# When the apocolypse comes, I'm raising skunks **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 20, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872 "2019-02-20T03:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/1 "2019-02-20T03:42:30Z")
Everyone prepping always talks about “investing in lead”. People also talk about raising wheat germ or starting a worm farm using duct tape or somehting of the sort for surviving the apocolypse. I think those strategies are seriously flawed. You can run out of bullets and by that time you’re already too much in the thick of it in my opinion. What I would do is live on a mountain in like West Virginia or something and have skunks that always realease their skunk odor downwind. I think that works better because people just avoid the general area altogether. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/2 "2019-02-20T04:17:49Z")
What will you do if the attackers come from upwind? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/3 "2019-02-20T04:23:11Z")
Skunk Don’t Comfront Me! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/4 "2019-02-20T04:34:36Z")
Why not just surround your homestead with hogweed? It looks like Queen Anne’s lace, which is not irritating, but this stuff can leave people with serious rashes and even chemical burns. > **[Heracleum mantegazzianum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_mantegazzianum)** > > Heracleum mantegazzianum, commonly known as giant hogweed, is a monocarpic perennial herbaceous plant in the carrot family Apiaceae. H. mantegazzianum is also known as cartwheel-flower, giant cow parsley, giant cow parsnip, or hogsbane. In New Zealand, it is also sometimes called wild parsnip (not to be confused with Pastinaca sativa) or wild rhubarb. > Giant hogweed is native to the western Caucasus region of Eurasia. It was introduced to Britain as an ornamental plant in the 19th century, an... ---
**Author:** ![Pithily\_Effusive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pithily_effusive/32/252_2.png) [@Pithily\_Effusive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pithily_Effusive)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/5 "2019-02-20T09:23:07Z")
If we get chased by zombies I’m tripping you. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/6 "2019-02-20T14:09:08Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > What will you do if the attackers come from upwind? I didn’t think of that. Maybe live on a cliff or something? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/7 "2019-02-20T14:14:55Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Why not just surround your homestead with hogweed? It looks like Queen Anne’s lace, which is not irritating, but this stuff can leave people with serious rashes and even chemical burns. > > [Heracleum mantegazzianum - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_mantegazzianum) That’s a really good idea. It might be listed as a noxious weed though in West Virginia. The thing with skunks that I like is that you can’t cut the odor down, like you could cut a plant down. It’s just in the air and its hard to escape, people would just avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/8 "2019-02-20T14:22:09Z")
I don’t have any sense of smell. I’ll come help you feed the skunks. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/9 "2019-02-20T14:44:22Z")
^ **Dung Beetle – Apocalyptic Anosmic** A Quinn Martin Production In color ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/10 "2019-02-20T14:57:17Z")
I think after a while people will start to stink themselves and no one will care if they smell of skunk. Then it’s game over for you, pal. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/11 "2019-02-20T15:00:39Z")
Plus, you probably can’t eat the skunks, if it comes down to it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/12 "2019-02-20T15:03:59Z")
Why would you want to survive the apocalypse? I don’t see the appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/13 "2019-02-20T15:04:35Z")
“Smell them, my children of the night. What odor they make!” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/14 "2019-02-20T15:20:13Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I don’t have any sense of smell. I’ll come help you feed the skunks. Shit, I wasn’t ready for this _at all_. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/15 "2019-02-20T15:38:32Z")
Maybe get some tigers to keep the anosmics away. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/16 "2019-02-20T15:40:23Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Why would you want to survive the apocalypse? I don’t see the appeal. People irritate me, I even irritate myself. Maybe I would find it peaceful. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/17 "2019-02-20T18:51:05Z")
My area seems to be going through a skunk invasion–every few miles driving along the highway you see or smell a dead one. My cousin recently counted 13 on a relatively short drive. I don’t know WTF is up with that. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/18 "2019-02-20T19:37:32Z")
I’m making booze if there is an apocalypse. I’ll be able to drink away the pain, clean wounds, and make molotov cocktails. Nothing solves a skunk problem like burning down their neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/19 "2019-02-20T19:42:21Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > My area seems to be going through a skunk invasion–every few miles driving along the highway you see or smell a dead one. My cousin recently counted 13 on a relatively short drive. I don’t know WTF is up with that. Obviously a very forward thinking and intelligent person is appropriately preparing for the apocalypse but a few of their battle skunks are escaping. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872/20 "2019-02-20T20:33:40Z")
A classic about skunks, from my youth. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uu5hzc2Mei4/hqdefault.jpg "DEAD SKUNK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD - LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu5hzc2Mei4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-apocolypse-comes-im-raising-skunks/829872.md?page=2)