Popular Categories

Error, group does not exist! Check your syntax! (ID: 21)

Skunk sprayed



Clara Caufield

Not too long ago, while on a walk near Piney Creek, Story, WY, I noticed the aroma of skunk.  Then, walked very carefully, because it reminded me of a time when I walked somewhat carelessly in that situation.

There are several different groups of animals in this world, created by Maheo’o (the Creator), who set up predators (the meat eaters) and prey (the meat).

Even though the predators were granted the right to hunt and eat other animals, it is not an easy thing, nor should it be.  Fair game is fair play.

The easiest way to tell the difference is by the eyes.  Predators have straight eyes in the front of their head.  The ultimate predator, according, to Cheyenne way of thinking is the human being.  We are cautioned to be careful about this:  not taking too much, giving thanks to the prey, and sharing that gift with all who might need it.

The eyes of prey animals, vegetarians, are slightly on the side of their heads, providing a larger range of peripheral vision; they have long legs for speed, and larger ears for better hearing. Thus, each of the prey animals got certain gifts to help them avoid becoming ‘meat’.

Then, there are the winged ones, those that fly; the ones who crawl; (snakes, insects, many kinds of bugs, snails and so forth) and finally the ones who swim.   That can also include beaver and otter, for example. The swimmers can be prey too.

Of all these critters, I wonder where the skunks, bears and pigs fit in. From what I understand, those animals will eat a wide variety of vegetables, roots, berries and forth.  But they are also deadly small predators, especially to chickens, baby pheasants etc., in-between sort of species. They are also meat-eaters. Grizzly and black bears upon occasion even ‘predate’ (stalk and try to kill) man. Sometimes they get that done, which gives humans a reason to be cautious.

Keep in mind that a full-grown skunk might weigh about ten pounds.  He does not have to be much bigger because of his special gift , “skunk spray”, powerful weapon.

With that, I share a skunk encounter which happened years ago.  I had then decided to get into better shape, deciding on a five-mile hike every day. My faithful friend, Boy, a blue heeler accompanied me. 

Blue Heelers have some very good traits: they are loyal, usually glomming onto a particular human being while generally putting up with the rest of humanity; sometimes a little “Ouchy”, tending to heel or nip other people who are questionable to them; very loyal; excellent watch dogs; and fiercely protective of their own self-determined territory.

On the other hand, they are slightly bone-headed, independent and hard to control when chasing some imagined threat.

On one such day, a fully intact and rather large skunk was in the middle of ‘our’ trail, intent upon digging.  I quickly stopped, picked up some pinecones and started pelting that black and white, who then backed up to us. Skunks apparently are not afraid of much.

Boy got aggressive.  He charged the striped one, barking and growling, trying to “heel” (nipping heels) to get the intruder out of the way.

“Boy! Get back!” I yelled.

At first, he would not do that, continuing to irritate the skunk.

On the second call, however, he obeyed.

By then the skunk was so mad that he backed up closer to us, lifted his tail and let go.  He was in close enough range to get a very powerful shot off.

Boy took the brunt, but I got the after affect.

Boy started yipping, rolling around on the ground, trying to claw out his eyeballs.

So, did I.

Mr. Skunk just lifted his tail and strolled off.

“God damn you, Boy!” I yelled when I got upright.

He had the grace to hang his head down, while still trying to roll the smell off.

I had always heard that tomato juice will get rid of skunk spray.  We trudged back home and went to the local gas station.

Standing outside the screen door to not overly offend, I ordered all the tomato juice they had on hand. Turned out to be two itty-bitty six packs, twelve six-ouncers.  We were in desperate need of gallons to make a tomato juice bath.

“Might want to pour it on your hair first,” the clerk said.

It was not enough to do the job.  Not enough tomato juice to make a bath for a stupid adult 130-pound cowgirl and a sixty-pound blue heeler dog.

It took several days for us to start smelling better. Dawn dish soap, contrary to national advertising, does not work on everything.

Oh yeah, there is another thing about blue heeler dogs.  They are quite intelligent. After that, Boy took a broad detour around those black and white striped ones. If only that bone-headed mutt had listened the first time, that whole darn thing could have been avoided. 

My only advice: detour and highly respect skunks. They are not afraid of much.

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.