Got to LOVE skunks!

[addy1]

I mowed yesterday, in our front but side yard, side to the house, the skunks dug a hole. Right near a tree that I circle to cut the grass. Seeing the hole, I stopped and watched. Out come the yellow jackets, tons of them. Around the nest were pieces of comb that the brood was in. If the skunk had not dug it up I could have been in trouble, mostly likely would have been in trouble as those stinging suckers swarmed out to get me.

We need to get some wasp spray.

The comb the skunk dug up

You can see all of the tunnels they have made

The red points to a piece of comb under the dirt and tunnels they are crawling out of.

 

[mrsclem]

Yep- when we found out that skunks dig out jellow jackets, so happy!!! More skunks!!!!!

 

[Gemma]

I thought bees were stripped and wasps were black! I feel so ignorant!

 

[MoonShadows]

And, I think Yellow Jackets have the most painful sting of all the bees I've ever been stung by. Accidentally hit a nest a few years back with my weed whacker in some tall grass. Got about 6 stings before I got way.

 

[addy1]

I can ignore bee stings, yellow jackets hurt for days. The last sting I had from one stayed red and painful for around 2 months.

 

[addy1]

I thought bees were stripped and wasps were black! I feel so ignorant!

Bees! They are striped but not like yellow jackets, Have fuzz on their bodies. Plump That is the queen in the center.

yellow jackets very distinct stripes, skinny

 

[cas]

hmmmm, I didn't realize that about skunks. OK. I'll be more tolerant of skunks. However, when I leave early in the morning to walk the dog before the sun is up and I smell skunk, I am praying that we don't get sprayed!

 

[Nyboy]

I love skunks too. I own a boarding and grooming kennel. I make a lot of money giving dogs skunk baths. Some dogs never learn $$$$

 

[addy1]

Skunks can be hard on bee hives. They come at night and scratch the hive to bring the guard bees out then they eat them. We have our hives up high enough the skunks need to stand up to reach the opening, that exposes their tender belly. So far the skunks have left our hives alone.

A interesting thing I have noticed. Rabbits eat dead bees! They are out there in the am cleaning up the dead bees in front of the hives. The same with the opossums, love the dead ones.

 

[DutchMuch]

I hate:
Wasps
Yellow jackets
any bug that makes a "buzz"
etc

 

[sissy]

We get skunks around here and I don't mind them unless they come near the house .Had a nest under my front porch and had to deter her so she would not keep coming back each year to have her babies .I get those bees here and boy can they be nasty devils

 

[sissy]

I buy wasp spray by the case when it is onsale at lowes for a dollar a can

 

[j.w]

I usually try to knock down any yellow jacket nests that they are just starting to build. So far that keeps their numbers down around here. Once in a great while I get one that attacks me. Not a fun thing but at least I am not allergic!

Good skunks saving you @addy1 from getting the bites! I've never seen a skunk around here ever. They are pretty little critters but w/the stink bombs not bbq party friendly

 

[sissy]

Grew up with a pet skunk of course it was descented .A skunk a chihuahua and a horse ,my pets .

 

[Gemma]

Bees! They are striped but not like yellow jackets, Have fuzz on their bodies. Plump That is the queen in the center. View attachment 103175

yellow jackets very distinct stripes, skinny
View attachment 103176

Thanks for the lesson!