The Visitor

We have had a stealth visitor for the past few weeks: a skunk. I say stealth because we see and smell evidence of a skunk, but we have yet to see it or even the tracks. There have been numerous clues over the past few weeks.

The dogs come back with their snouts smelling skunk-like. Apparently they have been nosing around where the skunk has been. No one has been sprayed yet, but we have stocked up on skunk odor remover just in case.

I have seen some of the suspect digging - usually small round shallow holes. The information I see refers to them as being configured like a dixie cup - if anyone remembers the shape of a dixie cup. Not sure I do.

Often when walking the dogs I notice a distinct skunk odor somewhere along the walk. But it is not strong enough to say that the skunk has sprayed something but enough to be unmistakably skunk. Efforts to find the source of the odor have been uniformly unsuccessful.

Two bizarre episodes had skunk all over them, so to speak. First, I noticed a solar powered outside light way out of place lying against a tree. I asked Suzanne if she had moved it over there. She had not. The base had been gnawed. When I picked it up, there was skunk odor all over it. Second, one of the dogs' toys had been left outside - a stuffed frog. We found it laying out in the yard over the hill. Annabelle had doubtless taken it outside and left it. I picked it up...wow, it had a definitive skunk odor. So, we have a skunk relocating a solar light and playing with a dog toy. Those are not found in the list of top 10 skunk behaviors.

I talked to an animal control guy. He explained that skunks often have dens under porches, outbuilding, brush piles, and similar hiding places. The key is to look for tracks and signs of digging. If you find the den, they are much easier to trap and remove. I have looked in every suspicious place on our nearly five acres of property. We have several prime locations for skunks to hide out. But no sign of activity.

I have been looking for tracks. With so much snow cover, I figured that would be an easy way to observe their movements and find a den. No luck. No tracks. I have seen deer, turkey, human, and cat tracks. No skunks.

About the time we are lulled into thinking the skunk is gone, more evidence appears. Today, I noticed two locations along the trail where there was noticeable skunk odor. As usual, I could not find the source or even identify the direction where the smell was coming from. And Tess's nose had the odor when she returned from being out this morning.

I would like to set up a remote camera to see this critter roaming around at night because they are nocturnal. But that is too much effort and expense.

We'll remain vigilant and hopeful that the skunk will eventually move on. Meanwhile, life, wild and otherwise, goes on in Bittersweet Woods.