A fine example of a Tennessee Skunk Dog
As a member of the canine branch of the animal kingdom, this creature is noteworthy for being impervious to the malodorous scent of the skunk. Many dogs, upon first encountering the spray of this animal, avoid all future such rendezvous by maintaining a respectful distance. Not so with Skunk Dog, aka Grainger, the Carolina dog. He positively revels in attacking and killing and rolling around on such sad creatures.
You might first be alerted to the demise of Pepe Le Pew’s cousin by the distinctive whiff drifting in through the open window on a Saturday night. Or, perhaps you hear the frenzied barking up near the muscadine vines, followed by a sudden silence, followed by… “the cloud”.
But, the most common way to gain such knowledge of said slaughter is to invite Skunk Dog to jump in the front seat of your truck for a ride on a hot summer’s day. Only as you close the door and he begins to wallow on you and the seat covers, only as your eyes tear up, do you realize your mistake. And, only then do you open the door and roll out onto the ground…gasping.
Beware of Skunk Dog, he is coming for you. And, he is wet.
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Reading this weekend: Following the Wild Bees: the craft and science of bee hunting. By, Thomas D. Seeley.
How did you come by Grainger? Was he bred in captivity (a domesticate) – or was he of feral descent? An article I saw about Carolina dogs suggested they’ve been feral (or at least many members of their clan) for a very long time. Long enough for there to be wild characteristics no longer found in domestic dog breeds. So now part of me wonders whether Grainger’s lack of sensitivity to skunks is one of these characters.
Has he ever seen a Canada Goose? He could make a decent living chasing them in these parts. Add in his skunking talents and he’d be a dual threat pup. K-10 material for sure.
Geese – finally, a job for all the greyhounds walking behind posh ladies on dreary sidewalks, with tears in their eyes from all the skunkish perfume!
Speaking of killers:
Now that my meadow has finally developed the carbonaceous cover it derserves, in came an army of those wonderful man-eating giant slime snails of Surrey Green.
Into the vegetable garden, too.
Where, to this day, they are a well-behaved bunch, only nibbling on old leaves and devouring the odd stressed plant I made the mistake of raising improperly.
It’s early days yet in out relationship, but…I think I can learn a few things from their discerning taste.
Slugs. Roundabout way of saying ‘slugs’, really.
The man who learned to bond with slugs, sounds like a post-modern short story destined for the New Yorker or Granta.
I spent the weekend putting in my winter garden, heavy on the turnips and mustard greens.
Clem,
First, thanks for joining me for dinner last night. It was good to catch up with you in the burgh of Grove City. Carolina dogs are still found as feral breed. They once were found throughout the US (Old Yeller might have been of that ilk). And, they are reported to have genetic markers linking them with the dogs that crossed the land bridge between Asia and North America. And, I think you are correct that his insensitivity to skunks is one of those traits.
Cheers,
I enjoyed catching up as well. Sorry it had to rain on your parade. Irma had calmed down quite significantly by the time she got here, but still had enough steam to soak the innocent foot soldier.
Hope your other business in these parts went well.