Evening star., 1953-03-22
The former Dead End Kid of the
woods has become the darling of
Park Avenue. Here's real pet news!

W7EIL sir it that the skunk animal that never
w got around to ratfying the Geneva protocol against
chemical warfare isn't objectionable after all. The
coophyn age has found way to deodorlze the Old boy
You'd never know him.
Our cities are now inhabited by generation of
lightened sknks who have completely renoced their ageod
right to 20 around smelling halfsafe The former Dead
End Kid of the forest has suddenly become the darling Of
Park Avenue Last year. for instance approximately 15OO
demusled slunks switched from stmphole home to soft
lace pillows beside miladys perfume table.
barometer of the slxnks new-ound popularity is his
price the retail market The cost of guaranteed nom
aneler has roeed from $35 to $65 in the last two years
Gary Ganetson salesmanager of the Ross Allen Reptile
Institute Silver Springs. Fla, says Skunks have always
been of staple items but hadn't anticipated the
current bull market Not that their popularity isn't just
fed Sns aeconate love to be petted and quite
easily householder They're also marvellous as rat and insect
eadcatUs around the house. Some magicians have begun
pulling smks of hat instead of rabbits and hosesses
are giving them away as door prizes.
Deecsnssd, He's Defensslem
of these door prizes evidently ending up munc
ipa ZOOS Lee Crandal atoreneus of the Bronx
pleads Please tell woudbe beneactors view already
got more slmks than USE And we can't offer any
advice how dispose of them One Of the cruele methods
however to release deodorzed skunk in the woods
Decented he's completely defensess and at the mercy of
the first animal to come along"
In the mind of Leonore Brandt former Curator of the
Cincinnati Chdrens Zoo however. there's only one logical
thing do with skunk: keep him in your apartment. Miss
Brandt is the author of 16page beser Sknks as Pets
Miss Brandt says that skunks should be kept out Of
drafts and given teaspOOn Of whisky the first sign
of loss Of appetite Though they love to buow they do not
destroy furniture and be taught to when called
When handled with care, these pets make wonderful
watch -skunks"
About years ago met the srangest skunk family in
isolated farmhouse where three mddeaged ladies lived
writes Miss Brandt Their only protection three sunks
which trained spray anybody who entered the yard
without proper announcement. Large signs read BEWARE
SKUNKS. and nobody disregarded this warning"
The Three Tyres
The American pedestrian destined to meet up with
more and skunk traffic city streets 1t might
therefore, be good idea to become familiar with few pole
cat statistics.
There are three distinct types distributed throughout the
United States the tiny spotted skunk of the Far Wes the
hooded skunk of the Southwest white back and black under
side; and our ro-the black and-white striper
(soetmes almost entirely black who has taken shine
city apartments.
The pumpkin skunk, still found in forests releases
his spray only when alarmed Distance record for alarmed
skunk IL feet Eight feet is about par. skunk always
gives fair warning of impending attack by series of wig
wags and acrobac stunts Before firing savo he stands
briefly on his front feet. He must return all fous
before releasing the fireworks
So much for mans best friend" the perfigated
skunk LESLIE LIE8ER