Solving the Skunk Dilemma

Ok...what do you do when a mama skunk and 4 babies have invaded your space?

Here's what the Internet says...
1. Moth balls will do the trick but they're a known carcenogen so don't put them where you can smell them.
2. Rags soaked in fox urine.
3. Light...constant light

After researching this, and trying the mothballs...(since I couldn't locate any fox urine), I can scientifically tell you that skunks could care less about my $15.00 worth of cancer causing moth balls.

So...on to the local bar to ask the locals about what I should do. Here's my choices there:
1. Harvest the babies...they're worth $500 each on the open market as pets..Get Rich!
2. Shoot the sucker, but be ready for a mighty big stink.
3. Go look in the Sand Castle subdivision for Perry. He's the one waving the whole chicken over his head lookin' for gators. He'd probably be willin' to catch the skunk.

No...none of these were viable options...I might have gone the gator catching route but couldn't find anyone swinging chickens over their head.

All I want is for her to relocate. Just take the babies and head on into the culvert system where we know that the skunks exist and we deal with that.

So, I scatter more moth balls, and what does Mama Skunk do? Laughs at me, as I awake to a whole NEW burrow she'd created during the night. Not only did she create another foot high mound, but she'd gone through the yard and dug up fist sized holes looking for grubs while she was at it.

So...we cover up the other two holes she'd dug...scattered what was left of our ineffective moth balls and turn on the hose aimed at the new burrow.

I must say, for as many times as she's been deluged with water, she sure has handled it well. She retrieved all four skunk babies, and this time carried all four of them two houses away. All the while I watched...and waited and thought to myself...whew! At least they're not next to me anymore.

I decided to go on with my day...got the kids and went to the beach. When I returned from the beach, I was sitting down under the house...just a mere 5 or 6 yards away from the skunk burrow, when what did I see???? MAMA SKUNK!!

At this point I'm open for suggestions...just none that involve fox urine or swinging chickens!

New Beach Neighbors

So...what happens when your 13 year old laments..."I'm bored?" And Mom says....lets put water in that new critter hole..and see what comes out!" Just your run of the mill typical beach drama...

Wainwright Photo Stream

The Boys' got Talent

Con-Man and Brother participated in a talent show today. We created a video to show the "raw" talent. They rocked out to "We Will Rock You".

The Ugarook (bearded seal)

It was cold yesterday and I was still in bed. Asleep. Dreaming. You know, warm cozy in bed asleep, dreaming, when my Grandma comes and pulls the covers off and says excitedly “Eddie’s dad Jim caught an ugarook [a bearded seal]! Come out of bed I want you to take pictures. Tell me when he starts cutting it.” By the time I’m out the door Eddie’s there outside swinging. “Hey JDn [that’s my nickname JD- n] come swing?” I love Eskimo accents they’re so cool I wish I had one. I’m jealous because Eddie has one and he’s just a kid. I wanted one ever since I found out there even was such a thing.“Sure.” I made my way over to his house across the street when this “glassily” odor about makes my eyes water. I turned around to see Eddie’s dad start cutting the ugarook. I took pictures of the ugarook and Eddie. Later on my favorite dog, Rosco, comes walking to us with her master. The horribly bad part about Rosco is that she’s blind in her right eye! Why? Because someone went up to her and shot her with a Beebee gun?! Soon they left and Grandma’s over and Jim has the guts out with what looks like there is a squid inside. The closer you got the stronger the smell. After 2 days he has it almost done all he needs now is to get the blubber off the ugarook skin. He already has the meat outside at the back of the house to dry and turn into beef Jerky (ugarook jerky).