baby skunk

My watch-cat Ginger noticed a baby skunk from the window last week. I went out on the porch and made alot of noise -it didn't run away as I had thought it would. It did eventually go away or so I thought. Last night it was behind come bushes next to my neighbor's shed. I'm hoping it hasn't made a home under the shed. Does anyone have an idea how to get it to move elsewhere?

You can probably call some county agency or state wildlife office and get help. They eat a lot of grubs, and as long as you stay away from them and don't surprise them, they are actually an asset in the garden. Normally, they are nocturnal, so if you see one acting uncharacteristically diurnal and unafraid of humans and pets, it might be sick. Read possible rabies, although there are many less serious illnesses they can have. Years ago, my kids had several as pets, and they are delightful little friends when tamed, but in most, if not all, states, this is now illegal or so rigidly controlled as to make it impractical. I think that's unfortunate. I know all about the rumors but most are based on emotion rather than statistics. Skunks are clean little animals, and go about their lives in a most unobtrusive way, eating what you don't want to grow and never munching your plants.

Thanks Aimee. I first saw the skunk around 7pm and it was not afraid of me so I don't know if it might be sick. I was concerned about rabies. I'm more concerned about my back yard. It's fenced in and of course a small skunk can get in easily. The last thing I want to do is corner a skunk in the back yard. Aimee I appreciate what you said. I'll let him/them be and see what happens. So far it's only been kind of stinky one morning. Luckily Ginger does not go outside so I don't have to worry about her.

We had them under a shed one time and someone told me to put moth balls in the shed. They did leave. Might have been because they were old enough and the moth balls wouldn't have entered into it. Made me feel okay though.

when i was in the Air Force i was a cook there was a guy that came every night an got 2 orders of fries along with the other stuff he got. one night i made a comment about how he must like fries he then told me that one was for a skunk that would come in the window he would feed it the fries and when they were gone it would leave. as far as i know it never sprayed in the room or never that i heard of anyway

I don't think I'll be feeding them fries any time soon. I think they may be eating insects in the garden. I was trying to grow some moss around a post. Every time I go outside the patch of moss is on the grass about a foot away. I keep putting it back and it keeps ending up on the grass. I wonder if they are looking for insects under the moss. I hope it's the skunks otherwise my moss has feet.

We have a real grandaddy skunk here. He is huge and his entire back is one big white stripe.

Three years ago I had four juvenile raccoons that showed up in the yard one day. Around 3 in the afternoon. Weren't afraid of anyone....just poking around....my husband couldn't believe it. Of course....I threw whole grain sunflower bread out the window so they would come back....:*)

My husbands biggest concern was that they showed up during the day. I called the animal officer and was told to go by
how they act. Racs have the ability to adjust their bedtime
so as to get the best food. They are a little like me!!

My sister runs a bakery thrift store so those four guys ate well. Three to four times a day they would show up....chocolate donuts for breakfast, cheese pastery for lunch....for supper I would feed them chicken bones...have even been known to steal some of my husbands fried smelts for them...that was their favorite.

Well, one day, hubby came home from work around 3:30 pm and was ticked at me because I was throwing Boston Chicken
out the window for my friends and they were sitting around in the backyard...just lounging and munching...
Told me he was going to mow the lawn and wasn't going to wait for them to go. ok. He has a rider lawn mower...keeps it under the deck.

You have to picture this. One raccoon in the tree eating chicken wings...one Behind the tree...chewing on a slice of bread....2 others headed toward the brook....afraid of my
husband. Other two could have cared less. Watched my husband with curiosity....ya know...like a tea party.
My husband is pulling the mower out and it was really, really hard to move. My furry friends are watching...I am in the window above his head watching.....what the heck..why is this so hard to pull? As he heads for the front of the mower....a skunk...yep...the Grand Daddy!...heads out from under the mower...was sleeping there you see :*). Well...you get the picture.

Slam...went the window....
Raccoons didn't move.....
Hubby and Kitty Cat did!!!

Husband bolted toward the left...at a full run
Kitty bolted toward the right....at a full run
They met up with each other in the front of the house.

He was so mad at me!
I was doubled over....laughed so hard I had an asthma
attack. Was really hard to pretend that I felt bad...
the funniest thing I ever saw in my life...I swear.

The racs left....the back yard didn't smell so good....:*)
We used moth balls, ammonia...etc under the deck so he wouldn't come back. So far...so good.

But my husband is VERY CAREFUL when he pulls his lawn mower out now...hehe

What a funny story. I bet it was something to watch. good think no one got sprayed. I have a great picture in my head of the raccoon tea party.

KatBaxter, that was so funny. I can just see it all happening. We don't let skunks stay around here because they kill chickens and eat eggs. Some friends of ours had a pet skunk years ago. Had it for several years until it died of old age. They had it descented, neutered, etc. Skunks are members of the cat family and behave much like cats.