I Had a Skunk Encounter
A Lengthy Lake Visit... Just went for another trip to the lake, unfortunately due to recent heavy trapping ( http://www.news9.com/story/19659577/skunks-invade-properties-around-lake-hefner ) I think the skunk population was badly decimated. I looked throughout the golf course for hours but not even a hint of a stripe or raised tail. When I went back toward the lake, however, I chanced upon a skunk, but it was in a lower, rockier area that would've risked my ankles and feet to traverse so by the time I got down to chase it he'd managed to get away or hide too well to find. A little later I lucked out though, and saw a very pretty skunk hobble toward one of the little enclosures people put under a tree to feed feral cats. I sneaked up behind the little skunk as he chowed down but of course this required stepping on pine needles and giving away my position.
He turned around and started to warn me but, once again noticing I wasn't backing down, the little stinker darted off and took some surprising maneuvers through and under obstacles humans couldn't traverse (like that weird wooden deck I've never found the purpose of), and once more I underestimated just how fast they can run. As I often do, I let the skunk get a head start then outright sprinted to pursue, and by the time I closed the gap the skunk had nearly made it to shelter. I did get a few good sprinkles and perhaps a spritz, but it all hit the coveralls I was wearing rather than me (which is a mixed blessing given it means I don't have to deodorize, but I would've loved to be personally skunked again, you know?)
The wonderful musky reek exploded in the air and I took many lengthy happy sniffs of that intoxicating aroma, enjoying the relaxation and elation it gave me as well as feeling my rapid heartbeat from the chase. In my haste and desperation to provoke a full spray I threw the mini-flashlight I was stuck with near the skunk and I think I heard it break. Not that it matters of course; it landed in high reeds and despite a thorough search it never turned up.:(
I looked around for a while and eventually saw the same skunk that got me previously from afar but I noticed he was running from that point forward rather than a casual walk, so when I got up to the last place I saw him once again he'd been long gone or hidden, and I was left without a flashlight to check hiding spaces. This is why I really want to either find my old skunk-chasing gear or just buy new stuff.
Since I wasn't directly hit, I've not bothered to deodorize, and the scent's stuck to the clothing I was wearing strongly enough to be quite enjoyable in my room! ;)
He turned around and started to warn me but, once again noticing I wasn't backing down, the little stinker darted off and took some surprising maneuvers through and under obstacles humans couldn't traverse (like that weird wooden deck I've never found the purpose of), and once more I underestimated just how fast they can run. As I often do, I let the skunk get a head start then outright sprinted to pursue, and by the time I closed the gap the skunk had nearly made it to shelter. I did get a few good sprinkles and perhaps a spritz, but it all hit the coveralls I was wearing rather than me (which is a mixed blessing given it means I don't have to deodorize, but I would've loved to be personally skunked again, you know?)
The wonderful musky reek exploded in the air and I took many lengthy happy sniffs of that intoxicating aroma, enjoying the relaxation and elation it gave me as well as feeling my rapid heartbeat from the chase. In my haste and desperation to provoke a full spray I threw the mini-flashlight I was stuck with near the skunk and I think I heard it break. Not that it matters of course; it landed in high reeds and despite a thorough search it never turned up.:(
I looked around for a while and eventually saw the same skunk that got me previously from afar but I noticed he was running from that point forward rather than a casual walk, so when I got up to the last place I saw him once again he'd been long gone or hidden, and I was left without a flashlight to check hiding spaces. This is why I really want to either find my old skunk-chasing gear or just buy new stuff.
Since I wasn't directly hit, I've not bothered to deodorize, and the scent's stuck to the clothing I was wearing strongly enough to be quite enjoyable in my room! ;)
