Public Service and Blood on the SIG

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Sylvilagus Aquaticus

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Dallas, Texas
Greetings:

As I was leaving work this evening a little after 1900 I noticed a something out of the ordinary hop over the curb across the side street from my building's parking lot. I work west of Dallas, sort of in the suburbs toward DFW Airport on Beltline about a mile north of 635. Seems there was a large skunk shuffling at curbside on the edge of the large, undeveloped field next door. Ex-biologist that I am, I pulled a U-turn and watched as the skunk hobbled a few feet, then collapsed for maybe 20-30 seconds, got to his feet and went a few more feet, collapsed, and repeated.

We've been having a lot of rabid skunk problems in the area. In fact, my cousins a few miles away had a confirmed rabid skunk on their property a few months ago. I got out of the truck with my 'purse' as my wife calls it (a fanny pack that conceals my P229) and walked closer...at one time within 5 feet, always being cautious...to observer for confirmation of my suspicions.

At one point the striped weasel turned to me and looked...didn't hiss...didn't show any signs of caring I was there. I saw at that time he had several lacerations around his head. Dog, bobcat, maybe? Or car? I kept watching from a discreet distance of maybe 10 to 15 feet as he continued his stagger and dive routine. He wasn't foraging. He was struggling. I let him get to a point maye 30 feet north of the street into the field where there is a path made by trucks driving through and the grass is thin. I got close enough behind him and gave him a single shot through the spine, angled down sharply, at an angle into where his breastbone should be. One was enough. I checked him and observed for a few minutes, then got back in the truck and drove across to my building and had a brief chat with the security guard in case anyone had heard the shot and was alarmed by it. No problem...he knew there were skunks about- we have Hav-A-Hart traps around the building for the less cautious ones. The guard knows I have my TxCHL and was more curious in my Sig than in the skunk, as it turned out.

One less health hazard to worry about in DFW. The skunk's suffering was stopped, and noone's kid or dog gets an unpleasant encounter.


Regards,
Rabbit.
 
An observant, thoughtful and public minded law-abiding citizen that owns a gun, has a CHL and uses his self-defense tools for the good of the community?

Better be careful! The hysterical anti’s out there would deny that anyone like this exists.

<sarcasm> Exempt for the police and military, only criminals and those who will become criminals have anything to do with guns. </sarcasm> :barf:

You did good! :D
 
Sounds good...

...but I'm unclear if you felt that the skunk was sick from illness, or injuries?

Rabies and distemper have been rampant in the N. TX region these last few years, and any oddly-acting skunks need to be put down.

But THEN, the work's not over. If the animal is sick, it needs to be disposed of. Most common would be to put it into a deep hole, and cover it with dirt and rocks. Skunk smell will not penetrate double-bagging, if you use two garbage bags twisted and tied tightly, and then put them in a dumpster. Another, less feasible way is to douse it with lighter fluid and burn it.

The point is, to keep other animals from becoming infected with it by sniffing around it. Coyotes, other dogs, cats, etc, will often chew on an old carcass.
 
Yep, that's what I did. Picked it up with the trusty shovel I keep in the back of my truck, double-bagged it, and deposited it in the dumpster at work.

It gave all signs of being both rabid and injured, probably from an entanglement with a larger predator such as a dog or Buick.

I consider it a surprise package for any corporate spies who want to dumpster-dive tonight.

Besides, the state health department has more rabid skunks in their freezer than they can sling a dead cat at. One less skunk brain to homogenize and analyze won't hurt their feelings.

Thanks for the kind words.

Regards,
Rabbit.
 
A little off the subject but you said they use the Hav-A-Harts around the building. I`ve used them to trap groundhogs on the property where I couldn`t shoot them but how do you dispose of a trapped skunk?

BTW, sounds like a good shoot.:)
 
As a rule (and a pretty good one) a skunk won't spray in an enclosed area... (live trap)

when I catch one in my yard, as long as it doesn't show signs of rabies, I put it in the back of the pickup, or the trunk of my car, (still in the trap) and drive it to a wooded area miles from my place... then set the trap down, and open the door...

back quickly away from the trap... and 99% of the time, the polecat just waddles away... OCCASIONALLY they come out all pissed off and try to come AT you... on those occasions, treminate the thing with all possible predudice...
 
Hi, Rabbit - -

Sounds as if you're describing the area of Dallas Pistol Club in Carrollton - - -What, half a mile w. of Luna on Belt Line? Folk in that area are so used to hearing gunfire, they probably don't pay any attention anyhow.:p

Most of the Carrollton and Coppell police I've met are pretty cool, and probably wouldn't have been too excited even if they'd seen you taking care of this business. At most, "You be careful shooting along the right-of-way, y'hear?" The law DOES allow for exigent circumstances, and for peace officers' discretion in enforcement on minor transgressions.

Nice work.

Johnny
 
Delicious with felafel. The Pita bread, not the skunk. Bet this thread now segues to roadkill delicacies.:D

Hemi, that`s what I did with the `hogs. None of em wanted to tangle with the .40.:D
 
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