He grabbed the old broomstick, with a hook stuck in one end, and slowly pulled a burlap sack over the trap until it was completely covered. The skunks would be less likely to spray if they couldn't see their enemy. Thankful that he was taller and stronger than most eleven year olds, Matt easily slid the trap into the bed of the truck.
Like most people, Tara was afraid of skunks. But having just acquired her driver's license, she had been easily convinced to do the driving while their dad was out of town.
"Where are we headed?" Tara asked, happy to be behind the wheel again.
"Just follow the highway toward the old dump," Matt replied. "I'll tell you when to turn off."
Booming construction in the small Colorado town was forcing the skunks out of their homes and into the nearby neighborhoods. Lately, the varmints were settling in beneath the loosely built patio decks at the nearby condominium complex. Matt and his dad were being flooded with requests to remove the pests.
"Turn off anywhere past that car wash," Matt instructed his sister. "Dad and I always use it as a landmark and release the skunks just past it."
Tara's hands were tightly clenched around the wheel. Trying to avoid the hidden potholes, rocks, and cactus, she carefully maneuvered the truck into the prairie.
With all the confidence of a seasoned trapper, Matt placed the trap several yards away from the truck. Using the broomstick, he unlatched the trap door and quietly backed away. Within seconds, the skunks scurried out of the trap. Without looking back, the two animals waddled across the rough terrain on their stubby legs. With gloved hands, Matt slid the burlap-covered trap back into the truck.
As they were starting back down the highway, Matt glanced into the bed of the truck. "Oh no!" he hollered. "Stop the truck!"
The truck swerved, skidding across the gravel onto the soft shoulder creating a cloud of dust. With a final jerk, the engine choked and died.
"What's your problem?" Tara screamed at him. "You could have caused an accident."
Matt struggled to unfasten his seat belt. "There's still a skunk in the trap," he answered, "and the trapdoor is open!"
Tara peered out the window. "The only thing in that cage is what's left of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich that you used for bait."
Matt jumped out of the truck and cautiously searched the bed. Sure enough, wedged behind the spare tire was a black ball of fur with the familiar white stripe. "It's back here all right," he told his sister.
"Oh yuck! I think it sprayed," whined Tara while pinching her nose.
"Believe me, you'll know when it sprays." Matt teased, trying to hide his own distress. He needed to think of something. The frightened animal could lift its tail anytime and cover them both with its foul stench. Something that Tara would never let him forget. He eyed the car wash in the distance. "I've got an idea," he said excitedly.
Water gushed from the powerful nozzle flooding the back of the truck, but the skunk held on. Matt aimed the wand directly behind the spare tire. Finally, the skunk released its hold and washed out onto the ground. Although temporarily dazed, it quickly regained its composure. After one big shake of its drenched fur, the skunk disappeared into the brush-covered prairie.
Matt watched triumphantly. A triple whammy! Who would have guessed!
Read the Most Frequently Asked Questions about skunks. Check out the all-skunk newsgroup, alt.skunks Listen to the sound a skunk makes.
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