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altivoLast night as I sat reading by the wood stove, I was sure I smelled a skunk. Smelling one indoors in winter had to mean it was quite close by, so I checked to make sure the dogs were in, and quickly closed their door panel for a while so they couldn't go out. Thought the smell had subsided, so I unlatched the dog door again and Red immediately ran out, letting in another strong whiff.
Fortunately he didn't find the skunk. We looked around near the house and couldn't locate it, nor did we see any tracks on the snow. (The snow on the ground is only about a half inch deep and is fairly hard and crunchy now, so no tracks isn't really proof of much.)
I forgot about it until this morning when I went out to feed horses. Didn't notice anything until I'd given the boys their beet pulp and carried the bucket with Tess' portion over to her stall in the arena. Doors of both barns are closed at night this time of year, of course, to hold in what warmth we can and keep the wind out. When I opened the door to the arena, I was nearly knocked down by the stench of skunk, a mixture of rotten onions and who knows what else. Tess whickered at me and made faces, but she was OK. I felt sorry for her having been shut in all night with that (presumably) and hurried to open both of the large sliding doors. One of those is at the north end and the other at the south, so the air started to clear right away. Fortunately, Tess didn't seem to have lost her appetite either.
It was so powerful I was afraid it would cling to my hair and clothing, but it all blew away before I got back into the house. No obvious tracks in the arena dust either, but the skunk had surely been inside there. I hope it doesn't come back. Or that it goes back to wherever it was hiding and goes back to sleep. I didn't think skunks were supposed to be out and about at this time of year.
Fortunately he didn't find the skunk. We looked around near the house and couldn't locate it, nor did we see any tracks on the snow. (The snow on the ground is only about a half inch deep and is fairly hard and crunchy now, so no tracks isn't really proof of much.)
I forgot about it until this morning when I went out to feed horses. Didn't notice anything until I'd given the boys their beet pulp and carried the bucket with Tess' portion over to her stall in the arena. Doors of both barns are closed at night this time of year, of course, to hold in what warmth we can and keep the wind out. When I opened the door to the arena, I was nearly knocked down by the stench of skunk, a mixture of rotten onions and who knows what else. Tess whickered at me and made faces, but she was OK. I felt sorry for her having been shut in all night with that (presumably) and hurried to open both of the large sliding doors. One of those is at the north end and the other at the south, so the air started to clear right away. Fortunately, Tess didn't seem to have lost her appetite either.
It was so powerful I was afraid it would cling to my hair and clothing, but it all blew away before I got back into the house. No obvious tracks in the arena dust either, but the skunk had surely been inside there. I hope it doesn't come back. Or that it goes back to wherever it was hiding and goes back to sleep. I didn't think skunks were supposed to be out and about at this time of year.
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Date: 2013-01-18 11:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 01:12 am (UTC)At its most powerful, I couldn't describe it as anything but "skunk!" However, as it grows more diluted with distance or age, one begins to discern various components. At considerable distance, a fresh skunk scent reminds me of roasting coffee beans (which is not particularly pleasant to my nose anyway, but is distinctly recognizable.) And when several hours stale, it often reminds me of garlic and onion, very strong but also rancid. That was what greeted me in the arena this morning.
If you have ever gotten a good whiff of the musk a fox leaves, then just imagine it intensified by an order or even two orders of magnitude. So strong you not only smell it, but taste it and are blinded by it.
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Date: 2013-01-19 11:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 04:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 06:22 pm (UTC)So skunks actually smell all the time, then? I was told that they didn't smell that bad unless they sprayed (or unless they were run over on a street), but perhaps that was wrong.
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Date: 2013-01-20 04:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-20 09:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-20 11:24 am (UTC)