Skunks Don't Like Top 40 Hits

Last fall, a skunk looking for a cozy place to spend winter, dug a hole through the foundation of the shed and under the floor boards. One of the floor boards was broken, so he or she used it as a handy chute to eject dirt while digging and expanding its hole. So along with a growing pile of dirt inside the shed was a subtle skunk pong.

Such is country life.

So the question was: how do I get rid of a skunk without getting sprayed?

America's Top 40 to the rescue.

I set up my old boom box on a timer with multiple cycles during the day and night, tuned it to the local Top 40 station, turned up the bass..... and left it for a couple of weeks.

I suppose this could be construed as cruelty to animals given whats on Top 40 radio these days, however it was more humane than a trap!

I couldn't tell how effective this solution was until recently. No more skunk pong. No signs of more digging.

I guess skunks aren't ga-ga for Lady Gaga!

Today's Globe and Mail, Social Studies column tells of a similar case where the residents of Tuscarora, Nevada have repelled invading Mormon crickets three years in a row use blaring Rock music. "The huge, flightless insects are a fearsome sight as they advance across the desert in armies of millions that march over, under or into anything in their way. " But they don't like Led Zeppelin or the Rolling Stones booming from stereos.