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

Wed Oct 3 09:39:27 UTC 2007

    There are at least two skunks in Summit. I see them often when I jog 
early in the morning. A couple of weeks ago I happened upon one on Hope 
street. We were both suprised. I zigged when I should have zagged and bashed 
my head on a low tree branch.

    I'm not sure why people are happy to have these visitors. They are wild 
animals that carry disease. They make a mess of garbage (as noted). And they 
can make your yard uninhabitable for a week if they decide to spray.

Paul

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Theresa Mathiesen" <elvamath at gmail.com>
To: "Neighborhood Association" <Summit at sna.providence.ri.us>
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 7:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Summit] Our visitor, the WHAT?...


> Great picture, Elianna!  Thank you!
>
> We saw one in our yard this evening. (Lauriston Street).  All white on
> top, all black on the bottom.
>
> -- Elva
>
> On 10/2/07, Bresler E <breslerfamily at gmail.com> wrote:
>> No, sorry, it's not the white skunk... I remember that one clearly.  It 
>> was
>> ALL white except for a palm sized charcoal smudge on each shoulder.  And 
>> the
>> tail was not so large.  But maybe with so much white this one is a 
>> progeny.
>>
>>
>> On 10/2/07, Theresa Mathiesen <elvamath at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > 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
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > If you would like to receive emailings for upcoming
>> > > FISHEL BRESLER PERFORMANCES,
>> > > email us at BreslersMusic at gmail.com & we'll include you.
>> > > www.matchbook.org/ArtistProfile1.aspx?ProfileId=302
>> > > _______________________________________________
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>> > > Summit at sna.providence.ri.us
>> > >
>> http://mail.sna.providence.ri.us/mailman/listinfo/summit_sna.providence.ri.us
>> > > SNA Website: http://sna.providence.ri.us/
>> > >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
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>> > SNA Website: http://sna.providence.ri.us/
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> If you would like to receive emailings for upcoming
>> FISHEL BRESLER PERFORMANCES,
>> email us at BreslersMusic at gmail.com & we'll include you.
>> www.matchbook.org/ArtistProfile1.aspx?ProfileId=302
>>
>
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>