Turtles and Skunks

[Bob Reeves]

Some may say this isn't model airplane related but when you walk into your shop to do a little work on an airplane and you find a skunk, staying in the shop is not something most would want to do.

For the last 4 years I've had a box turtle friend that came in the spring, stayed in the shop all summer and disappeared in the fall. Well this year he brought his spouse so I have had two turtles wondering around the shop keeping the bug population in check all summer. Only problem is I have to clean up little turtle turds from time to time..

Couple days ago I noticed it looked like something had been scratching at the door and a few things knocked off shelves, I just assumed it was a stray cat as I have had stray cats get into the shop before so left the door open most of the day hoping it would leave.

This morning I heads for the shop with coffee pot in tow, open the door, turn on the lights and a skunk was staring at me. Guess he wanted to share the bug population with the turtles. Have no idea how long he has been in the shop. Guessing he went in last week when I was working on my old pickup before dawn with the door open.

I made an about face, left the door open and headed for the office. Now here I sit waiting to see if he will vacate the shop. So far no animals have been harmed during this ordeal but that may change.

[Roger Vizioli]

Bob,
Dont let Gigi chase the skunk! 
You will be bathing her if you do! 
Take care my friend, best wishes to Pat.
Roger V.

[john e. holliday]

I don't think the turtles will have anything to worry about, it will be Bob.  I am surprised that there hasn't been some kind of odor.  From what I have heard is that unless startled they will not spray.  Also don't get them in a corner.  If the skunk takes a liken to Bob he may never have a problem unless a stranger shows up.  Let us know how well you two get along Bob.   Having fun,  DOC Holliday

[Matt Colan]

I don't think the turtles will have anything to worry about, it will be Bob.  I am surprised that there hasn't been some kind of odor.  From what I have heard is that unless startled they will not spray.  Also don't get them in a corner.  If the skunk takes a liken to Bob he may never have a problem unless a stranger shows up.  Let us know how well you two get along Bob.   Having fun,  DOC Holliday

According to SSW, the skunk didn't live too long in the shop.  Bob could provide more details.

[George]

OK, OK, fess up time. How many (besides be) thought of the old joke about the farmer who had the pet skunk?   

George

[Dennis Adamisin]

At least Bob found a way to get the skunks out of his field 

[Shultzie]

Maybe he was just trying to find the way back to our old BOEING WIND TUNNEL "SKUNK-WORKS" where we preformed all kinds of the strangest tunnel testing? Hummm? Maybe he thought Turtles could fly...HEY! WHY NOT?...I have build lots of "TURDALS AND TURKEY CLPA models over the years and some even flew pretty darn good?

[Matt Colan]

Maybe he was just trying to find the way back to our old BOEING WIND TUNNEL "SKUNK-WORKS" where we preformed all kinds of the strangest tunnel testing? Hummm? Maybe he thought Turtles could fly...HEY! WHY NOT?...I have build lots of "TURDALS AND TURKEY CLPA models over the years and some even flew pretty darn good?

I thought that was Lockeed.  Well, I'm sure every major manufacturer has a skunk works, but I remember lockheed being famous for the SR-71.

[Steve Helmick]

Officially, Boeing's "Skunk Works" equivalent is "The Black Hole". True. They have other weird little organizations also, but I can't recall all their names, 'cause it's all very sekrit and we're not allowed to divulge any sekrits from the propriatary drawings, dontcha know. They have one organization that just experiments with ideas somebody comes up with....I recall a battery charger project. Yes, of course you can buy one at Wal-Mart that's better, and only costs $15. Vewy, vewy mystewious!     Steve

[Matt Colan]

Officially, Boeing's "Skunk Works" equivalent is "The Black Hole". True. They have other weird little organizations also, but I can't recall all their names, 'cause it's all very sekrit and we're not allowed to divulge any sekrits from the propriatary drawings, dontcha know. They have one organization that just experiments with ideas somebody comes up with....I recall a battery charger project. Yes, of course you can buy one at Wal-Mart that's better, and only costs $15. Vewy, vewy mystewious!     Steve

I'm sure everybody who works in that sekwit organization is vewy vewy qwiet.  Hope they are not hunting wabbits

A battery charger project???  Like you said Steve, you could buy one at Walmart.

[Bob Reeves]

Bob,
Dont let Gigi chase the skunk! 
You will be bathing her if you do! 
Take care my friend, best wishes to Pat.
Roger V.

Thanks Roger, went through that when we first moved out here, big problem was Pat let GiGi in the house after the skunk got her.. I don't ever want to go through that again, one of the worst experiences of my life.

Almost had the same problem this morning.. Let GiGi out when I got up and was lucky enough to follow her out. As soon as she got off the porch she growled and took off after something. Thank goodness she broke off when I called her, when I rounded the corner where I could see what she was after there was a skunk with it's tail in the air all primed and ready. GiGi had stopped about 10 feet from it and it took off the other direction when it saw me.

No doubt it will be back.. Believe our security lights are attracting bugs and the skunks are after the bugs. The one yesterday was the 5th one I eliminated so far this year and it looks like I'm not done yet.

[Joe F Just]

Here is a little visitor I had two weeks ago.  I use the catch and release trap to get rid of numerous feral cats after giving them a long bath by hose.  They usually dont come back for a week or so. The latest visitor has not shown up again! I do hae a skunk that lives under our deck, but he or she is a real jewel in keeping things to him/herself.
Joe

[James C. Johnson]

Joe.. if things get rough... I can send you a recipe from the 1939 Joy of Cooking on how to fix your little friend up for Thanksgiving... I am not kidding.. they have a recipe for possum in there...

I have had a small problem with Possums.. the smaller ones were coming in my back door that I would leave open for my two cats... and were eating the cat food in the kitchen.. then I decided to corner one... I chased him down the hall and he ran into the Bathroom and I shut the door... Yes... I got him... then I started to think... now what... so I opened the door and chased him back out side... I wasn't that hungry...

Jim

[Bob Reeves]

Looks like the same trap I use but when I catch what I typically do ain't no release in the plan.
 

[don Burke]

We had possums in our back yard scarfing the dog food we left out.  Found out from animal control that the reason we didn't have any snails or over ripe fruit on the ground was the possums!  Left them alone, moved the dog food inside.  They do "play possum" when cornered!

[Matt Colan]

At my old house, there were a lot of garder snakes around, and we'd find snake skin on a regular basis.  Anyway, my dad was mowing the grass and he ran over one of those snakes, a whole area in his body was gone, and all that was left of that one area was the skin, gross.  He tried putting it out of it's misery, but couldn't behead the thing, the scales were strong.

When I'm flying, and have a bee fly through the center of the circle, I have a half a heart attack but I stay there because I know I'm flying a plane.  Bugs are my worst fear, for no reason.

[Les McDonald]

You guys just need to come down to South Florida and gather up a few of our Pythons. One or two around your yard will greatly reduce your "critter encounters".
Problem is that in a year or two your neighborhood will be devoid of any living thing that weighs less than 50 pounds.

                                                                                                                                   Les McDonald

[Matt Colan]

You guys just need to come down to South Florida and gather up a few of our Pythons. One or two around your yard will greatly reduce your "critter encounters".
Problem is that in a year or two your neighborhood will be devoid of any living thing that weighs less than 50 pounds.

                                                                                                                                   Les McDonald

And now i've been hearing of the giant ones that are coming out of the everglades.  If anybody watches Monsterquest on the History Channel, they did one episode about giant pythons in and around Florida, also giant anacondas.

[Garf]

You guys just need to come down to South Florida and gather up a few of our Pythons. One or two around your yard will greatly reduce your "critter encounters".
Problem is that in a year or two your neighborhood will be devoid of any living thing that weighs less than 50 pounds.

                                                                                                                                   Les McDonald

What we have nearer Miami are Iguana. Some of them things get pretty big.