Not many people would risk standing behind a skunk like Carl Kiilunen did to capture this shot! Just shows what folks are willing to go through to keep the daily photos of the Upper Peninsula interesting. Here are a few tips in case you want to try your hand at getting some images of your own...skunks never seem to be in a hurry, are slow-moving and poor climbers. So make sure you have a tree close by in case that tail starts raising up, because they can spray accurately and effectively at a range of up to 15 feet. You should have ample warning before that happens though. Generally, if approached and unable to flee, a skunk will fluff its fur, shake its tail, stamp the ground with its front feet, growl, stand on it's hind legs, turn its head and spit to scare the intruder. If that doesn't work, it will then lift its tail and give you a shower!

good morning from indiana.

Good Morning from CT!

Cute one

morning all

Cute...till the dog gets involved...lol! Morning yoopers!

Here kitty, kitty

I taut I taw a puddy cat

Oh look! It's a cute little black-and-white kitty!
Here kitty kitty kitty!
AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

Please, Please, my name is Pepe LePew!

He just came back from church and is saying , Let us spray....
TGIF all.

Saw a lil' black an white cat out in the woods
Now ain't that lil' cat pretty
Went right over to pick it up,
But it wasn't that kind of a kitty!
Anyone recognize that?

To the St. Louis Cardinals, This Buds for you!

How ironic, My eyes were just burning as I passed
thru Tamarack city on the way in this morning.

It was definately a fresh road kill. ;-)

Sure have seen a lot of those cute little buggers in my yard in Wixom this year - better believe I keep my distance! Have a great weekend everyone!

There are sure lots of stories and smells with these critters over the years!!! Anyone remember watching them at the dump by the Keweenaw Mt. Lodge?

I tought I taw a puddy tat... oops... not a puddy
tat... RUN!

I hope the photographer used a very long lense! He has the scarey end pointed your way! Nothing like a like Copper Country perfume...

When my son lived in Iowa, his german short hair was able to find every skunk around when they we out bird hunting. Nothing worse than having to clean a dog up after a spray job.

Has anyone else hit a skunk? That smell just never goes away.....never.....believe me, never :^)

Last week about 9:00 PM a skunk walked up on our patio and checked out the Halloween pumpkins. We were all stunned as we looked at it thru the sliding glass window from the safety of our WI living room. It was huge! I would have to say PePe La Peu was about 1.5 times the size of this fellow.

If you ever go on the Delaware Mine Tour, they have a pet skunk (with the stinker removed) called "Oreo."

Have a great weekend!

My dog "found" a skunk one day....I couldn't believe all the home remedies people suggested to "clear the air". Everything from bathing her with tomato juice to shampooing with Masengill. None of the remedies worked. We had to live with the fading smell for weeks!

Skunks that are out during the day like that could be rabid. Coons, skunks, critters and the like that are out during the day should be taken care of just in case.

Actually this little fellow was out during the day because he was caught in a live-trap and was being released somewhere away from town!

I had this happen to my dog a couple years ago and found a solution on the web. A mixture of water, Dawn and vinegar. Did a 100% cleaning job. Removes the oils very well. I am not sure who disliked that bath more...me or the dog...

Michigan: I would recommend contacting the DNR to make that decision!

If someone wants to remove any animal, then the DNR should be contacted.

I wish more people would let the authorities take care of it.

NORMA! how did you get to be the picture of the day? Sarah has a good idea, dad likes Jim's pizza in Calumet, don't forget my prune tarts! Rumor has it, you and Charlie are buying a new ATV for the cottage, way to go! Have fun U.P. there!
PS. are you guys going to the casino?

NOVEMBER 7 @ 11:00 a.m. is the date/time for the MARINERS CHURCH in Detroit memorial services for the crew of the EDMUND FITZGERALD. I hope to see some of you there.

Rose,
That worked for me a few years ago also. My dog didn't get sprayed directly but rolled in some of it he discovered. After the bath I used Febreeze on him to get rid of the vinegar smell. He's a little terrier so it wasn't a huge chore and everywhere he went in the house it smelled fresh, like a walking stick-up.

M.B.

I'd rather take care of the skunks then see one bite a dog and have that family pet possibly pass it onto a child. Skunks and Coons are the number 1 carrier of Rabies in Michigan. One sign of rabies is a nocturnal animal out during the day. A case of Rabies down state Michigan this past August. Dog got bit by a skunk and the dog had to be destroyed. Sad - but very lucky the dog didn't pass it on to a child.

Maybe the the reason the little critter was out during the day is that he just wanted to see the beauty of the UP during the day!?!?!?

:)

Our dog just got sprayed this past weekend. After bathing him twice in a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and dishsoap we finally went to the pet store and bought a product called Nature's Miracle. It works on pets, humans, clothes, whatever. If anyone is in need of a de-skunking product, this one is worth trying. We did have some trouble finding it though, most stores were sold out at the time. I guess this is the season for the skunk!

The OREO presently at the Delaware mine office is actually OREO II.

The the original one passed away.

Today's picture reminds me of a camping trip to "The Land Between the Lakes" in Kentucky several years ago. The skunk population was huge this particular summer and each and every night the critters would pass through our campsite as if we were not there. We would watch them as we enjoyed our campfire and were amazed at the diversity in their portions of black and white fur. Some were almost pure white. It was quite a fun vacation . . . we teased each other about how brave we were to camp right with the wildlife!! We were very cautious while walking at night . . . we sure didn't want to startle any of our visitors.

I liked the placement of the skunk picture on the home page. It's right under the "Fresh from the UP" banner.

Good Morning from Houston-

Sniffle, sob, gasp.....Jeff, you better order some pasty's quick!

Be extremely cautious of wildlife. We have a case of rabies in a 15-year old girl here in Wisconsin. She moved a bat from out of her church and was scratched in late September. Tragic that once the symptoms occur it is too late. Keep her in your prayers.

Suzanne, I heard about the young girl getting rabies on the local news here. My prayers go out for her and the family. My God watch out for them. Rabies is not something to mess with.

Okay, I'll add my two cents about noctural animals with rabies biting dogs.

It is a shame if a dog is bitten by an animal with rabies, just remember, this can happen anytime of day. (When you let Sparky out for his last tinkle of the night and he hears a noise in the garbage.)

Now, I'm not a doctor or a veterinarian, but isn't the point of the REQUIRED rabies vaccination for dogs so that they don't contract it?

Again, just my two unrequested cents.

Good Morning from Nevada!
When my husband was growing up, he once saw this pretty black and white cat wandering around his back yard one evening. Being a mischevious teenager, he decided to throw a snowball at this pretty cat. The "kitty" retaliated with a really big stink.

Imagine the surprise on our faces when we were at the Deleware copper mine two years ago. We were sitting on the bench waiting for the tour to begin, when OREO walked out from underneath the bench we were sitting on! Holy Wah! After we found out she was "taken care of" my daughter didn't want to take the tour, she just wanted to play with Oreo! Later, Skylar.

Somebody was talking about mines.
I was in the U.P. about 25 years ago
and toured a underground mine. We went
down and then got to a room which when
the tour guide opened the door was a huge
huge mined out room. The lights were off
and the guide turned them on and the room
was just a gasp it was so large.

Where would have this been???

Thanks!

My wife and I still laugh about the time we were walking home from one of Earl Brogan's parties in the wee hours and saw a black and white tail suddenly appear erect from a patch of weeds. It sure quickened our pace.

JAMES-MADISON- I believe that mine could have been in Iron Mountain. Anyone else confirm that?

Yoopers Everywhere! I'd just arrived at work on this little island in the Pacific, and in walks a woman wearing a "Michigan/Keweenaw" T-shirt. Of course that started an animated conversation during which we found out that we had many mutual acquaintances, including our webmaster (Charlie, her mother sold your son his house in Eagle River)! So wear those T-shirts around the world, and you'll be surprised how many have a connection to the U.P.! Great way to start the day.

Bath and Body Works Kitchen Lemon antibac soap helps to rid the scent too. Skunks can't/won't spray if their tails can't raise!! So, take your duct tape out with you when you come across these critters!!

They are beautiful animals. Their fur is so soft and sleek looking. Had one peeking in my sliding glass door this summer too...and it was just the screen..when it heard me say "OH MY GOD"...it turned and headed to the woods.

Tried and True DeSKUNKer...
My dog, KodiSue is a skunk magnet! This is the only solution that gets rid of the smell. The spray from a skunk is oil based and this cuts right thru it:

one quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
one teaspoon Dawn dish soap

mix in a plastic pail
wash whatever smells
keep solution away from eyes , nose and mouth
may the smell NOT stay with you!
have a better day tomorrow

We had a pet skunk when I was in high school. Our dog killed the momma and left behind 7 babies that were really young. They have to be taught by mom to spray. We kept 1, named him Suger and gave the rest away to volunteers. Suger grew to 25 lbs. and had one favorite person, my mom. He had a long, fat life eating everything from cottage cheese to green beans.

Yooper Skunk story-

Imagine a few boys, maybe around 9-11 who see a baby skunk in a field one day... Oh... sometime in the early 60's. So anyway, they talk among themselves and the idea comes up that if they can use a stick and hold that lil' guys tail down as they run after him, he can't spray! Mmmhmm...You can only guess what kind of purfume they came home wearing all over their pants and shoes!! What their dad called 'learning the hard way' ;)

Skunk smell - The peroxide thing makes sense from a chemistry standpoint. Skunk odor is comprised sulfur containing chemicals that would be broken down (oxidized) by a peroxide solution. BTW, the odor causing chemicals are very similar to the stuff that is put into natural gas to make it smell.

We had a skunk die underneath our house in May. The smell hung on for weeks. It is almost gone, now it only smells faintly when it is windy/raining. Thank goodness it hasn't been like that much around here lately. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. We live in an old farmhouse and could not get to where the skunk was. We just have to ride it out.

A skunk can be transported in a live trap safely. Just throw a cover over the trap so he does'nt see you. An old blanket works fine but you will have to air it out before you put it back on your bed. I have moved many without any cover with no bad results. Depends on the type of trap you use. You have to talk to them and show them you are not afraid.

James in Madison. You are thinking of the Iron Mountain Iron
Mine, 9 miles east of Iron Mountain in Vulcan. Great mine tour to
the open stope and a very interesting rock shop.
http://www.ironmountainironmine.com/

todays main conversation really STINKS! ;-)

Being a city folk, at 3;30 a.m, we were visited by the fire department because my wife thought there was a gas leak in our house. In the mean time, while the fire department was across the street checking out a unusual smell, two firemen had passed out. Come to find out, a skunk had visited one of our neighbors and left its' mark. What a rough remainder of a night. The smell was still around the neighborhood till late in the evening.

WOW !!!! still talking about skunk's I log on this morning and that was the main topic .
This is such a unique site i love IT .

Mary Lou

You sure know how to stur the pot.
Joe

Just have to put in my two 'scents' worth! When I was in third grade, a skunk somehow got in the school building over the weekend. The place REEKED on Monday, and we had to stay there all day; my mom says that when I walked in the house that afternoon, she didn't have to ask what happened -- I REEKED!!!

I was with a friend once, who ran over one of the biggest skunks I have ever seen. It was a foggy nite, and before you know it, you saw it, then heard the "clunk, clunk". Good Lord...what a snotty, teary experience. We had fluid running from our facial orifices like you would not believe. It rained very hard that night..the car did not smell the next day. Unbelievable.

one has not lived until one has been skunked although i do not reccommend it

If you are often annoyed by skunks in your yard
or on your property, use moth balls and run them
along the path that the skunk travels. Skunks do
not like the smell of moth balls and that should
keep them away.

downstate don-
No wonder.. about the moth balls- they are actually poisonous and just the smell of them on shoppers (just out of storage?) clothing when I'm at the store has triggered a MIGRAINE! There must be some natural repellent to use for skunks instead.
I know Bay leaves and Cloves will repel moths from clothing. I'm hoping more folks will start using them instead of the nasty Moth Balls.

Ok, I have a skunk story too. My honeymooning sister and her hubby rented a cabin, it was on blocks because it floods alot down here, anyway a skunk sprayed under it. Needless to say the groom was a bit diasppointed that night!!!!!

I popped a skunk with a '69 Camaro once. I think I hit it so hard and fast, that I didn't get sprayed. I did get to see it tumbling in my rear view mirror.

I've heard when you live trap a skunk, if it doesn't have room enough to lift it's tail all the way up while in the trap, it won't spray. Kinda makes sense.

You just got "SKUNKED".

Doesn't everyone have a skunk story? While watching the Miss America Pageant back in the early 60's, our cocker spaniel Taffy had gone out and came back all sprayed up. We had been eating Fritos at the time and even now, whenever I smell Fritos I associate it with skunk smell - and of course I think of this every year when Miss America is on. I remember my dad giving Taffy a tomato juice bath in the laundry tub and that seemed to do the trick. She learned her lesson as well - never chased after another skunk!

Suzanne: I do not live far from Fond du Lac where this girl was bit/scratched by the bat.

My first question is why was a 15 year old girl removing the bat from the church. Why was the DNR or local authorities not contacted?

I am sorry to hear that this happened. But, she should not have taken this matter into her own hands. Perhaps she was trained in wild animal control. But, this is not what I gathered from the news media.

This is a perfect example that the DNR or other proper authorities should have been contacted.

But alas, this is just my opinion. Everyone has an opinion....

M.B.

This summer I took a tour of several caves in Wisconsin - as my daughter and I watched "The Amazing Caves" IMAX style - and in Crystal Cave there were bats all over... Part of the tour was pointing out several species of bats. Point is hind site is 20/20.

Don't they always put the stop sign up one accident too late?

Is that an opinion or a judgement. The child
was just trying to help a creature. Her heart
was in the right place.

Just found this site by accident, but think it's great. While in the UP this summer, I had a chance to visit the Community Art Center in Hancock (my birthplace) and enjoyed the bead show very much!
Hello to my friends in the Copper Country: Cynthia, Phyllis, Joyce and any Yooper that reads this!
Oops, I was born in the hospital not the Art Center!! (Typical Yooper!)

oooops!

loved all the "stinky" stories!! Yoopers Rock! I am from
wisconsin but consider myself an "adopted Yooper". The
first place I go to on the computer every day is
"pasty.net". Thanks so much for the picture of the day
and your site. I need my U.P. fix every day. I usually only
get to go UP about once a year and envy all who are lucky
enough to live in my idea of heaven on earth! The fall
photos have been fantastic! Keep it UP photographers!

I thank you all for the info!
We did overnight near Iron Mountain 25 years
ago and it's totally possible that is the mine
we toured. I just will never forget the
huge room when the tour guide flipped on the
lights. It was all hollowed out. It was just
amazing. Last year visited the Hancock mine
and thought that was the one we had been to
and it wasn't but enjoyed it greatly.
The tour guides are so informed and interesting.

Matter of fact everybody is so friendly in the UP!

ouch! Have to put my two scents worth in regarding mothballs...they are one of my favorite smells....keep some in a box just so I can take a "whiff" of them now and then....and the box contains the scent nicely so those who don't appreciate that wonderful scent aren't offended olifactorily! :)

Susan, Fl. Glad to hear of someone else that enjoys the scent of mothballs. Check out the 5:31
p.m. entry from "Ouch" the smell of moth balls is
highly poisonous to them. Instant MIGRANE!!!
Personally I would rather smell moth balls than
smell the aroma of the skunk.

Anyone know the score of the Calumet football game?

i think last night they lost, i don't think they made any points etc., but i was still rooting for them, that's my school!!go CHS!

morning, check airport cam.....1999?

Good Morning all,
Color is good down here,

downstate don,
What's the weather down around your area? Heavy coats yet?

anita, it's a little rainy out there.

it must be rainy and cold windy everywhere today...with all the posts so early :)

oh waitt....this is yesterday LOL

I KNOW it is not unusual to see a skunk out in the daylight!!

I just read about the little girl who contracted rabies from bat bite. This is really too tragic, since there is a series of shots the child could have been given that would have prevented that from happening. Pray for this child's family, since rabies, once it's started its course, is 100% fatal.