Elmhurst man fined $25 for trapping and killing skunk (Illinois)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-skunk-killer-17-oct17,0,3298606.story ^ | 17 0ct 09 | Gerry Smith

[rellimpank]

When Gerald Harsen walks at night with a flashlight, his Elmhurst neighborhood "comes alive with eyes looking back at you," he said.

Many of those eyes belong to skunks. Too many of them, he believes.

"I grew up on a farm and I've always had the opinion there are certain critters I should not have to live with," he said.

So, recently Harsen did something about it. He set a trap in his backyard, luring skunks with peanut butter and bread. On the morning of Sept. 30, Harsen caught one, grabbed his pellet gun and shot it dead. Then he left for work.

[rellimpank]

--a semi-humorous start for the day---

[Repeal The 17th]

How did anyone else ever find out about it?
(He never heard about S - S - and SU?)

[brushcop]

Darn, he forgot the rule: S, S and S.

[bikerman]

a semi-humorous start for the day

Not if your a skunk.

[rellimpank]

—sounded to me like he was willing to pay $25 to make a point—(I just hope none of the animal rights groups can sue him in civil court)

[TurtleUp]

Next time, dig the hole first, and fill it in before leaving for work.

[lionheart 247365]

Now there are only 484 left in congress ,,,, at $25 bucks a clip it’s well worth the fine .

[Big_Harry]

A few years ago, I dropped a big old boy raccoon that had been tormenting my Malamute. He fell into the neighbor lady’s yard and had to be thrown over the fence so that “Harry” could play with him for a while. I had no more gotten back to my property when the entire cul-de-sac filled up with police and fire vehicles. The lady whose yard the ‘coon fell into had called 911 after attempting suicide at the same moment that I popped the ‘coon. Since Harry was wallowing on top of the still twitching raccoon, the cops didn’t see anything as they ran past him to get to the wacko neighbor. I lost twenty years of my life.

[Condor51]

We have a neighbor who feeds the 'wildlife'. He leaves food out every night. So we're infested with skunks, opossums and god knows what else (the little ground squirrels I can live with. 'chip' and 'dale' are cute buggers).

Then thanks to HIM, this summer our Lab got sprayed by a friggen Skunk one night when the wife and our daughter were walking it. It took a couple weeks to get the smell completely off.

I *felt* like taking my pellet rifle₍₁₎ over to 'thank' HIM.

(1) the 9mm would have been 'overkill'.

[digger48]

It took a couple weeks to get the smell completely off.

10-1 water/hydrogen peroxide mix. wet 'em down, let it stand 5 -10 minutes, rinse. Actually works!

[1010RD]

In Illinois protecting skunks is professional courtesy.

[ErnBatavia]

I’ve always heard that a tomato juice rinse will do the trick.

[GoldenPup]

Marvelous story!!!

[digger48]

I’ve always heard that a tomato juice rinse will do the trick.

wives tale, as I understand it.. Purdue and others recommend Peroxide, baking soda, and a squirt of dishsoap.

BTW, did you know Hydrogen Peroxide turns to water after having been opened for a time?

[Condor51]

*** 10-1 water/hydrogen peroxide mix. wet 'em down, let it stand 5 -10 minutes, rinse. Actually works! ***

Yes we heard of that, not sure about the ratio though. And thought of that on the next day but I was concerned about the peroxide bleaching the dogs coat (she's a Yellow Lab). And our dog got it straight in her face, and head, then on her body.

So the first night the wife used tomato juice, then a Vinegar-water mix, finally with a straight vinegar wipe on her muzzle.

(I was asleep when they walked the dog and this first happenned)

[Condor51]

*** I’ve always heard that a tomato juice rinse will do the trick. ***

The wife and daughter tried that the first night, didn't work. Maybe not enough tomato juice?

Went to Vinegar-water, then just vinegar.

[Big_Harry]

All of that was the off shoot of an animal control officer telling me that he couldn’t trap a coon that had bitten Harry through the foot because the coons were indigenous to the area and my dog wasn’t. I wrote a letter to the mayor explaining that since I held the paperwork on the property that me and mine were now the “indigenous” species there, and I fully expected the city to extend the same courtesy to me that they did to the raccoons! After that got some air coverage on our local conservative radio, I then looked for every opportunity to dissuade the little masked marauders from hanging out on my property.

[J40000]

Catch yourself a few LIVE skunks. Spook them near HIS house - all at once.

See if THAT changes his tune.

[tet68]

I’m just surprised he wasn’t charged with threatening
Obama.

[caver]

I trapped 8 skunks last year but turned them out in the country. I also got about 10 coons and possums and countless chipmunks. I live in the city too. My wife and I are transplanted country folks.