as I put the food down, she came flying at me!

Now mind you, she used to come running up to me all the time when she was little, but I could tell this was different. It was more like a "Don't mess with me when I'm eating!" kind of thing.

She didn't act like she was going to spray or anything, she just wanted me out of there. I didn't stick around, needless to say!

Since then, we don't see her much, but I know she's around. At least a couple times a week, I'll smell her in the hayshed. Maybe I'll get lucky next spring and ther will be more babies!

As for the skunk and Gypsy, by the end of that day, it seemed like she mellowed out towards Gypsy, so I think it was more a combo of pain and having to remember things.

I know Gypsy had almost forgotten the skunks, as you can see from the pics, lol!

Pics in next post.

[KittySawrus]

Oo, intriguing! I hope you get more skunk babies :D

Glad Gypsy didn't get hurt!

[Arrow]

Wow, what a great journey you've had with those skunks! Great stories!:)

[Gypsy Rose]

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=3625

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=3624

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=162&pictureid=1399

[PoniesRock101]

awwwwwwwwwwww........................... sad last story to the date! :cry: haha! walking the skunk........ can picture it now! tweedle(dee or dum) is so cute! funny how gypsees watchng on! like whats happening? oh its a Skunk! Glad tweeldle(whatever one it was!lol) is ok!

[Arrow]

Great pics!

[mtnmollie]

Thanks for sharing your skunk stories Gypsy Rose. :cowboy:

[JackieB]

Thanks for sharing, Gypsy! I have thoroughly enjoyed the skunk stories.

[Gypsy Rose]

You're all very welcome! I've been saving these as I put them up, so that I will always have them. Maybe next year, I'll have a new skunk story to tell. I hope so- I happen to really like the little critters!:)

[KittySawrus]

I'm sad the stories have finished...for now. I hope we get more :D I wanna hear about more skunk babies!!

[PoniesRock101]

i agree with kitty! i'm sad gotta wiat a whole cold winter for another one! lol