Skunks up north

Talking moose · #1 03-10-2016, 05:39 AM

Has anyone ever seen skunks north or west of the Peace river? I know there used to be skunks up there before rabies wiped them out in the 40's or 50's.... Just curious if they are making a comeback or if the Peace is just to much of an obstacle to cross to re establish themselves....

MooseRiverTrapper · #2 03-10-2016, 05:51 AM

The wild north trapped one at hay River

Talking moose · #3 03-10-2016, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooseRiverTrapper

The wild north trapped one at hay River

Oh ya.... I think I remember that one...

norwestalta · #4 03-10-2016, 06:40 AM

I can't remember the last time I've seen a skunk or a porcupine.

cowmanbob · #5 03-10-2016, 07:10 AM

As the song goes, See the odd one dead in the middle of the road.

norwestalta · #6 03-10-2016, 07:15 AM

Why do you ask moose? Looking to freshen up your wallow?

Talking moose · #7 03-10-2016, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norwestalta

Why do you ask moose? Looking to freshen up your wallow?

Guy back home figures he saw one last year up around manning. Having lived up there for 36 years and not seeing one or hearing of one being seen, im skeptical. Just wondering if others have ever seen em in that region..

dale7637 · #8 03-10-2016, 07:30 AM

I haven't seen skunks with my own eyes, but we had a dog that got sprayed by one about 8-10 years ago at HL.

Porcupines I have seen a bunch. Usually north of high level around the Cameron hills, zama and bistcho lake areas.

norwestalta · #9 03-10-2016, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Guy back home figures he saw one last year up around manning. Having lived up there for 36 years and not seeing one or hearing of one being seen, im skeptical. Just wondering if others have ever seen em in that region..

I put on a few miles with work and a haven't seen them dead on the road in probably a couple of decades. I don't know why we wouldn't have them up here other then the rabies problem many moons ago.

Talking moose · #10 03-10-2016, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowmanbob

As the song goes, See the odd one dead in the middle of the road.

What side of the Peace are you on?

Twisted Canuck · #11 03-10-2016, 07:37 AM

I saw skunk just on the north side of the Wapiti this year hunting just west of GP, surprised the heck out of me and I think I came close to getting sprayed, but backed off slowly. First time I've seen them up here.

cowmanbob · #12 03-10-2016, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talking moose

What side of the Peace are you on?

West

357xp · #13 03-10-2016, 09:05 AM

Seen a road killed one just east of High Level a few years ago. Drove past it at 100km/hr and the smell still hit me like a brick wall almost instantly.

IR_mike · #14 03-10-2016, 09:06 AM

I had relates from Valley view here in 1994 for a funeral that had never smelt a skunk till we ran one over on the way to the prayer service one evening.

Talking moose · #15 03-10-2016, 09:06 AM

Hmmm.... I guess there is the odd one up that way. Interesting

mac1983 · #16 03-10-2016, 11:01 AM

momma and a couple little ones strolled through my yard last summer quite a few sightings last couple of years north of the Wapiti west of Smokey rivers. I have heard about them across the river in Debolt for quite a few years. Grew up here never seen them before in 50 years. Now porcupines havent seen one in about 15 years used to pull quills steady from the dogs growing up in the 60's and 70's.

mac1983 · #17 03-10-2016, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Has anyone ever seen skunks north or west of the Peace river? I know there used to be skunks up there before rabies wiped them out in the 40's or 50's.... Just curious if they are making a comeback or if the Peace is just to much of an obstacle to cross to re establish themselves....

Haven't heard the rabies story, just wondering did the rabies kill the skunks off, or did they poison them all back then. Did that rabies epidemic kill anything else off up here? Like to hear the history stories and how the effects last to today.

357xp · #18 03-10-2016, 01:20 PM

I've heard from few different people that there used to be a lot of red fox back then till the rabies came around. They are still in comeback mode up here, seeing more and more.

Talking moose · #19 03-10-2016, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 357xp

I've heard from few different people that there used to be a lot of red fox back then till the rabies came around. They are still in comeback mode up here, seeing more and more.

Yes, wiped out skunks and foxes.

norwestalta · #20 03-10-2016, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac1983

Haven't heard the rabies story, just wondering did the rabies kill the skunks off, or did they poison them all back then. Did that rabies epidemic kill anything else off up here? Like to hear the history stories and how the effects last to today.

I don't know for sure but I think all critters big and small were poisoned. Starting to see more and more foxes. I'm unsure what else might of gotten hit hard. As a rule I don't normally shoot foxes. It is good to see them making a come back.

Talking moose · #21 03-10-2016, 05:08 PM

mac1983 · #22 03-10-2016, 07:34 PM

Well that explains alot i had no idea.