2008 Woodie Awards
Skunks just another part of the PSU experience
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Opinion
Spring is just around the corner, as demonstrated by recent sightings and smellings of PSU's skunk population roaming the campus in the wee hours of the morning. A handful of Collegio staffers have already had their dogs sprayed by the local critters, and can be in no doubt that more sprayings are to come.
In preparation for skunk season, which some say has never been more apparent than in recent years, we would like to ask campus residents, students and staff to be aware of these animals' presence ... and to try not to panic when a skunk is spotted.
Skunks, which usually birth their young in April and May, have long been present on the PSU grounds; coexistence is possible. Skunks are quite shy, and far more likely to hiss, stamp their feet and charge in short bursts than to spray. However, even young skunks are capable of blasting an aggressor.
By avoiding skunks (no matter how cute or scary they might be), PSU students and staff can sidestep the experience of being sprayed. By keeping their dogs on leashes, they can sidestep the experience of having their carpet smell of skunk for weeks.
It's as simple as keeping your distance. That means not throwing rocks or sticks at the animals, not approaching a skunk if it's stuck in some nook, cranny or building window well, not approaching a skunk so that you might take a picture of it with your cell phone.
If the campus population remains calm in the face of otherwise unappealing fauna, we can all be assured that this year will smell a whole lot better than the last.
In preparation for skunk season, which some say has never been more apparent than in recent years, we would like to ask campus residents, students and staff to be aware of these animals' presence ... and to try not to panic when a skunk is spotted.
Skunks, which usually birth their young in April and May, have long been present on the PSU grounds; coexistence is possible. Skunks are quite shy, and far more likely to hiss, stamp their feet and charge in short bursts than to spray. However, even young skunks are capable of blasting an aggressor.
By avoiding skunks (no matter how cute or scary they might be), PSU students and staff can sidestep the experience of being sprayed. By keeping their dogs on leashes, they can sidestep the experience of having their carpet smell of skunk for weeks.
It's as simple as keeping your distance. That means not throwing rocks or sticks at the animals, not approaching a skunk if it's stuck in some nook, cranny or building window well, not approaching a skunk so that you might take a picture of it with your cell phone.
If the campus population remains calm in the face of otherwise unappealing fauna, we can all be assured that this year will smell a whole lot better than the last.
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