I Had a Skunk Encounter
Patience pays off!
I had a late start to the chase tonight, not getting to the lake until around 1 a.m. due to prior social engagements. I was disheartened all the way to the lake to park my bike because usually I find at least 1 skunk somewhere on the way but the whole region seemed to be completely barren of them. I parked my bike, changed into pre-sprayed clothes and got out my flashlight only to continue to come up short. I DID find a few skunks here and there (kits mostly) and what looked like a mom and kits ducking into a pipe. Every time I had a confirmed skunk sighting they'd run up and duck into a hidey-hole, some of which looked almost impossibly small. I suspect the lake authorities might be cracking down on the skunks again, because I saw they'd stretched steel hexagonal mesh and barbed wire across every rocky bedding where the skunks were most likely making their burrows. This might explain why so few skunks appeared at the golf course area, or perhaps I just had really bad timing, who knows?
When one lone kit separated from that apparent group (I saw at least 2-3, unsure if I saw their mom) and ran off, I stealthily approached him and got within Penelope-lobbing range, throwing her twice and very much alarming the little stinker who at one point stared me down like a gunslinger but apparently didn't fire, because neither I nor Penelope were scented despite my best efforts.
My flashlight started dimming again and even cutting out entirely, leading me to believe the batteries are wearing out and dying. I believe it currently has lithium batteries so I have to say I'm disappointed that they didn't last all that long, though I guess I have been abusing them since my chases stretch out over hours of continuous use. It sure got frustrating when it would cut out near skunks though!
Circling the golf course and both ponds and streams twice over, I finally gave up and hiked back to my bike and backpack, but as a final hopeful act, I didn't dress in my street clothes and instead stayed in my sprayed gear for the ride home just in case I found a skunk with a 4 a.m. roaming schedule. Lo and behold, I detected a beautiful adult specimen with gorgeous bold white stripes who didn't notice me or my bike, and took very little notice of the cars that drove by. I took the opportunity to hastily put my kickstand down, get Penelope out and, just as the skunk started walking right in my direction, I lobbed her directly at it. I'm not sure she was sprayed right away so I gave chase and threw her again right as the skunk managed to get to the tall grass and brush, and the beautiful musky aroma let me know immediately that my mission was a success!
Carefully changing into my street clothes and putting Penelope away as well as my flashlight and goggles, I headed home with my mission a success. If not for my work obligations and plasma donations I almost certainly would've gotten my body and hair sprayed, but given April's little venture got me in a lot of trouble socially and I just barely squeaked by at both work and the plasma center (both of them assumed since it was 4/20 I was smoking cannabis, HA!). As it is, Penelope's intense enough to flood my room with her scent quite noticeably, though part of me wishes she'd gotten a worse skunking. It'll have to do until I have less social obligations and/or chasing gear that keeps the scent 100% off of me and all on the suit.
I had a late start to the chase tonight, not getting to the lake until around 1 a.m. due to prior social engagements. I was disheartened all the way to the lake to park my bike because usually I find at least 1 skunk somewhere on the way but the whole region seemed to be completely barren of them. I parked my bike, changed into pre-sprayed clothes and got out my flashlight only to continue to come up short. I DID find a few skunks here and there (kits mostly) and what looked like a mom and kits ducking into a pipe. Every time I had a confirmed skunk sighting they'd run up and duck into a hidey-hole, some of which looked almost impossibly small. I suspect the lake authorities might be cracking down on the skunks again, because I saw they'd stretched steel hexagonal mesh and barbed wire across every rocky bedding where the skunks were most likely making their burrows. This might explain why so few skunks appeared at the golf course area, or perhaps I just had really bad timing, who knows?
When one lone kit separated from that apparent group (I saw at least 2-3, unsure if I saw their mom) and ran off, I stealthily approached him and got within Penelope-lobbing range, throwing her twice and very much alarming the little stinker who at one point stared me down like a gunslinger but apparently didn't fire, because neither I nor Penelope were scented despite my best efforts.
My flashlight started dimming again and even cutting out entirely, leading me to believe the batteries are wearing out and dying. I believe it currently has lithium batteries so I have to say I'm disappointed that they didn't last all that long, though I guess I have been abusing them since my chases stretch out over hours of continuous use. It sure got frustrating when it would cut out near skunks though!
Circling the golf course and both ponds and streams twice over, I finally gave up and hiked back to my bike and backpack, but as a final hopeful act, I didn't dress in my street clothes and instead stayed in my sprayed gear for the ride home just in case I found a skunk with a 4 a.m. roaming schedule. Lo and behold, I detected a beautiful adult specimen with gorgeous bold white stripes who didn't notice me or my bike, and took very little notice of the cars that drove by. I took the opportunity to hastily put my kickstand down, get Penelope out and, just as the skunk started walking right in my direction, I lobbed her directly at it. I'm not sure she was sprayed right away so I gave chase and threw her again right as the skunk managed to get to the tall grass and brush, and the beautiful musky aroma let me know immediately that my mission was a success!
Carefully changing into my street clothes and putting Penelope away as well as my flashlight and goggles, I headed home with my mission a success. If not for my work obligations and plasma donations I almost certainly would've gotten my body and hair sprayed, but given April's little venture got me in a lot of trouble socially and I just barely squeaked by at both work and the plasma center (both of them assumed since it was 4/20 I was smoking cannabis, HA!). As it is, Penelope's intense enough to flood my room with her scent quite noticeably, though part of me wishes she'd gotten a worse skunking. It'll have to do until I have less social obligations and/or chasing gear that keeps the scent 100% off of me and all on the suit.
41-45, M
