bend wyatt one crop

bend wyatt one crop

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Ask Wyatt and Stanzie

We have decided to call our Friday feature, "Ask Wyatt and Stanzie".
There are certain things that Stanzie knows way more about!


Stanzie knows about critter control!
Today's question comes from Mr. Pip and Goose.
Pip asks: 
Do you have any experience with skunks? We think we may have one in our yard - a couple of mornings we woke up to a familiar smell. It was faint (so maybe it's in a neighboring yard). Do you know of any natural remedies to encourage the skunk to move somewhere else?

Your pal, Pip


Goose asks:
I'm with PIP, how do you keep the skunks out of the yard. I got skunked kissed 6 times last year. MOM was not thrilled. Anything we can do?
Blessings,
Goose

First....Do not provide a food source.
Keep garbage cans tightly sealed. Never leave dog or cat food outside. Never feed wildlife. 

Second.....Do not provide shelter.
Seal up all areas under decks, sheds, etc.

If you suspect critters under your deck. Keep a spot light going under there for a week or so. They like the dark, so they will most likely leave. Then seal the area.


If skunks and raccoons are coming for your veggies and fruits in the garden (or the Koi pond), try setting up a motion activated sprinkler or motion activated lights. Nothing says "MOVE ALONG" like a blast of water in the face! Works on deer too!

From our experience, most of the critter repellents on the market are only semi effective.
Most, are a mixture of blood meal and something like coyote urine and they smell SO bad, that you will also be repelled from your yard! Also, they wash away with the first rain.

What do you do if you have been skunked?...like Ms. Stanzie

Wrap the dog in a towel, do not let dog rub on you or in the house...we know from experience!
Tomato Juice does not work...we tried, LOL
This product gets rave reviews.
But, what if you are miles from the store and you need help now!

1 gallon of water, 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide (h.p. can bleach fur, you may substitute with lemon juice or white vinegar), 1 cup of baking soda, one squirt of hand or dish soap.

Put a little Vaseline on dogs eyebrows to help keep mixture out of eyes. Avoiding eye area, sponge and lather mixture into dogs fur. Let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse well.

Be Aware and Take Care, Puppy and Kitty Pals!
You don't want to end up in the Wash-O-Matic!

Wyatt and Stanzie

We would love to hear your skunky stories and solutions.
And keep those garden related questions coming!

P.S. For those of you who commented on yesterday's post about Emma...she is the neighbor's dog and lives down the street. But, we will be visiting her often!!

28 comments:

  1. Wyatt and Stanzie - You guys have it all, entertainment, great pictures and stories, and good useful information!

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  2. Wyatt and Stanzie
    the two of you awe soooo clevew

    Stanzie, i love youw pest contwollew outfit, hehehe
    that was vewy thowough and wondewful advice
    I hope I don't evew meet up wif a skunk to kiss
    smoochie kisses
    ASTA

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  3. Thanks for the practical advice on de-skunkifying your yard! We don't have that problem here in Albuquerque but outside of town in new developments where the coyotes don't range anymore, the little stinkers are a pain in the snooter!

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  4. Oh thank you for the advice. We don't have anything, food wise, that would tempt the stinky critters. And trash cans are all sealed real good. I think I will ask MOM to put up some motion sensor lights. We have over a half acre of grass, trees you you land. So it might take a lot. But I think it will be well worth it.
    That Natures Miracle stuff does a pretty good job. We keep a galleon or so on hand. But it is best used right away.
    A special note: DO NOT run into the house after an encounter and stick your stinky head in the clean clothes basket. Bad idea.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  5. We thankfully have a fenced yard, so at least the skunks stay out. We use the same formula with vinegar, baking soda and soap, works great! We have only had a couple of incidences.

    We have also heard loud music will keep them away, along with smoke, and moth balls.

    We are in a quite populated area for them little buggers. Really wish there were some natural enemies to keep their numbers down. :)

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  6. GREAT advice!

    Stop on by for a visit
    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com

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  7. We don't have skunks here; but once when SHE lived in Virginia...at the beginning of time...HER scottie got sprayed and SHE tried the tomato 'remedy'. SHE says it smelled like a pizza that had been sprayed by a skunk!

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  8. Oh I was so disappointed when Gail told me that we don't have skunks in the UK. The smell sounds most interesting....
    But looking on the bright side, I guess one solution for those bothered by skunks could be to come and live in Scotland with me.
    Toodle pip!
    Bertie (ever helpful).

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  9. Loved the post - great pictures and good advice. Luckily we don't have any skunks here in Yorkshire so no worries for our peeps on that score - woofs and licks from Magic xx

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  10. We never knew about the spotlight trick to keep Mr Skunk away. We had a skunk living under our porch for a whole year. Now we know! Thank you, thank you, Wyatt!

    Love ya lots,
    Mitch

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  11. We don't have any skunks here, I'm sure if we did they would be something Tess would like to play with though! I like your ears in the title picture Wyatt.

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  12. Great advice! I love this new Friday post idea!

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  13. what wonderful advise....thank you guys we will certainly keep it it mind

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  14. That is EXCELLENT advice to Keep them Away.. and to use in case one actually does Squirt somebuddy.

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  15. Thanks for the tips, Wyatt and Stanzie - Mom always worries about us getting skunked with our super thick coats. We think your answer about how to keep them out also answers our questions about those bunnies.

    Have a great weekend.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  16. You're so wise! Great advice!!! I'll try to remember all of them.

    Licks
    Eva

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  17. This is so wonderful, I am going to book-mark it!! Thank you so very very much!!! You know we have all the critters and keeping them away is impossible!!! We just have to live with them and for the last 39 years it has been interesting. Always fun and we have never seen any sick but two times!!
    One was a rabies possums and one coon with distemper, we took the coon to the vet!!!
    We have tomatoes, knee high!!!!!

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  18. We had a baby skunk come live here one year - for some reason Mom didn't want him to stick around -- can you imagine? He was so cute, though!
    Play bows,
    Zim
    PS: We set a humane live trap and relocated him.

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  19. Great advise :)
    Have a nice weekend.
    Woof, woof,

    Chicco

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  20. Wyatt, thanks for visiting-I have missed your visits. We need to get one of those sprinklers-those Easter ears are adorable-hopefully there will not be a skunk in your basket.

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  21. Thanks for the skunky details! heehee! I like the motion sensored sprinkler idea!

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  22. EEuuuwww!Poooo! We didn't realise that skunks were such a nuisance. We don't have any here in France apart from the famous Pepé Le Pew. Do they really stink that bad?

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  23. Wait - Goose, you were skunk-kissed SIX TIMES last year?! I don't think I'd ever let you outside again! :)

    Thanks for the tips, Wyatt! With five dogs, you never know when this might come in handy!

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  24. Now, that sprinkler is just the ticket! Good advice guys!!

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  25. You guys had some great advice, and a few things we hadn't thought about, like the motion activated sprinklers. Mom says we might have to try that on the rabbits in our yard.

    The first time Mom and Dad went on vacation to Dewey Beach with Treat and Hawk, one of their roommates' dogs got skunked. There they were in the middle of the night, hosing him off out in the side yard. Apparently he was a magnet for skunks and was skunked six times before that in that year alone. They had that same recipe committed to memory!

    Bunny

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  26. I was reading along fine and getting a good education right up until the end. What the heck is that wash o matic thing? EEEEEE! End of days!

    Slobbers,
    Mango

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