Looking back, it was probably not a smart idea to leave our garage door open a couple feet off the floor! We had to be gone overnight, and our old Border Collie dog likes to sleep inside the garage on her soft bed and blanket. So we decided to leave it open just enough for her to go in and out. Her food and water is also in the garage, so it was a good arrangement for her while we were gone. It turned out to be not so good for us!
When we returned, we could smell a “skunk” odor, and that is when we noticed the dog food bag laying on its side. Also in sight was scat that told us we had an unwanted visitor sometime while we were gone! We looked around and behind things for a few minutes, but even though the smell remained, it looked as though the varment had disappeared before we arrived back home.
That was a week ago. Yesterday we decided it was a good day, without much wind, to load up the recycling and take it into Iona. We began pulling out the recycling bins from the back corner of the garage. In just a moment’s time I was horrified to see fresh “piles” of scat hiding behind the next bin. I yelled for my husband, and the more we moved things around in that corner, the more evident it became that we had something living in our garage. That is when I freaked out and went into the laundry room, leaving my better half (and braver) to keep searching.
When the recycling had been removed, he started rearranging some stored tables in the corner of about a four foot wide storage area. Suddenly something “moved” behind the last two tall tables which were standing up against the wall. He decided to get his old “22” rifle just in case! Using a long wooden flag pole, he tipped the long tables forward against the other wall, exposing some black and white fur. Ahhh, our visitor had not really left…we realized that with the dog food and water in the garage, he was in good shape!
Well, since the critter was not moving, but just seeming to stare in Dan’s direction, it seemed the right time to fire a shot. That only made things worse, as it went through the outside wall, leaving a small hole! Next, the skunk just tightened himself up against the studs, which made it harder to get him out. Dan decided it would be better to get closer, even though there was some risk involved with the potential of a really bad odor.
After the next two shots, the unwanted creature just curled up in a ball and breathed his last. Finally! Now, we had to get rid of him. When we got closer to him, we saw that he was no little animal. We used a scoop shovel to pick him up, but oh the mess that was left behind! Between the excrement and blood, fur and dust, all mixed together, it took more scooping, then scrubbing with bleach water and a broom. Even though the skunk did not “spray” like it could have, the smell left behind is atrocious. We have all the windows open, and we won’t be putting the car inside for awhile either.
Not sure how many days or weeks it will take to get rid of this awful smell. I am looking forward to some sunshine and warmer breezes so the doors can be open to help air it out. But I do know that was enough excitement for one afternoon!
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