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  • From: Joe and Ellen Hecksel <jhecksel@voyager.net>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Skunks good or skunks bad?
  • Date: Sun, 09 May 2004 08:36:18 -0400

Happy Mother's day, all!

On the whole, are skunks an advantage to have around or not?

It is a beautiful, magical morning here on the "farm". It rained last night. The sun is shining. You can still see the mist hanging when you walk under the trees and the sun's rays turn into ethereal beams. Very peaceful.

I was out at 7:00 this morning feeding our two bottle lambs. I usually feed the lambs at 4:00 because I have to be at work before the sun rises. So it is a real treat to walk around early in the morning.

While walking back across the pasture I saw a skunk loping about like he/she owned the place.

Sheep are not the smartest of critters and some are dumber than others. The bottle lambs were following me back to the barn. Bottle lambs nearly always have bonding disorders. "Are you my mother?" So these lambs were right under foot. A real tripping hazard. You have to walk right smart and keep an eye on the little dudes so you don't step on one or inadvertently give one a solid kick. I was actually pretty close to this skunk before I noticed it.

At this point in the story I am sorry to disappoint those of you who know what should have happened. No, the lambs did not see the skunk and rush up to it. "Hey Mom! Got milk???" No, the skunk did not spray us all. Sorry to disappoint.
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Part of what made this morning magical is that I saw TWO Baltimore Orioles and TWO cat birds and one Tyrant King Bird (or Bee Eater). These are not particularly common birds around here. I don't know if they are passing through on their way north or if they are setting up shop. I thought it was a little early for the Orioles. The pairs of birds seemed to be skirmishing for territory.

I am tickled to see the birds. I think part of the increase in diversity is due to the increasing diversity of the local habitat...particullarly the vertical "structure". I also think the collapse of the Starling population helped.

-Joe

"You never see a fish on the wall with its mouth closed."





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