– Every So Often – –

Every So Often –

I read something in a diary entry or note that reminds me of a situation or incident that I had been involved with when I worked for a “unit of government”. Prior to my retiring I worked as an “Environmental Health Inspector” for just short of forty seven years.

Several of those situations or incidents I thought were amusing.

A line in an entry of 5/8/2011 by Wil in his diary “Wil’s World” made me laugh:

“Speaking of government, I saw my first dead skunk of the season on Tuesday. Apparently it was hit by a car.”

I wonder if he was thinking of Illinois Government. I think we hold the record for Governors indicted, tried and convicted of various crimes.

One of the notes on Wil’s entry reads::

Ever since learning about it being possible. I’ve wanted a skunk for a pet”

I’ve been told that skunks make good pets. I for one would not want a skunk as a pet, even one deodorized (Stink Glands removed). With my luck it would attract non-deodorized friends and relations.

Where is this going? I’ll tell you!

One Wednesday morning I am sitting behind my desk in our office and I received a call from the Chief of Police of a city in my area.

The Chief wanted to know what could be done to eliminate a problem he had in town. Namely skunks. The Chief said that he had numerous complaints of skunks burrowing under porches, decks and patios in “His City.”

My first thought, and I told the Chief, that skunks will eat practically anything and that proper garbage disposal would help eliminate or at least lessen the problem.

The Chief agreed but wanted me to give him permission to “exterminate” the skunks.

I told the Chief that I couldn’t do what he wanted. I told him that a skunk was a “fur bearing mammal” and was probably protected under Illinois Law. I gave the Chief the name and number of a person I knew slightly with what was then known as the Fish and Game Department, (Now known as the Department of Natural Resources).

About an hour later the Chief called back and he was a little hot under the collar. He told me that my contact at Fish and Game would give him permission to exterminate the skunks only if 12 gauge shotguns were used as the method of extermination.

“I can’t use a 12 gauge, the Chief said. I’d have blood and guts raining down all over town.”

“Then I guess that he was telling you that you couldn’t exterminate them,” I said

The Chief agreed and asked if I had any suggestions.

I told him it probably would be a good idea if he had the towns “Animal Control Officer” contact “Fish & Game” and see if they had any suggestions as to how to discourage skunks from taking up residence.

I mentioned earlier that I received the call from the Chief on a Wednesday. It was the first Wednesday of the month.

The First Wednesday of the Month the Health Inspectors in the south end of the County met for lunch and to discuss problems and current items of interest.

I related my conversations with the police Chief. to the group. We almost had to pick Heidi off the floor. Heidi was the Health Inspector for the same town as the Police Chief I had spoken with.

We set the agenda for the following months meeting.

One month later, Heidi called me and asked me to meet her and the Animal Control Officer of their town at the security area in the lobby of the courthouse where my office was located. I was hosting the meeting in the conference/meeting room of the courthouse.

I was waiting inside the secured area when Heidi and the Animal Control Officer entered the lobby.

The animal control Officer set the animal carrier on the counter. She was asked what was in the carrier.

“Sweet Pea”, she responded.

She unlatched and opened the door, reached in and pulled out Sweet Pea.

I am certain that a record for the shortest time to clear the lobby of the courthouse was established that day.

Sweet Pea was an adult female Striped Skunk.

De-odorized of course!