Please don't make fun of us too much because we love animals, both domesticated and wild and feel every creature is here for a reason, though I have been after the moles. They have to go somewhere else!
I am saddened to learn that we lost Frank today. My son will be heartbroken when I tell him.
See, Frank was our wild pet skunk.
Yes, I know skunks are a nuisance and a major problem if they take up residence under your porch, spray your dog, and yes I've had it happen and oh yuck! What a problem!
But Frank was different. Being a male, he was less aggressive and kept to himself. He went to the park at the same time every evening as my son and I would go on our walk to the park.
We passed by Frank really close to the walking path in nearly the same spot every evening. He got used to us and never made any aggressive move or tail raising. We'd talk to Frank (my son's name for him) and enjoyed watching him forage. He was actually really pretty.
Skunks are actually beneficial to us by eating harmful bugs, rodents, etc., in addition to berries, mushrooms, etc. and will only spray if threatened or cornered. Dogs don't get that sometimes though. Unless the skunk has taken up residence with you it's always best to just leave them alone and true to his word Frank left us alone.
Though I warned my son never to feed him because though we enjoyed Frank, we didn't want him to "live" with us. Know this, never throw an apple core out into your yard unless you want skunks to come live with you - they love apples! That goes for any food by the way - unless you want unwanted wildlife in your yard.
When I came home I noticed Ralph - he's our pet wild turkey vulture - but that's a different story - next door actually coming towards me to tell me he found Frank.
Ralph is used to us as well and waited until I got within a few feet so he could tell me it wasn't any random dead animal. Though vultures normally would eat dead skunks, Ralph made no attempt to.
Frank didn't smell and must have died of old age as he always walked slow. There was no sign of struggle, no blood, no foaming at the mouth with rabies, he just laid down and went to sleep.
I buried Frank so he wouldn't start to smell and out of respect for never spraying us and for making our walks a little more fun. There's just something about being close to wildlife that is special.
So most will laugh or scoff at us for missing a wild skunk, but there is a little boy who loves animals who will be so sad when he gets home today because his mama has to tell him a favorite wild creature of his is gone.
Teach your children to love and respect all wildlife, remove them if they become a nuisance yes, (the wildlife, not the children) but leave them alone if they do the same. It is us who are invading their homes actually and they are doing the best they can to learn to live with us.
Goodbye Frank, we will miss you.
I am saddened to learn that we lost Frank today. My son will be heartbroken when I tell him.
See, Frank was our wild pet skunk.
Yes, I know skunks are a nuisance and a major problem if they take up residence under your porch, spray your dog, and yes I've had it happen and oh yuck! What a problem!
But Frank was different. Being a male, he was less aggressive and kept to himself. He went to the park at the same time every evening as my son and I would go on our walk to the park.
We passed by Frank really close to the walking path in nearly the same spot every evening. He got used to us and never made any aggressive move or tail raising. We'd talk to Frank (my son's name for him) and enjoyed watching him forage. He was actually really pretty.
Skunks are actually beneficial to us by eating harmful bugs, rodents, etc., in addition to berries, mushrooms, etc. and will only spray if threatened or cornered. Dogs don't get that sometimes though. Unless the skunk has taken up residence with you it's always best to just leave them alone and true to his word Frank left us alone.
Though I warned my son never to feed him because though we enjoyed Frank, we didn't want him to "live" with us. Know this, never throw an apple core out into your yard unless you want skunks to come live with you - they love apples! That goes for any food by the way - unless you want unwanted wildlife in your yard.
When I came home I noticed Ralph - he's our pet wild turkey vulture - but that's a different story - next door actually coming towards me to tell me he found Frank.
Ralph is used to us as well and waited until I got within a few feet so he could tell me it wasn't any random dead animal. Though vultures normally would eat dead skunks, Ralph made no attempt to.
Frank didn't smell and must have died of old age as he always walked slow. There was no sign of struggle, no blood, no foaming at the mouth with rabies, he just laid down and went to sleep.
I buried Frank so he wouldn't start to smell and out of respect for never spraying us and for making our walks a little more fun. There's just something about being close to wildlife that is special.
So most will laugh or scoff at us for missing a wild skunk, but there is a little boy who loves animals who will be so sad when he gets home today because his mama has to tell him a favorite wild creature of his is gone.
Teach your children to love and respect all wildlife, remove them if they become a nuisance yes, (the wildlife, not the children) but leave them alone if they do the same. It is us who are invading their homes actually and they are doing the best they can to learn to live with us.
Goodbye Frank, we will miss you.
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