Rutherford Weekly

Thursday, September 14-September 20, 2023 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 9 Email: Email: events@rutherfordweekly.com events@rutherfordweekly.com Mail or Drop-Off: Mail or Drop-Off: 157 W Main St, • Forest City, NC 28043 157 W Main St, • Forest City, NC 28043 *Publisher has fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. We Want Your Kids Sports Photos! •Basketball •Baseball •Softball •Soccer •Archery •Equestrian •Etc! We Want Your Outdoor Photos! We Want Your Outdoor Photos! Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Sportsman's Corner Sportsman's Corner Email: events@rutherfordweekly.com Mail: 157 W Main St., Forest City, NC 28043 Phone: 828-248-1408 *Publisher has the fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. Sightings of Striped Skunks are increasing, as they expand their range into the coastal plain of North Carolina. Seeing a striped skunk is not cause for concern — most skunks are not rabid and will not spray you if left alone. In fact, striped skunks are benefi cial, as they can help control rodent and snake populations around your house! Striped Skunk Quick Facts: When do skunks spray? If a person or animal frightens a skunk, the skunk will most likely face the person, straighten its legs and arch its back, put its tail straight up, and bristle the tail hair to give the appearance of being larger. It may also click its teeth and stamp its feet on the ground. If the person/animal continues to advance, the skunk may then spray a musk secretion from scent sacs located in its hindquarters. If you come across a skunk, leave the animal alone and allow it to move out of the area on its own. What do skunks eat? 80% of a skunk's diet consists of insects, worms, small rodents, bird eggs, and reptiles. They also eat berries, acorns, and other vegetable matter. Skunks leave evidence of their feeding by creating cone-shaped holes in the soil when they dig for grubs. Where do skunks live? Skunks live in wooded areas that have a mixture of brush, open fi elds, and rocky outcrops. They tend to select timbered areas and pastures with good water sources. Skunks create dens by digging into slopes of hills and spend most of the day in their den. But, skunks can also use crawlspaces underneath houses as den sites and sleeping areas. If I see a skunk out during the day is something wrong? No. Seeing a skunk out during the daytime does not automatically mean it is rabid or sick. Skunks are mostly active at night and early morning but sometimes they do come out during the day to forage for food, especially in suburban areas. The chances of encountering a rabid skunk are very low. Will the Wildlife Resources Commission trap and relocate skunks? No. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission provides technical guidance to people dealing with striped skunks. Because striped skunks are a rabies vector animal, they cannot be trapped and relocated under any circumstances. All trapped striped skunks must be euthanized or released on the property where they were captured. Can I trap a skunk on my own? Yes. If the trapping season is open, you can trap and euthanize an animal yourself following N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission regulations. If the trapping season is not open, and the animal is causing damage, obtain a depredation permit and trap and euthanize the skunk. Visit ncwildlife. org/trapping to learn more about trapping seasons and trapping regulations. Preventing Confl icts with Skunks • Secure your garbage. Skunks are more likely to come around the house when there is a food source nearby. Make sure to secure all trash in tightfi tting containers and do not discard food scraps or grease outside. Clean up food residue on outdoor grills and store grills in a shed or garage between uses. • Feed pets indoors. Feeding pets outdoors attracts skunks and other animals to the area. If feeding pets indoors is not possible, restrict outdoor pet feeding to a certain time of day and remove all traces of food in between. • Keep bird feeders clean. Bird seed can attract many animals. Use bird feeders designed to keep bird seed off the ground and remove feeders if skunks or other animals are regularly seen in your yard. • Eliminate hiding places. Close off crawl spaces and openings underneath porches, decks, and sheds. Skunks will use these areas for resting and to raise their young. Chicken wire placed into the ground can be used to keep skunks from digging under structures. Close shed and garage doors at night. • Eliminate grubs from your yard. Grubs are a favorite food source for skunks. Using a grubicide on your lawn is probably the most effective non-lethal (to the skunk) means of deterring them. • Protect your pet from being sprayed. Turn on fl ood lights to check your yard at night for skunks before allowing your pet outside. • Educate your neighbors. Your efforts to prevent skunk confl icts will be less effective if some neighbors are still providing food. If you think you have a problem with a skunk: • Implement the non-lethal steps described above. • If trapping season is closed and property damage has occurred, hire a Wildlife Damage Control Agent. A list of agents can be found at ncwildlife. org/have-a-problem. Or, obtain a depredation permit from the Wildlife Commission and trap and euthanize the striped skunk. • If trapping season is open, trap and euthanize the animal yourself following Wildlife Commission regulations found at ncwildlife.org/ trapping or hire a licensed trapper. A list of trappers is available at ncwildlife.org/have-a-problem. • Striped skunks can be hunted year- round. However, check to see if local ordinances restrict the discharge of fi rearms and visit ncwildlife.org/ hunting for hunting regulations and restrictions. If you or your pet are sprayed by a skunk, this solution can be used to eliminate skunk odor: • 1 quart of 3% peroxide • ¼ cup baking soda • 1 table spoon liquid dish detergent Mix and spray on affected area. Do not premix or store solution because it is volatile. Coexist with Skunks Article by: ncwildlife.org. Kevin Collins Photo. As a young teenager, many of my summer days were spent fi shing at the local canal. I remember the unique art of catching carp using whole kernel corn as my bait. I also remember the little country store where I bought that corn. What I remember most about that store however, was not my corn purchases but my candy ones. Edna (the lady who ran the store) had a candy counter that was strategically placed just to one's left as soon as you walked in. The glass front was positioned low enough for the smallest youngun' to press his nose against and carefully decide just what sugary morsel he would purchase on that day. The patience of Edna had to be God-like. After all, there were a whole bunch of youngsters that stood in line to make life-altering selections. And while those memories are special, there is still one more that trumps the selection stage. It was the post-purchase loitering. I can remember sitting on the front porch of Edna's store with my Coke and candy. And I can still remember the wonderful cool sensation I felt when I would lay down on that smooth concrete during the summer. The Coke, candy, and concrete made for the best recovery after a morning of fi shing or an afternoon of baseball. I'm glad she never ran us off. Her hospitality and patience were always taken for granted until we were old enough to realize how special it really was. That's the way most of life is. Rarely do we see the value in people or their actions until time has passed. This is especially true for the virtues that lack fanfare. Kindness, hospitality, and patience are naturally provided without pomp. They are abstract and bodiless and thus are lost most of the time in the shadow of more tangible acts. It is only as we pause and look back do we recall these quiet gestures that now stand out as monuments. If you can recall these moments maybe it is important that you make some of your own – to those who may not appreciate them until later. Kindness, hospitality, and patience are like the pocket change I once handed to Edna. It not only buys me initial satisfaction, but it also builds a porch for those who need a cool place to rest and recover. And everyone needs that. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ GARY MILLER Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written fi ve books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men's events for churches and associations. gary@outdoortruths.org The Saturday Night Lights (SNL) series continues at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) on Saturday, Sept. 23 and will be every Saturday night through Oct. 28. There will be a different theme for each of the Saturday events. On Sept. 23 the theme is Touch a Truck- First Responders Appreciation. Those attending SNL can enjoy live music, face painting, entertainers, concession stands and food trucks, from 5-7pm. Attendees can also participate in free entertainment such as pony rides, rides on a hand- painted Venetian carousel, performers, and more. Admission is free. The Grand Prix event begins at 7pm in the arena each evening. The competitions are held in Tryon Stadium. Other Saturday Night Lights themes are: • Western Weekend Sept. 30 • Oct. 7 WCRA Rodeo Carolina; Jumping competition starts at 11am. • Oct. 14 Breast Cancer Awareness, Wear Pink • Oct. 21 Oktoberfest • Oct. 28 Tryon Trick or Treat Sunday morning 9:30- 10am, there is a non- denominational Service in Cabin 2A, the Foothills Village Chapel. Article Provided By: Jean Gordon Saturday Night Lights at TIEC Sept. 23 SMALL SMALL TOWN TOWN FRIENDLY FRIENDLY BIG TIME RESULTS TIME RESULTS SMALL TOWN FRIENDLY 157 West Main Street, Forest City 828.248.1408 • rutherfordweekly.com TIME RESULTS

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