[johnco]

long ago my father bought an old house with a large shed out back. while digging around in there I saw a skunk. first one I had ever seen and wasn't smart enough to run away. the little guy came towards me and I noticed one of his front paws was twisted up and crippled. the thing came right up next to me and just sat there. so I started petting him. ended up spending quite a while playing with him and carrying him around. mom wouldn't let me bring him home as a pet and said he must belong to the former owner of the house. next day the guy came by and I asked him if it was his pet and if I could have it it if he didn't want it anymore. the guy said he has never owned a skunk, wouldn't own a skunk and would have killed any skunk that came near him. seems I had spent an afternoon playing with a wild skunk that happened to very friendly. he was more like a house cat than what I imagine a wild skunk would be like. never saw him again after that day