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Monday, 8th September 2008

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Pepe's capture caused no stink



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RSPCA inspectors on the scent of a skunk have finally captured their prey in Todmorden.
The creature - capable of being the smelliest animal in the world - had evaded capture for six months.
Dozens of calls had been received by the RSPCA but no-one had been able to confine the little terror who has been named Pepe Le Peu after the famous Warner Bros character.
RSPCA Inspector Alison Wilkinson finally blocked Pepe in a stairwell at Joshua Street where he had set up home among rubbish.
And, fortunately, Pepe didn't kick-up a stink, when he was eventually captured.
"It took nearly an hour to 'grasp' him," she said.
"He was hissing and spitting, and did actually spray me but I think his scent glands must have been removed."
Keeping a skunk is legal in the UK and the removal of the anal scent glands, which are used as a defensive weapon, is common amongst those kept as pets.
The RSPCA have not had any reports of a skunk missing so Pepe was likely to have been abandoned.
Pepe is being transported to a skunk specialist in Hemel Hempsted today.


FACTFILE
Skunks use chemicals called thiols to create a potent smell that repels attack from potential predators.
The musk is painful if it gets into the eyes and the smell causes nausea.
Skunks are no bigger than a domestic cat and from the family of mustelids which means mouse-catcher.
The North American version is called mephitis mephitis and has a black and white coat with a busy tail.
They are reared for their fur but can make affectionate pets - with their scent glands removed.
Experts advise tame ones should be fed vegetables, boiled chicken and small amounts of dog food. In the wild, they eat small mammals, insects, foliage - and rummage around in dustbins.

The full article contains 310 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 03 July 2008 10:01 AM
  • Source: Evening Courier
  • Location: Halifax
 
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1

exile,

03/07/2008 11:46:17
With their scent glands removed. This strikes me as a bit unfair. I'd make a good pet with my tackle removed
2

yorkshirepudding,

hfx 03/07/2008 12:05:05
if you went to the trouble of getting a skunk - why abandon it. A skunk's not just for christmas... some people have no brains.
3

jan2,

03/07/2008 12:18:24
Cute! Are they sure his scent glands have been removed? My partner swears that Pepe was in the Albert in HB the other night when people accused him of making a bad smell...
4

R.I.P. - Bass House. Gone But Not Forgotten,

halifax 03/07/2008 12:28:52
No that was me Jan2. i had bad guts that day...
5

jan2,

03/07/2008 14:46:11
dodgy kebab?
6

exile,

03/07/2008 17:24:31
At least get him a mate to play with. Ping Pong ?
7

BILABONGSBACK,

03/07/2008 19:57:55
Skunk in Tod .Theres loads of it....
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