Pepe Le Pew came calling yesterday. I can’t make this stuff up!
You remember Pepé Le Pew growing up? He was a fictional character from the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. I used to watch it every Saturday morning, bundled up on the couch with my Rice Krispies. I had no idea that this cartoon dates back to 1945. Its a classic in my mind. Pepe Le Pew was a French Striped Skunk always in search of Love. His unique odor and his persistence at finding Love was a complete turn off, Bless His Heart. So, yesterday I stepped out of the house and this little booger was in my flower bed, right at my door. Thankfully Onyx (my dog) was still inside.
He wasn’t afraid at all and did not run away. I didn’t want to risk spooking him, so I just went back in the house. I saw him skurry off thru the side yard so I gathered my things and the dog and headed to the garden. I had just taken up all the sheets I had put over some plants the night before and guess who came to visit….
Now, I am all for living harmoniously but ain’t no way in Hades I’m getting caught inside a fenced in garden area with a skunk and a German Shepherd. I literally yanked her up in the Ranger and headed out of the garden. Now, I know you will read and my own family will tell you that It is a last resort for the skunk to spray you. They say the skunk will only spray when they or their babies are in danger and cannot get away. Even before they spray you they will stamp their feet, sometimes raise their tail and turn their bum towards you, or hiss at you. If you see any of that behavior that would be your sign to get the heck out of Dodge. Move away slowly and quietly. The bigger problem is by nature, our furbabies don’t recognize any of these warnings, and that is why they get sprayed.
The little booger had almost made it around to my garden gate as I was heading out. I swear he was running for us. I was out of the garden, had the gate shut and was in the ranger taking a picture and once my dog realized how close the skunk was, she darted out of the ranger towards it. She ran straight to it and I swear they touched noses. You have to know my Shepherd but she is so polite, she sat down and just wagged her tail. I prayed….. I started to call her but not with my nervous voice and yelling “you wanna biscuit”? Finally my dog came running. I couldn’t wait to get the heck out of dodge. I drove up the field a bit and stopped to see where it was going next. I watched him head out to the woods so I headed back to the house. Honestly I thought we were done with the skunk for the day. It had followed me from the house to the garden and then headed off thru the woods. I went back up to the house to work in my flower beds which was my original task I tried to start. I took a leisurely drive back to the house checking on my flowers and pulling a few weeds up against the house. I got back in the ranger to go to the other side and Onyx growled a little. I looked up and good lord, guess who comes sneaking back.....Thats right, Pepe Le Pew. I give up! The weeds can wait!
FACTS ABOUT SKUNKS
Skunks are mammals and can be found in North and South America.
Skunks are part of the weasel family.
The closest relative to the skunk is the Stink Badger.
Skunks have the ability to spray a liquid with a NASTY smell. It is a defense that will send anything running.
A skunks territory is about a mile and a half.
Skunks can be multiple color variations of black and white.
THey are opportunists and will mess in anything you leave out.
They are mostly nocturnal and non-aggressive.
They will dig grubs from your yard and will also dig bees nests in the ground.
If your Dog gets sprayed by a skunk, Mix up this recipe and bathe with it several times. I have had to bathe Onyx several days to get most of it out. It still seems like everytime it rains or she got sweaty I could still smell it for months. Just remember, I am sure it was an accident if your beloved Pet got sprayed but they need your help. My dog was so nauseated when she got sprayed. I felt so bad for her.
You may need to double or triple (I hope not)
Quart of peroxide
¼ cup Baking soda
1 Tablespoon Dish detergent
Just another day on the mountain!
Kimberly
Pics are my point and clicks :)
Pepe sure likes hanging around your house! Perhaps looking for love? Mostly looking for grubs and such. Just hope he and his love don't set up a family at the house. We had a family of skunks living under a back porch...all seven of the little stinkers. Neighbour suggested we shoot them! Can you imagine? We had them live trapped. It was the humane way to go and less smell.
Hey There! I hope it was a one day thing. He went all thru my shade beds looking for grubs. I was really nervous about the dog but it was like neither cared. They literally touched noses.
You may have a lose pet. From him not being afraid and almost following you around and also not getting spooked and trying to spray I would guess their is a chance you have someone's pet skunk that got out. If you have the scent bag removed they are great pets and very loving animals. I have known several people that had them as pets just like a ferret or something. Don't know how they dog avoided being sprayed if it is a wild skunk. Some people have opossums as pets even foxes where it is legal. Nice pics though he may have been following you wanting a treat or something. Looks like a younger one as well.
They are so pretty but I am scared of that spray though. We live on top the mountain and there aren't any neighbors so I think it just lives in the woods here. They are usually out at night so we rarely see them. I kind of feel lucky to get some pics. Hopefully it was a one day visit.
I remember Pepe Lepew! I think it's so funny that the skunk just kept popping back up throughout your day 😲 and I'm very glad your dog didn't get sprayed!!
Thank you! I am very, very thankful!
Great article!!! We dont have them here! Poor old Pepe. They look like cute creatures but their stink gives them a bad name, huh? Theyll never be anyones friend!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Thank you and I appreciate you reading and commenting on my post. Hoping it was just a one day visit for Pepe 😁 Everyone is scared of the spray.
You beat me to it! I just put up my skunk post too! LOL Yours has far better photos though. My camera doesn't like low light...
Your pictures and postas are always great. Must be skunk time of year.
Hilarious! Such great pics...you are right, you can't make that stuff up. I have a video of skunks mating on my front sidewalk. I turned the light on and tried making loud noises and they didn't seem to mind...😳
Oh goodness, now that is funny. I yell at Chad most mornings now that Turkey Porn is on. The Tom Turkey and hiz girls put on a show. These animals are so funny!
HAhaha!
I let tiny out one morning off the leash and he jumped the fence in one hop. Half a second later there was a bark, a growl, a yelp, then some violent thump thump thumping. I stuck my head back out the door just as the first wisps of fresh skunk spray wafted past the door. Tiny was sprayed the skunk was dead in the front yard and I was not happy.
So sorry I somehow missed your comment. I know that feeling of standing at the door and hearing your furbaby getting a face full. One less skunk is a good thing :) Thank you for reading and replying to my post. I appreciate you!
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STOPIf a skunk gets that "friendly" around here it's because of rabies. I've trapped a few over the years, and done a few "in" too. They tend to kill our ckickens for nothing but the sport of it. Cute, but they are a pita to deal with.