Why is Mr. Skunk spraying at 3 AM every night?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220068)
Walnut Creek, California
January 17, 2022 6:13am CST
Kitty and I just woke up for a Midnight snack at 3 AM. She had dry food and water, and I had ice cream in milk.
I often wake up at 3 AM to get a drink of water, Gatorade or cranberry juice. Sometimes Kitty joins me.
But why has Mr. Skunk just released his spray every morning at abut this time? It's been happening for abut two weeks. I have never seen Mr. Skunk, but I know it's him, and not my downstairs neighbor the pothead.
I walked up on a skunk one night after teaching an evening class at the College. I found myself about four feet behind him, not a good place to be.
But I just backed up and didn't engage in any predatory behavior, like barking or nipping at him. So he did not spray.
My heart was racing a bit as I began my drive home.
In any case, I am going back to bed. The smell has abated, and Kitty is now outside, taking care of cat business.
Do you have skunks where you live? Have you ever encountered one when you were out and about?
17 people like this
18 responses
@mildredtabitha (16137)
• Nairobi, Kenya
17 Jan 22
We don't have skunks here and I've never encountered one. Enjoy your sleep after the snack
2 people like this
@mildredtabitha (16137)
• Nairobi, Kenya
17 Jan 22
@TheHorse I think they only exist in some continents. Welcome
@DaddyEvil (137464)
• United States
17 Jan 22
Oh, you're missing out on smelling their lovely essential odor. 
About a hundred years ago two of my oldest brothers thought it would be funny to catch a skunk and drain the spray sack into a perfume bottle and... anonymously... gave it to their teacher as a... gift... For some reason their teacher, a scary old lady none of the students liked, wasn't thrilled to realize the lovely perfume she used on herself, wasn't a perfume she would have chosen, given a choice in the matter... 
My brothers were expelled from school for a year. They thought that was just fine until dad found out... (When re-telling the story 50 years later, dad had the biggest smile on his face, but he swore he "tanned" my brother's backsides until they couldn't sit down for that year, too.
)
About a hundred years ago two of my oldest brothers thought it would be funny to catch a skunk and drain the spray sack into a perfume bottle and... anonymously... gave it to their teacher as a... gift... For some reason their teacher, a scary old lady none of the students liked, wasn't thrilled to realize the lovely perfume she used on herself, wasn't a perfume she would have chosen, given a choice in the matter...
My brothers were expelled from school for a year. They thought that was just fine until dad found out... (When re-telling the story 50 years later, dad had the biggest smile on his face, but he swore he "tanned" my brother's backsides until they couldn't sit down for that year, too.)2 people like this
@sharonelton (29273)
• Lichfield, England
18 Jan 22
No, I have never encountered a skunk. I don't think we have them here. They are very cute. I've never smelt a skunk, but I'm reliably informed they are very stinky! Can you describe what the smell is like?!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Jan 22
@sharonelton The smell reminds me of family vacations in Montana. So it does not bother me. But it would if I got sprayed.
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (29273)
• Lichfield, England
20 Jan 22
@TheHorse Montana is where Dirk Benedict lives! I'm glad it does not really bother you. I think skunks are really cute but I wouldn't want to be sprayed by one either!
@sharonelton (29273)
• Lichfield, England
19 Jan 22
@TheHorse Youk! That sounds disgusting!! 
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jan 22
@LadyDuck Yeppers. I am glad that my musician friend and I were able to have skunk encounters without spraying being involved. I hope Kitty has similar common sense. She is out of the prowl right now. I will e heading to bed soon.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (44387)
• Wapello, Iowa
17 Jan 22
We have skunks here but I've never seen one. I just don't have your good luck.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (44387)
• Wapello, Iowa
18 Jan 22
@TheHorse I suppose they are. At a distance. Another thing about them is rabies. Every time there's a rabies warning, they always list skunks as the first animal to avoid.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jan 22
@xander6464 Yeah, I've heard that too. I wonder why that is.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44712)
• Staten Island, New York
17 Jan 22
I had ice cream in milk. You put ice cream into milk?
Haven't come across a skunk here. And don't think I want to.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 Feb 22
@lovebuglena I have! It's yummy. But I have to eat the ice cream quickly.
@lovebuglena (44712)
• Staten Island, New York
13 Feb 22
@TheHorse hubby sometimes puts ice cream in his coffee instead of milk or half-n-half. Have you ever done that?
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18390)
• Orangeville, Ontario
17 Jan 22
Hmmm... I heard that people who wake up around the 3am hour (which is a lot of us) are actually being visited by a loved one who has passed... that they are delivering a message to you. Is the skunk connected to that? Could be. You mentioned it not being the pot-smoking neighbour, but do you have a loved one that passed that was a big pot smoker?
Just a thought.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137464)
• United States
17 Jan 22
Yes, we have them here and yes, once in a while we see them...
One 4th of July we found out a family of four were asleep under our house when we started setting off fireworks in the street out front... Apparently, the skunks didn't appreciate watching quietly from the sidelines and decided to go running at whoever the last person was shooting something off... They ran all up and down the street while we all took turns setting off a fountain or a pinwheel to call their attention away from whomever they were trying to catch last... It seemed like everyone was having a great time.
Of course, the next day we called the landlord and told him about the family who shared our house but hadn't contributed toward the rent so he set up a trap and took them away.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137464)
• United States
17 Jan 22
@TheHorse I think he turned them loose on his farm just outside of the city.
@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Jan 22
We do have them. But if the smell isnt real strong and doesnt linger you could have a fox passing through also. They have a skunky smell
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Jan 22
@TheHorse They are usually very shy.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Jan 22
@wolfgirl569 That is my experience as well.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Jan 22
I have never seen a skunk where I love now. I have encountered their smell in the air and hated it every time, I hope that skunk goes away.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317249)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Jan 22
I'm sorry you have a skunk in the neighborhood at 3 every morning. Not a pleasant odor.
I haven't seen one to encounter them, but I have had the distinct 'pleasure' of being in the same area as them when they've let off their aroma.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
18 Jan 22
We do occasionally smell a skunk passing by our fenced yard. Kobe got squirted once, he barked at one through the chain-linked fence. He didn't get a direct spray, a light mist. Kobe needed a bath.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
17 Jan 22
When I was 22 we (my dog and I) went camping in Brown County State park, around 2 in the morning my dog started parking.
A skunk and decided to check our site for food (it was hanging in a tree). Upon hearing the sound all predators make (the unzipping of a tent zipper) the skunk sprayed the large mass of the predator.
in my face,
all over my tent.
my dog sat in the back seat on the way home.
my dad told me I would have to burn the tent.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Jan 22
@DocAndersen Did they work?
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@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
17 Jan 22
@TheHorse The dog was fine - not a bit on him. Me, well let's just say my roommate was not happy when I got back.
He and the dog stayed away while I did the lemon juice and then tomato juice thing.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47618)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
17 Jan 22
Are you sure it's not the pothead downstairs? Skunks really don't like having to spray. It depletes them and can take up to 10 days to "reload".
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51458)
• Canada
17 Jan 22
Our son had a skunk living under 1 of his sheds in the back yard last summer.
He had someone in to dig a small trench around the shed and put a little wiring down there, so that it could not dig down and return to its living space.
That really did not work, so he and my hubby tilted the shed backwards and threw a smoke bomb under it.
That brought the skunk out but she had a little one, who was unable to make it out and perished.
That was sad.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181321)
• United States
17 Jan 22
We have skunks; but I haven't smelled one in years.
1 person likes this
