Grrrr they are still cute when this little....

[destiny_56085]

Exactly...

 

[Moxiechick]

Quote:
Sure, you could release them near my house.

Here are the reasons I am totally fine with that.

1. It is highly unlikely baby skunks have rabies. If the parents had rabies, they wouldn't have been in breeding condition, so they would not have passed it onto their young. If the parents contracted rabies while the young were still nursing, they young would be dead by now.

2. Our coop and run are very secure. I like to be proactive in protecting my flock using non-lethal means.

3. Skunk populations take a lot of damage from being hit by cars. We had a friendly skunk living in our area for several years, until she got hit by a car. I came fac to face with her numerous times while walking in the yard in the evenings. I watched for her. She watched for me. Never once got sprayed. Plus skunks eat slugs. My chickens eat little slugs, but since losing the skunk, the big ones are getting more numerous. I could use a good skunk!

 

[teach1rusl]

Didn't even realize they had been killed until toward the end... So cute.

 

[Judy]

From the sticky for this forum:

*Although some ways are not considered ideal to some, it serves the purpose of removing the offending predator. If you have an idea or a helpful comment, please do reply. If it is a sarcastic comment about the disposal or capture of a predator, please keep your thoughts to yourself. We are not here to judge one another on methods or ways and means.

*If you wish to suggest an alternate non lethal means of control, please share it in a non judgmental way that is a viable solution and not merely complaining about who was here first etc, IF it is directly related to the OP's request for assistance.

There is a high probability that ANY thread in this forum is going to mention killing the predator. The "Grrr" in this title suggests this was the likely outcome.

The OP was not requesting assistance in this case, so commenting on the OP's chosen method of disposal is not appropriate. Alternatives, or positive aspects of keeping a skunk, may be presented, but not as criticism of the OP.

 

[bryan99705]

If it weren't for the chickens, descented skunks make fantastic mousers! They will out do a cat any day.

 

[StevenW.]

Even though they are cute I would dispose of them immediately. I can understand the OP because she has birds that probably costed a great deal of $$$$ and she just didn't want to deal with the skunks in the future if they happen to kill some of her birds. If I had a predator kill one of my birds that costed quite a bit of money yes, I would probably trap it and kill it. No sense in releaseing it somewhere when it will just come back to eat the birds.

 

[CupOJoe42]

I love skunks, especially baby ones! Had a baby skunk run up to my foot (on top of my foot, actually) once, looked at me, squeaked, and ran away. I always said that if I ever move, it would have to be somewhere that skunks are legal to have as pets. Have known others who have had them as pets too... just like cats.

I also like bats - another creature that is disliked by many people.

Not making any judgments. You do what you have to do. Thanks for sharing the great pictures!!!!

 

[terrilhb]

They are so adorable. What awesome pictures.

 

[Karrie13]

Those things may be cute when they are little but I have no problems dispatching them, little or big. I would have had a different story two years ago, I even stopped for them to cross the road in front of me.. but not anymore.

Last year in the early morning hours I heard a commotion, went outside to see what was going on and saw that a skunk was in my son's dog pen ATTACKING her. I ran and woke my husband up he grabbed the shotgun and had to wait for a shot to dispatch it. He shot it while it was still attached to the dogs leg. We immediately got the body out and the next morning took it and the dog to the vet. Paid to have the wild skunk tested and got the shock of my life a couple days later. It was rabid. Then I had to talk to the state vet, department of health and everyone else in-between. It was determined that the best course of action for my son's dog was to have her put down, that was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Of course she had to be isolated for 10 days first because of exposure risk. He could look at his dog but couldn't touch her. She didn't understand, and it was extremely hard on my son. On last Christmas eve, I was chased by one... it was growling and everything. Luckily my husband was nearby to save the day again and kill it. The way it was acting, I suspect it was rabid as well.

So nope. Skunks do not get a free pass around our place anymore no matter the age or cuteness. I live about 3 1/2 hours north of destiny_56085

 

[BayouPoules]

Quote:
yep, I get it...but to open a pic and say....aww, so cute, then read they were killed kind of bothers some of us

maybe it's the mother in me

.
It's just not a "scary" critter to me even as an adult, maybe a nuisance but nonetheless....
gophers, I get, horses break their legs and they descimate crops
raccoons pull birds through whatever they can...
coyotes, destroy flocks (yep had those)....same as fox(those too)
just seems more of and "inconvenient" species to me
If the title inclued something letting me know they killed them, I never would have opened the thread and hence would not have shared my opinion

Yeah,.. that's what got me,.. it was like,.. awww look at the sweet pics of the cute babies,.. that we killed,..



still,. it's her business and she's not doing anything illegal or ungodly,..