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Re: (meteorobs) Skunks (was: Aug. 24/25 Report (GRALE)
Mark Davis wrote
> This brings back memories of my skunk observing in the Blue Ridge Mtns. of
> VA. My closest encounter was in a dirt field while observing from a lounge
> chair. I noticed the movement at a distance, flashed a light on the critter,
> began to make noise to scare him off...all without success.
It was June 1967 and my wife and I were visiting this country from
England. Our first night under canvas eas spent in the Blue Ridge
mountains and we had attended the Park Ranger's talk in which he had
about the Watson's (I believe) sunset where a low layer of cloud hid the
Sun's last few degrees of descent to the horizon. It was dark when we
got back to the tent so we left a few unwashed dishes in a bowl on the
floor. During the night I was awakened by the dishes being rattled by
some creature. I had no idea what it was but I also made noises to
frighten it away, to no avail. I then took a flashlight and saw
a black squirrel like creature with a white stripe down its back that was
about the size of a cat. I still had no idea what it was so I threw a
shoe at it and it just ducked out under the side of the tent and that was
the last we saw of it. It wasn't until the next morning when I told this
story to a fellow camper that I found out it was a skunk. I guess this
must have been a savvy skunk that realised that we obviously didn't know
about his potential to ruin our holiday and spared us the indignity of
his spray.
Ron Rennie
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