Someone help me

I've never heard of "nutria" ... gonna go research it/them/whatever...

I had to look it up also! That's a critter that I'm happy that I don't have!

How's it going today, Kell? Is it the sweet smell of success?

I just did a quick search of these "nutria" critters. They look like swimming guinea pigs with tails...and with orange teeth, no less !

Where I live nutria is considered "good eatin". I have never tried it.

Dorothy

I have a Yankee friend who, when he saw his first nutria down here by the bayou, asked, "what happened to that beaver's tail?"

Kell, I'm so glad you survived this, and didn't get sprayed and have to move and get yelled at and all that stuff, but I haven't laughed so hard in a long time as I did when you asked if skunks go for the throat. You must have had a really strange experience in a former life, bless your heart!

Kell, sorry we all got so entertained by your trauma...but it WAS funny !

And look how many people responded to her call for help! Where else would that happen?

OOOOHhhh geez I wish I had seen this thread last night instead of while I was eating lunch, now I have to explain to my boss why I need a new desk chair and why there's marinara sauce on the monitor, Better yet how do I explain why I have to go home and change clothes....... ROFLMAO it's a shame there wasn't somebody there with a camera AFV pays good money for those "candid" shots

Well they say laughter is good for the soul. I helped a lot of souls today. Kell I feel bad getting enjoyment out of your ordeal and I really wouldn't have been able to enjoy it if it hadn't turned out so well.

Yes, nutria are nasty critters and I've heard they're good eating. Here they're just a nuisance, they tunnel and raid gardens, and they can get really nasty if they get cornered or a dog goes after them. Besides they're supposed to be big rabies carriers. That's why I use a broom or the hose to get rid of them. Who's that strange man on the travel channel that eats all the weird stuff? He ate some not long ago and said it was quite tasty, I'll take his word for it. So there's the lesson on nutria. To me they look like BIG rats with beaver teeth.

Nutria were brought over from South America for the fur trade if I remember correctly. They look like mini capybara to me!

I'm so glad your experience with the skunk was uneventful, Kell! Maybe you'll remember to keep the door closed from now on! Lol. Keeping the door closed would probably be cemented in my mind after all that.

Did you know that some people even keep them as pets? They get their scent glands removed of course.

This is probably a stupid question but are there bears and mountain lions in North Cali?

Captmicha.... it's definitely not a stupid question. yes, there are bears and mountain lions in Northern california, most of the time they stick to the woods though! I'm pretty sure that northern california is like oregon in the respect that most of the bears that they have are black bears. Are you always up at 4 am??!

capybara? OR CUPACHABRE?!?!?!

(Seriously, I wonder if it is a cousin of the capybara.)

But I do know I wouldn't eat one. I just find it hard to bring myself to eat something that eats whatever it can get. Ever notice that? Animals that are vegetarian are acceptable to eat for most of us, but we don't eat animals that eat meat.

Probably because they could eat us. Ick!

Yes there are mountain lions all over in Northern California. They even come into established neighborhoods with lots of houses. Every so often you will see on the news a big mountain lion sitting in a tree looking down at a sidewalk. So far no bears reported though in the burbs. You have to go further out for them.

At first I thought nutria were made up but then I googled them. Definitely cuter than their name.

I have recovered fully. It is hard keeping the back door shut though. I am pretty sure it is living under my porch. I was thinking we could get a cage from Animal Control but I am afriad it would spray if caught. I am not sure what to do. I am sure I will be seeing him again. I just hope he doesn't have any friends.

See what you can do about making it unpleasant for him. Someone on the wildlife forum, or maybe the herb forum, would know what repels them -- like marigold or peppermint, maybe?

Cat poo?

kell, you could place the trap as far as possible so that when it sprays (and I believe it would) at least it wouldn't get all over your patio furniture, etc. The smelliest cat food is such an excellent lure. Having said that, if your houses are close together, it is possible he went on to the next house where they don't have screaming women, lol.

seriously, i would borrow the trap from animal control and put it at the farthest end of your prop. you'd likely catch it in 48 hrs max.

Well I almost wet my pants laughing at this one but I would have done worse than that if the skunk was in my house. So glad he didn't spray your home.

One of the grand dogs got sprayed years ago and it was a real ordeal getting that dog decent again. Our son Will and his vet went through gallons of tomato juice, baking soda, cider vinegar and peroxide. The stuff was oily and very hard to get rid of.

we've had our 2 dogs sprayed by skunks and had no choice but to ride in a truck with them stinking dogs. It was absolutely revolting! We washed them 2-3 times and nothing. It was gone it about a week, though.

kell, if he'd sprayed your interior, you'd been done for and it would have been furniture shopping time.

Furniture shopping????? I see that door open again....LOL

I just have to share a cute story about Aunt Eltie, since we're talking about skunks.

Aunt Eltie was one of the old maids of the family. She and Aunt Grace lived in the old family homestead after everyone else had moved off and gotten married.

Aunt Eltie was a big prankster, while Aunt Grace was pretty prim and proper. Aunt Eltie used to pull all kinds of pranks on Aunt Grace just because Aunt Grace was so predictible.

Well, Aunt Eltie had pet skunks that Aunt Grace just couldn't stand. Aunt Grace would complain about them all the time. I was too young to appreciate how she did it, but some how some way, Aunt Eltie took a Noxema Jar that was empty and managed to get the skunk smell into it. She took it to Aunt Grace and knowing Aunt Grace smelled everything that she had any doubts about, said, Grace, what's in this jar? Aunt Grace opened the lid and put her nose up to the jar. Aunt Eltie just laughed and laughed and laughed.

Janet

God rest all of their sweet souls

Just saw this thread. So glad all turned out okay, Kell, but you provided an instant CLASSIC!! The real-time reporting, about both the skunk and your functions, is precious! This is my favorite thread of the year - for next year too.

I was weeding a couple of years ago and while on my hands and knees, saw some movement. I look up to see a skunk's a** backing into my face! My fluids managed to stay inside - not sure how - but I moved very quickly. He did not spray. Funny, he or she was almost totally white - and very cute.

I second Victor's comment about an instant classic. Kell, I had no idea you had just gone through hell and back when you sent me your sweet notes about the begonias! :-)

Just checked the views on this thread and they're up to 357. A classic in the making for sure!

Larry☼

i took this image thru the window where i am sitting now at the computer last Aug.
i'm glad it wasn't a skunk :-)

Dick


This message was edited Jun 6, 2008 1:58 PM

Oooh, what a beaut! But glad he/she isn't in my tree.

Wow, was that take at home Dick? Good thing you weren't outside.... fortunately it looks like it's just lounging in an afternoon break.

as soon as i stepped out on the deck to get a better pict he took off :-(
which i wouldn't even think of doing with a skunk :-)

funny how that works!

Wow - great shot! And Kell, we now expect you to come to DG first for any important events in your life!

Kell, you'd make a great best friend!! I could imagine laughing with you a lot!

And helping with her skunk??

Yes, but it's a bit of a drive...

Ha, a fair weather friend! What's a little drive (or a skunk) among friends??? LOL

We have a weatherman here who is famous for his gardening tips, etc. He's written a couple of books about vermicomposting and natural pest control. Here is a link to Loren Nancarrow's skunk wash recipe: http://www.10news.com/lorensfieldnotes/173139/detail.html


# 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda

Combine the above with enough Dawn dishwashing liquid into a gravy-thick substance. Shampoo as you normally would. Discard any leftover solution.

Now, if only I can remember that the next time one of my pets runs into a skunk!

That is what the vet recommended my son use and it took quite a few washings.

We think the spray burned too because right after it happened the dog immediately ran into a mountain stream and lay in the cold water. He often played in the stream but this time he just stayed submerged and didn't want to come out.

Any mountain streams nearby Kell? You might want to identify one in case your visitor returns, LOL

I wouldn't be surprised if it did burn - it's supposed to scare away predators, isn't it? (asking here, but I think that's its purpose) - and the smell alone probably wouldn't do it for some animals. Never thought of that, having been fortunate enough so far to avoid contact.

My brother and I were sleeping outside on cots at the Colorado River once and a whole family of skunks went under our cots. We could feel the tails. Luckily, he had heard them and whispered to me to stay still. Then we sat up and watched them walk away - mother and several kittens. Close enough for me.

I'll still take a possum in the living room ANY DAY !

Let me see.....mountain lion or skunk? That's a tough one. LOL

You are all too funny!

And debilu, I do laugh a lot. I am a constant source of amusement to myself. Not so much to my husband though. He got bent out of shape because I had the back door open yet again today.

I was reading on the California Forum about a pit of many rattlesnakes near a member's home. The picture was disgusting. And then Dick's mountain lion ready to ponce and I must say perhaps a skunk smelling up my house is not all that terrible. Definitely not a fatal event unless my husband can catch me.

Along with the photo contest, I think we should award hilarious posts. Kell, your's made my month (and I needed that after the month I've had)!

She's got my vote!!!