Spring is meant to be here. Lots of birds singing, saw a bunch of wild Turkeys crossing the road the other day!

But we still have a couple of feet of packed snow on the ground.

I was sure a skunk went into hibernation under our deck. So yesterday I dug away the snow and ice where there is a gap in the under deck fencing (where he used to enter / exit in the summer). There is no way he could have burrowed out as it's almost solid ice near the bottom... I had to use a hammer! This was in readiness for him waking up, as experts anticipate the snow won't clear until mid-may (I didn't want him waking up and being trapped).

Well this morning we found footprints leading from the newly cleared exit, leading around the snow on top of the deck and back again.

My wife thinks that by letting even a glimmer of sunlight in, I've woken him up too early and now he's up and running but with no food!!

I can put scraps out at night, but do any nature lovers here know if I've made a big mistake (so I won't repeat it next year)?

Hi Geedee
I doubt if you've killed him....this is from Wiki:

Behavior
Skunks are crepuscular, and are solitary animals when not breeding, though in the colder parts of their range they may gather in communal dens for warmth. During the day they shelter in burrows that they dig with their powerful front claws, or in other man-made or natural hollows as the opportunity arises. Both sexes occupy overlapping home ranges through the greater part of the year; typically 2 to 4 km² for females, up to 20 km² for males.

Unlike the fictional "Flower" in the movie Bambi, real skunks do not hibernate in the winter. However they do remain generally inactive and feed rarely. They often overwinter in a huddle of one male and multiple (as many as twelve) females. The same winter den is often repeatedly used whether under a house or in a tree.


He'll probably be back sooner than you think.

Phew! Thanks Mrs. Muesli! I might have saved his life (he must have been running out of anything stored under the deck as it's been "closed" since November.

S/He's a dear and we think there is a young one with it.

I trapped it last summer, the idea being to take it to the nearby woods.... it was digging all the turf up on the lawn. We woke up one morning, found it in the trap (trap door cage) and my wife then asked what if it had youngsters.... so we let it out (carefully!!) back into the garden... we're only renting!!

How lovely to know someone cares so much for the local wildlife. I know people who would try to kill it! Thank you for caring.

Make sure that there are no air intakes for the house anywhere near ground level.

A family here in Winnipeg has had to evacuate their house and decontamination will take 6-10 weeks, this was after a skunk "went off" outside their house, but near (I think it was about 10ft) to the furnace air intake, spreading the absolutely horrendous smell throughout the house. Ruining everything inside that holds that smell.

Surprisingly they were very lucky as their insurance covered them for skunk damage, this is very rare for a house insurance policy.

This is one the reasons many are inclined to "dispose" of them, when they have decided your property is a nice home. The other reason is that they frequently have rabies and spread that to other animals.

Thanks for the tip. The air intake is away from the ground (I think!).

Actually when we were freeing it from the trap, it lifted its tail and "aimed" at us! We ran like hell but it didn't "fire"!!! We got a blanket and covered it, then opened the door (gently.........!) and it just ran out.

I didn't see your post earlier, so didn't reply... sorry

One of the reasons we agreed to come here was the wildlife... to see it, not shoot it!

Sorry to post again on this (last 3 mine, I know, poor form!) but MB, my wife was wondering if it's possible to get similar insurance for "post baked beans / curry" or similar?

If there is put my OH's name down

A bung, a long hose, straight out the bedroom window.