Woodstock Police Officer Andy White has just dispatched (put down) an apparently rabid skunk behind the Mont Vert Cafe. Police were called by residents in apartments above the cafe who reported the skunk has been hanging around near the building for days, behaving oddly and just this morning, was interacting in unusual ways with a dog. It also, strangely, was not releasing any scent.
Upon arrival on the scene, police (and Woodstock Early Bird) found the skunk limp and inactive under a van parked behind the Mont Vert building. The animal appeared to be barely breathing. (The photo was taken while the skunk was alive). The van was moved, the area was cleared and the skunk was put down.
A strong odor of skunk now permeates the street area between the Daily Grind Cafe and Mon Vert Cafe (which is closed until next Friday).
Police assumed the skunk to have been rabid. The action was taken in consultation with the local game warden.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 
Posted by Wade Treadway on November 4, 2011 at 09:40
Apparently the skunk wasn’t rapid enough…
WEB Reply:
I saw the RAPID TYPO before I published and couldn’t catch it fast enough! Rapid typo’s need to be “dispatched” as well!
The post should read, of course,”RABID skunk”. Everyone just heard Bird yell, “Oh, NO……”
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Posted by Chris Miller on November 4, 2011 at 09:49
Maybe it’s the same one that’s been hanging around our house just up on Lincoln Street. I’ve seen no signs of “ours” being either rapid or rabid, however, so maybe not.
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Posted by sari on November 4, 2011 at 09:52
A ‘Rapid’ skunk???? I think you meant Rabid! He didn’t look to be too rapid!
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Posted by Julia Carlisle on November 4, 2011 at 11:12
Yes, I did mean RABID. Sigh.
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Posted by Daniel on November 4, 2011 at 09:57
Well, that just…STINKS!
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Posted by Toni Richie on November 4, 2011 at 10:13
I recall an event almost 30 years ago when a certain property manager of the then “Pumpkin House” (which was eventually replaced by the present buildings that house those businesses near Mont Vert) arranged for the removal of some pesky skunks. There was a little restaurant called the “Oasis”. One day while I was dining there amid twenty other hungry people, a man arrived, lifted one of the old wide pine floor boards and, with much trepidation, lifted a large heavy and wobbly Havahart trap covered with a black plastic garbage bag, replaced it with a fresh empty Havahart trap, and without saying anything, shuffled out the door with his mysterious load. I later learned that he was successful in removing 33 skunks from that location over the summer!
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Posted by Julia Carlisle on November 4, 2011 at 11:03
Oh dear, maybe that’s a well-known warm winter hang-out for our local skunks. Much like old bear trails used from generation to generation.
Also makes you wonder about Havahart traps. Unfortunately, this poor creature (a beauty) just did not look good.
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Posted by Russell Pejouhy on November 4, 2011 at 10:59
Hurray for Officer Andy! Mayberry’s finest!
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Posted by AMacDonald on November 4, 2011 at 17:59
There was a strong smell of skunk around my house this morning. I thought we might have a visitor looking for a cozy home for the winter. I wonder if it was the same animal?
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Posted by An Exciting Friday in Vermont « The View from Fish in a Barrel Pond on November 4, 2011 at 20:31
[…] If you want excitement, you should head up to Woodstock: Skunk Dispatched in Village […]
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Posted by Lady K on November 5, 2011 at 13:28
We tend to smell the odor of one of the many skunks downtown almost all year long. If it’s not from their antics at one of the local dumpsters or being spotted by a local dog or cat. This skunk was unlike any other we’ve seen or not smelled lately. The critter was pacing our walkway for about 45 after chasing our lioness around the yard. The skunk had a blank staire with a limp and was just trying to find a dark a place to sleep. It wasn’t spraying even when a neighbor tried to open his door and by accidently dumped the skunk. Im a have a heart kind of gall all the way. The Woodstock PD did what they and the animal control officer thought was best for the animal. On a side note regarding strange animal sightings in town. Just the other day on a street adjacent to the cafe. I found, well my pup did and thought I should toss it for her. A squirell that hadn’t been road kill or went a rounds with a cat. It’s a perfect specimen for an veterinary A&P class at VTC. The animal looked as if it died from sudden rigamortis. As a downtown residents and knowing many different species of animals live on Peg and Tom. Im just thankful for the sun coming up earlier in our day so the animals that go dump and stink in our night and early dan I can see before my headlights catch their eyes in our driveway!
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Posted by Julia Carlisle on November 5, 2011 at 17:27
Kristen,
I’m wondering what did the police do with the skunk after it was killed? Did they say whether it was being sent up for testing for rabies in Burlington or Montpelier or Waterbury or somewhere? I’ll be following up on that since that was whole point in getting rid of the animal. I’m also wondering from your post who is “lioness”. Is there another big game animal in your backyard of which we should be aware? WEB
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