[Summit] Our visitor, the WHAT?...

[Theresa Mathiesen]

Elianna, it sounds like the Great White Skunk!

It's nice to know it's still around -- and mellow -- but I agree,
skunks don't make ideal sukkah guests.

We have a smaller model on our block now.  Beautiful white plume of a
tail.  He did his "hand stand" when he saw a baby robin once, but he's
been pretty mellow around us -- of course, we don't take any chances
with him, either.

-- Elva

On 10/2/07, Bresler E <breslerfamily at gmail.com> wrote:
> This time of the year, for about a week, those of us who are religious Jews
> build Sukkahs- temporary shelters in our yards or on porches - and do a lot
> of our living out under the heavens. Having visitors is a big part of this
> holiday.
> Yesterday evening I was sitting by myself in the Sukkah, chopping & pureeing
> things to make hot pepper paste, when I realized it was more than the wind
> rattling some plastic bags, just six feet away in the opposite corner of the
> shelter. I stood up in time to see a flash of fur squirm under the wall, but
> that was not the end of it. That creature had a hold of a small trash bag,
> which would NOT fit under the wall- but it was not giving up either.  It
> kept yanking on it, spilling trash in the process.  I yelled at the "stupid
> cat", and banged on the walls, but it never even paused in it's tugging.
> Most cats would at least hesitate at the rebuke, so I stomped around outside
> to see if maybe it was a raccoon.
>
> Ulp!!
> It was a very large skunk! He (or she) stared at me for about 2 seconds and
> then completely buried its head back into the bag and restarted tearing at
> things.
> It was not in the least afraid of me! which meant, at least maybe, it was
> not likely to spray, me or the sukkah, PLEASE!  But a skunk!
> It showed no sign of leaving it's dinner.  I went and got my camera.  It was
> not afraid of flash pictures either!
> I watched it methodically shred it's way through the whole bag of garbage,
> till it got it all to come out under the wall, then it went back inside for
> another thorough tour around our Sukkah to make sure it didn't miss any
> other goodies. It never even looked at me again, after the first time.
> Finally it left.
> I kept my distance, but did get a few good pictures. Once I got over being
> un-nerved, I had to admit it was a pretty skunk: mostly white except for the
> legs and part of the head, and with a HUGE fluffy white tail, like an angora
> cat's.  Too bad I can't put a picture in the email.
>
> As soon as it left I sprinkled cayenne pepper all around the sukkah, inside
> and out. Most animals don't like pepper. What ever the reason, it didn't
> come back. and I was relieved; I prefer my Sukkah, guests to be two legged!
>
> Elianna
>
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