Comments on: Wherein I Vanquish The Terror What Lurked On the Trail http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/ It's like reality TV. Except it's real. And there's no TV. Fri, 04 Mar 2022 03:21:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: buckythedonkey http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-2/#comment-439984 buckythedonkey Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:50:26 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439984 Bravo Linda! Bravo Linda!

]]> By: co http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-2/#comment-439935 co Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:56:39 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439935 Re: skunks, for those who didn't grow up with them or have family members who, in the dark, mistook one for an overly affectionate kitty to be disuaded by a kick (hence the kitty jokes). In the skunks' favor, skunks are amiable critters, since they can afford to be (evolutionarily speaking). That's why Dug's approach worked - he gave the skunk a reason to exit without making the skunk feel overly threatened. Therein lies the danger, e.g., startling a skunk on a downhill corner. If threatened, these non-aggressive critters deploy their only defense, which is highly effective. Think (non-africanized) honeybee: a placid critter that will offer its once-only (kills the honeybee) defense if sufficiently threatened. Skunks can spray more than once (after a space of time), but they do reserve their defense for serious threats. Skunks themselves don't stink, but their defensive spray is much more than smell, as described by Hamish A & Bandobras. And they are fast enough to spray when a car overtakes them on the highway, reference MattC. Never saw a roadkill skunk that didn't punish every following car for hours, even if your car is set for internal air circulation. Re: skunks, for those who didn’t grow up with them or have family members who, in the dark, mistook one for an overly affectionate kitty to be disuaded by a kick (hence the kitty jokes). In the skunks’ favor, skunks are amiable critters, since they can afford to be (evolutionarily speaking). That’s why Dug’s approach worked – he gave the skunk a reason to exit without making the skunk feel overly threatened. Therein lies the danger, e.g., startling a skunk on a downhill corner. If threatened, these non-aggressive critters deploy their only defense, which is highly effective. Think (non-africanized) honeybee: a placid critter that will offer its once-only (kills the honeybee) defense if sufficiently threatened. Skunks can spray more than once (after a space of time), but they do reserve their defense for serious threats. Skunks themselves don’t stink, but their defensive spray is much more than smell, as described by Hamish A & Bandobras. And they are fast enough to spray when a car overtakes them on the highway, reference MattC. Never saw a roadkill skunk that didn’t punish every following car for hours, even if your car is set for internal air circulation.

]]> By: Bandobras http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-2/#comment-439884 Bandobras Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:46:22 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439884 To aussie kev. All these attempts to describe skunk smell are silly. It is so bad it actually disrupts the sense of smell. It is quite possible to smell it from a mile away. It will at close quarters make people or dogs throw up. That would be the kind of dog that will roll around in a rotting carcass and love it but blows chunks after getting sprayed. It is the most powerful smell in the world and the skunks know it. To aussie kev.
All these attempts to describe skunk smell are silly.
It is so bad it actually disrupts the sense of smell.
It is quite possible to smell it from a mile away.
It will at close quarters make people or dogs throw up.
That would be the kind of dog that will roll around in a rotting carcass and love it but blows chunks after getting sprayed.
It is the most powerful smell in the world and the skunks know it.

]]> By: Kt http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-2/#comment-439810 Kt Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:59:29 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439810 Oh, I forgot the conclusion to my skunk story: The skunk family came to a sad end when my boyfriend decided to play Mighty Hunter and stalk them with a homemade spear. Long story short (it's a great story, best told in person with lots of gestures)-- he actually speared one. I haven't seen the skunks since-- but I have smelled them, and seen their tracks. They just don't stick around anymore. Oh, I forgot the conclusion to my skunk story: The skunk family came to a sad end when my boyfriend decided to play Mighty Hunter and stalk them with a homemade spear.

Long story short (it’s a great story, best told in person with lots of gestures)– he actually speared one.

I haven’t seen the skunks since– but I have smelled them, and seen their tracks. They just don’t stick around anymore.

]]> By: Kt http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-2/#comment-439809 Kt Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:56:28 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439809 Yeah.. skunks... my first encounter was after the dog spooked Mr Black-and-white racing stripes kitty at 5:30am. I couldn't figure out what the burning rubber/burning electrical most terrible smell was and why it was in every room I went into. Of course it was in every room I went into, the dog was following me around. BikeCopVT has the correct recipe for cleaning your dog (or self) after a close encounter like that-- unless you have a black dog, and want to keep him black! :) They do caution that the hydrogen peroxide may bleach your black dog to brown. Tomato juice does not work-- it only replaces the overpowering skunk smell with another overpowering smell. Fatty, glad to hear you escaped unscathed! You used your pawns-- er, troops-- effectively. Did Susan enjoy your story, too? Yeah.. skunks… my first encounter was after the dog spooked Mr Black-and-white racing stripes kitty at 5:30am. I couldn’t figure out what the burning rubber/burning electrical most terrible smell was and why it was in every room I went into.

Of course it was in every room I went into, the dog was following me around.

BikeCopVT has the correct recipe for cleaning your dog (or self) after a close encounter like that– unless you have a black dog, and want to keep him black! :) They do caution that the hydrogen peroxide may bleach your black dog to brown.

Tomato juice does not work– it only replaces the overpowering skunk smell with another overpowering smell.

Fatty, glad to hear you escaped unscathed! You used your pawns– er, troops– effectively.

Did Susan enjoy your story, too?

]]> By: Linda http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-2/#comment-439798 Linda Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:52:32 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439798 @buckythedonkey- It's a gripping smell, it is true And envelopes one from head to shoe Hamish A did quite well And his essay does tell The details of the PU. As I rode down a trail one day, A skunk did cross my way. But the great remedy From BikeCopVT made the skunk smell just go ALLEZ! @buckythedonkey-

It’s a gripping smell, it is true
And envelopes one from head to shoe
Hamish A did quite well
And his essay does tell
The details of the PU.

As I rode down a trail one day,
A skunk did cross my way.
But the great remedy
From BikeCopVT
made the skunk smell just go ALLEZ!

]]> By: PennyPue http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-2/#comment-439795 PennyPue Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:20:21 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439795 Nice way out of a Stinky Wicket. bwahahaha (Ok, obscure, so what?) No pictures? You should have stood ten feet behind him, and using your superior throwing skills, tossed a boulder at the skunk. Nice way out of a Stinky Wicket. bwahahaha (Ok, obscure, so what?)

No pictures?

You should have stood ten feet behind him, and using your superior throwing skills, tossed a boulder at the skunk.

]]> By: Hamish A http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-2/#comment-439793 Hamish A Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:01:05 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439793 Bucky, I wish I could do it in limerick form but there's been a lack of coffee today so this will have to suffice: Imagine burning rubber tyres and used sports shoe insoles. Then toss in the worst Lynx deodorant you have ever caught whiff off. Now concentrate it, add a generous dose of burnt curry powder (not the sweet stuff, the HOT stuff) and then add wet, rotting nettle. And you're still not close. First time I got wind of one I tried to tough it out (there was a girl present so had to really) but hadn't realised we were still a good distance away from the source. As we got closer my eyes were burning, my nose was running, it wasn't pretty. My friend who got sprayed couldn't stand to be near himself. That's how bad it is. Something so cute shouldn't be able to stink so bad. Bucky, I wish I could do it in limerick form but there’s been a lack of coffee today so this will have to suffice:

Imagine burning rubber tyres and used sports shoe insoles. Then toss in the worst Lynx deodorant you have ever caught whiff off. Now concentrate it, add a generous dose of burnt curry powder (not the sweet stuff, the HOT stuff) and then add wet, rotting nettle.

And you’re still not close.

First time I got wind of one I tried to tough it out (there was a girl present so had to really) but hadn’t realised we were still a good distance away from the source. As we got closer my eyes were burning, my nose was running, it wasn’t pretty. My friend who got sprayed couldn’t stand to be near himself. That’s how bad it is.

Something so cute shouldn’t be able to stink so bad.

]]> By: Bety http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-439792 Bety Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:58:56 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439792 Great post! I'll admit to giving trails over to raccoons and badgers myself. Great post! I’ll admit to giving trails over to raccoons and badgers myself.

]]> By: Mike Roadie http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/comment-page-1/#comment-439786 Mike Roadie Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:46:02 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/06/10/wherein-i-vanquish-the-terror-what-lurked-on-the-trail/#comment-439786 Brave, brave Sir Robin!!!! Brave, brave Sir Robin!!!!

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