Woman shares her home with 50 skunks

A US woman who shares her home with 50 skunks says they are "wonderful, beautiful animals".

Deborah Cipriani, 55, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, runs America's only rescue centre for domestic skunks.

And they are given free reign of the five-bedroom home - even sleeping on Ms Cipriani's bed.

She said: "A lot of people think we're weird to like pet skunks and they always say: 'Why do you want a pet skunk?' and I ask them: 'Why do you want a pet dog?'

"Because skunks aren't the smelly little creatures that people think they are - they're wonderful, beautiful animals."

Ms Cipriani, who lives with partner Kevin, 51, bought her first skunk in 2000 to help her through the death of her mother.

Since then, she's become so attached to the animals that she's dedicated her life to caring for them - getting up at 4.30am every morning to make sure they're all fed in time.

Her home, called Skunk Haven, has become well known throughout America and she even has fans in the UK, France and the Netherlands.

Ms Cipriani even set up her own event - called Skunk Fest - which attracts fellow animal lovers from all over America every September.

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Woman_shares_her_home_with_50_skunks

NY city's dead skunk depot stinks up neighborhood

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Residents of a Buffalo, N.Y., neighborhood plagued by skunk odors now know what caused the stink: Trapped critters that were shot and stored at a shuttered police station.

The Buffalo News reports (http://bit.ly/18myscv ) that the city's public works commissioner confirmed Monday that humanely trapped skunks have been taken to an old police station in South Buffalo, where they're shot and stored in outdoor freezer until they can be incinerated.

Residents say they complained about the smell months ago but were told by city officials that skunks weren't being killed inside the building. Later, they were told only a few skunks were killed there by lethal injection.

One neighborhood leader has dubbed the community scandal "Skunkgate."

City officials say they're looking for new locations for dispatching the nuisance skunks.

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Information from: The Buffalo News, http://www.buffalonews.comhttp://news.yahoo.com/ny-citys-dead-skunk-depot-stinks-neighborhood-134242071.html

Obese skunk diets after getting fat on bacon sandwiches

An obese skunk which piled on the pounds because of a love of bacon sandwiches has slimmed down after being put on a strict diet.

24 Dec 2009

Mr Bumble has lost 4.4lb (2kg) on a gruelling weight loss regime involving eating more healthily and taking regular exercise.

The two-year-old skunk was given to Tropiquaria Zoo at Washford Cross, Somerset, in September.

His previous owners could no longer care for him and handed him over to the RSPCA but admitted that they had fed him bacon sandwiches.

Chris Moiser, the park's owner, said Mr Bumble weighed one stone (6.8kg) when he first arrived and needed to lose 5 to 6lb (2.2 to 2.7kg).

He has two half-hour walks each day and a disciplined diet of vegetables and fruit, with the occasional cricket as a treat.

Mr Moiser said the animal needs to lose another 2lbs but was being allowed more animal protein in his diet.

''Mr Bumble is looking much better: we were worried about his health,'' he said.

''He has been on a strict vegetable and fruit diet and we take him out on a lead twice a day, letting him run back to his cage.

''He doesn't sleep as much as he did and seems to be a lot more active and interested in what is going on around him.

''I'm sure he misses the bacon sandwiches.''

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6875445/Obese-skunk-diets-after-getting-fat-on-bacon-sandwiches.html

'Skunk whisperer' in peanut butter rescue

A skunk in Oklahoma who got his head stuck in a jar of peanut butter was rescued with the help of a passer-by and a man known as the "skunk whisperer."

By Nick Collins
Published: 1:30PM BST 14 Oct 2009

Teresa Vick was delivering newspapers when she noticed the disorientated creature with the jar stuck on its head outside a Community Centre in Bixby, Oklahoma.

Ms Vick enlisted the help of Ned "The Skunk Whisperer" Bruha, who used chloroform to sedate the animal before easing the jar off its head, and the grateful skunk even refrained from spraying him as it ran away unharmed.

She told News on 6, a Tulsa-based television station, "I just stood next to [the skunk] and he kept running into my feet and didn't spray me or anything, just as sweet as can be."

Mr Bruha said: "All wildlife wants is food, water and shelter. Peanut butter is irresistible to this skunk. They are opportunistic and they are going to take advantage of any bit of food they can get.

"This guy found peanut butter and he got himself into a little bit of trouble."

Albino skunks create a stink

Published Date: 08 August 2009

TWO rare albino skunks born without any stripes have become a big hit with visitors at a Lothian zoo.

Foul smelling Pongo and Pepe, born six weeks ago, are drawing in the crowds at the Five Sisters Zoo near West Calder.

Only one in every 20,000 skunks is born with the rare albino condition and the creatures are currently smaller than squirrels.

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Albino-skunks-create-a-stink.5536423.jp

New pet is causing a stink

Published Date: 19 August 2009

They're cute, furry – and come complete with their own distinctive fragrance.

Skunks may not be top of the list with families looking for a new pet, but they were the star attraction at Preston Pet Centre in Ribbleton.

Domino and Jasper, both three, visited the store in Blackpool Road to show what good pets the ferret-like creatures make.

The pair are owned by Cat Allan, a friend of store manager Colin Hartley.

Colin, who has run the Blackpool Road pet shop since March, said: "We wanted to give our customers something a bit different.

"Owners say they are a cross between a dog, a cat and a child.

"It was funny seeing the customers going towards them in the shop and stopping dead in case they sprayed."

Skunks are becoming increasingly popular as pets in the UK and sell for between £550 and £750 each, depending on their colour.

The animals, who live up to the age of 15, can be house trained and taken for walks just like a dog.

They survive on a mostly vegetarian diet but also enjoy meaty treats.

But just like dogs they can be very destructive, chewing carpets and scratching furniture.

Domino and Jasper have been de-scented, but since 2007 the practice has been classed as mutilation and banned.

But that doesn't mean it will stink like Pepe Le Pew.

Colin added: "You have to socialise your baby skunk well so it doesn't get frightened."

Anyone interested in having a skunk as a pet can contact Colin at Preston Pet Centre on 01772 796441.

http://www.lep.co.uk/weirdnews/New-pet-is-causing-a.5567033.jp

Fla. police arrest pair connected to the theft of a skunk from a pet store

SARASOTA, Fla. - Authorities arrested two people connected to the theft of a baby skunk from a pet store. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office reported that the skunk was stolen Wednesday from Animal Crackers Pet Store. The animal was valued at $400.

Deputies said they arrested 21-year-old man on Thursday when he tried to return the skunk to the store. Deputies also picked up 20-year-old woman while she was at work.

The man, who deputies said actually stole the skunk, was charged with grand theft, and the woman was charged with accessory to grand theft.

http://www.startribune.com/nation/50046727.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUt:aDy

Dogs surprised by skunk

Two dogs who chased what they thought was a cat in West Yorkshire had a shock when their quarry turned out to be a skunk.

Pub landlord Dave Bennett was walking his two dogs in Keighley town centre when they shot off to chase the black-and-white animal.

But Jack Russell Chewy and King George Spaniel Tilly got more than they bargained for, reports the Bradford Telegraph and Argus.

Mr Bennett, 59, said: "As soon as I got close I could see it was a skunk. Chewy had it cornered before I got to him and got sprayed. It smelt awful.

"He still smells of it and I have bathed him and the spaniel because it got him as well."

Mr Bennett called the RSPCA to capture the skunk, which was thousands of miles away from its usual habitat.

RSPCA inspector Dave Holgate said: "The skunk is in reasonable body condition which makes me think it's either recently escaped or it's been dumped.

"Thankfully we managed to avoid being sprayed, which is a really unpleasant experience, though the dog that first came across it wasn't so lucky."

The skunk is being cared for by the RSPCA until an appropriate home can be found.

Inspector Holgate added: "We've called it Bud because it's American and was found under a buddleia bush.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3231613.html