Skunk Dodging!

[Longhorn]

An older co-worker had heart surgery last January and when he returned to work, he started walking around the parking lot after work. I asked him if I could join him, partly because I knew he'd be more likely to keep at it and partly because I need the exercise, too. (Through diet and exercise, I've lost almost ten pounds in the last five weeks! :D)

We tutor at a community college and get off at 8 p.m. We've now been joined by other tutors and even some students who leave at the same time. It has been great fun as well as good exercise. Now that it is dark when we get off, we've been noticing skunks and foxes almost every evening. One skunk ran next to us about four feet away so I started carrying a flashlight to scan the dark areas and try to avoid them. Tonight, a small skunk ran right up to the building where a group of people were talking after a meeting. I tried to warn them but I guess they were engrossed in their conversation. Fortunately, the skunk took off in the other direction without spraying.

In the last two weeks, we've seen at least four different skunks on the grounds. The campus is just on the outskirts of Austin. I understand that a coyote has been spotted, too. It certainly makes the walk interesting! :)

[feminazi]

1. I had a skunk encounter this summer

I was jogging on some levees near the bay in Sunnyvale (CA). I run there a lot and usually the only wildlife I need to dodge are the stupid geese. Well, I'm plodding down the trail and hear a noise in the rocks about 2 feet to my right. No big deal. Probably a squirrel. Then I looked and there's a skunk scurrying back under the rocks. Poor thing. I must have scared it to death. I've seen it once more since then.

I've also had encounters with snakes, mice and always stop to play with the fuzzy caterpillars when I see them. There were huge grasshoppers there this weekend. one took a ride on my shorts for a while. It's cool. I like seeing the critters. :)

[lukasahero]

2. My best skunk tale from this summer

was while walking my dog. We have one of those extendible leashes so he's usually about 10 feet ahead of me.

This time he made it around the rhodedendrons and stopped. So I came strolling up behind him to find him literally nose to nose with a skunk (and me at the end of a now 5 foot leash). I was tripping over myself running backwards trying to get the dog away from the skunk.

I think though, they were honestly just kind of checking each other out - both were just standing there sniffing each other's nose. It was unreal.

[MemphisTiger]

3. Wow, that's a close call

It's when the skunk turns around that you have to run. I remember from my Boy Scout days that you have to basically burn your clothes and bath in tomato juice to get the smell off. Bad stuff.