University Daily Kansan Tuesday, November 26.1974 3 Graduate student sets skunk's mythology straight mime of ence used by provide needs, best in money Loop ent by ansas using three would g imid in Ever since man has been in North America, he countered the skunk, he has manipulated it. However, a pamphlet written by W. Thomas Edmonds Jr., a graduate student in the department of systematics and ecology, attempts to correct some of the myths about the biodiversity of Kansas, published by the State Biological Survey of Kansas, where Edmonds is a staff member. Edmonds' pamphlet that hundreds of years ago North American Indians used skunks for food and medicine, in religious roles and as subjects for songs and superstitions. According to a Fox Indian legend, a huge skunk was killed on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, and the site was named "Place-of-the-skunk." Place-of-the-skunk is now called Chicago. ACCORDING TO THE pamphlet, the Chippewas gave the skunk credit for the saltiness of the sea, and the Wyandot Indians, who lived in Kansas, believed that a collection of skunks ceeped the countryse and thus cured it of a smallpox epidemic. Today, skunks seldom get credit for more than tipping over a garbage bag, can perfuming an overly inquisitive dog or be胎睁 the air along stretches of highways on windy days. The pamphlet also says early pioneers EDMONDS' PAMPHLEIT SAYKS skunks can provide many beneficial services to mankind. For instance, a descented skunk loves to be around friends, friendly, fun and fun. The pamphlet warns that when approached by an aggressive dog, the pet skunk may forget that it has been descented, turn to face the dog, attack it and gnash glands only to be gobbled up instead. used skunk fat oil and its musk, which contains the foul smell, to cure asthma and rheumatism. However, it said that many feared the cure more than the almanac. ounts are notoriously indifferent to the approach of strangers. Because of their As a warning before firing its musk pads, the skunk will raise its tail, turn around, and then walk over the foot of this sight, coupled with the knowledge that skunks are accurate with their spray up to ten feet, should make it apparent to any person in danger. You can also part of valor when dealing with skunks. scent, they don't fear bears or humans. THE PAMPHLET DEScribes the unusual behavior of skunks, including a kind of skunk square舞 recorded by Enos Mills. Mills claimed to have seen a 58-inch skunk dancing with skunks bobbing stuff-legged towards each other until their noses touched, and then back again to their original positions. Mills also said that once he climbed a tree to investigate a skunk nest about 20 feet above the ground. He was carefully climbing back down after finding the next one, and met its residents menacingly climbing up the tree to investigate the prowler. Anyone who has encountered an angry skunk may be interested to know that the pamphlet lists several ways of removing the skunk from your kitchen, including soak them in tomato juice, turpentine, vinegar or baking soda, burying them in soil and letting it dry or blasting them with car exhaust fluid. because skunk fur was sold as Alaskan sable. However, demand dropped drastically when consumers found out that the fur they were wearing didn't really come from Alaska, but more likely from Kansas or Oklahoma. Today, however, skunk trapping is on the decline, and the skunk population is as high as ever. Skunk control poses problems in Lawrence According to Clay Herr, Wathena senior, the city has a smelly problem - skunks. "WE DECIDED TO take on the job because skunks and other pests are a real problem in Lawrence," he said, "and someone was needed to care of it." A skunk's natural habitat is a wooded area, but during the winter months there is a lack of food and the animal will often its way into the urban areas, Herr said. Herr said he and Brengning were contacted for job by Earl Wan Meteor, county extension Herr and Fred Brening, La Crosse senior, operate a pest control service for local residents. Herr said yesterday there was a $10 charge for the service. Skunk control was formerly the responsibility of the city dog catcher. The city decided 1. to give the job to trained individuals who could train the skunks. "We set a wire cage trap and bait it with oatmeal and mackerel," he said. "The trap is checked after three days unless an animal has actually been seen in the area. Edmonds warns that unless one has a severe head cold or has otherwise lost his grip, the best thing to do when confronted by the skew is to cautiously, but quickly, back away. In that case, we'll check it every day." TWO SKUNKS, A raccoon and an opossum were captured during November, Herr said. The animals were taken to the animal shelter and released near a wooded area, he said. "We hope they won't wander back into town," Herr said, "but they often do. I think a lot of the problem is that the trash pickup in Lawrence isn't very good." Dun Purdy, city sanitation superintendent, said that dogs, not skunks, were the biggest nuisance for trash collectors and residents. "DOGS WILL TEAR open the plastic bag and tip over garbage cans in search of leaks." Trap pickup is available twice a week beginning at 7 a.m., Purdy said. The time depends on the weather. Only one skunk incident was reported to the campus housing office this semester, Dean Milroy, director of maintenance, said. He said in that case a skunk had fallen into a window well at Joseph R. Pearson Scholarship Hall. more residents to set their garbage out in the morning instead of the night before "WE LAID A board in the window well so he could get out, Milroy said, "and that seat will be there." Skunks used to inhabit areas around Stouffer Place, he said, but the situation was resolved when the city provided a room with large dumpsters for trash disposal. Watkins and Miller scholarship halls have also had skunk attacks in the past. "No one got sprayed," she said, "but we could sure sniff them." DURING SEPTEMBER AND October the animals made their presence known to Walkins residents, Marylian Mellin, Kansas and others. Anne Thompson, Miller residence director, said that skunks hadn't been a problem this semester, but that a girl was sprayed last spring. She said a drainage tunnel that surrounded the hall provided access to the building for the skunks. "THEERE NOTHING YOU CAN really do with a skunk," said Dillon, of buildings and grounds, said. "I've given the skunks in my garage that I can't get rid of." Skunks haven't been a recent missure in our city since 2013. FUTURE CPA'S Burchill suggested closing areas where skunks could enter a building as a skunk problem. For the finest in lightweight trail boots, see the Alps from Fabiano, a durable yet comfortable hiking boot which feathers and provides wear and padded lining for comfort and warmth. Available in brown, navy and burrugby for men and women. PRIMARILY LEATHER Delbert Mathia, county clerk, said he favored using voting machines for several years, but knew of no one else who supported him. However, cost and storage could be a problem, he said. The machines would have to be stored in a large building, and Matha said he didn't know whether the machines could be stored in the new law enforcement center currently under construction. Cragan said the county hadn't studied the possibility of using voting machines. He said he thought there might be something done in the future. The tabulation of votes for this year's election went smoothly, Mathia said. Over 25,000 votes were cast in Douglas County, a record for an off-year election, and the results were reported at 3:30 the morning after the election. Voting machines make void ballots almost impossible, Miaid said, because the lever thrown to record a vote won't votes have been recorded incorrectly. "One good thing about them is that they cut down on void ballots," he said. "In elections that are decided by two or three ballots might cost somebody an election." "They're something that we need," Wier Cragan chairman of the compa- sion. Voting machines would be helpful to Douglas County, according to the county clerk and the chairman of the county board. There are no plans to bring any here. Few officials cast ballots for machines Attorney General Vern Miller said earlier his loss in the Kansas gubernatorial race was due to late returns from counties with large college votes. Mathia said he had polled counties using paper ballots in the last election and found that 59 percent voted quickly than many other counties with less votes cast. Reno County, which had about 22,000 votes cast, he said, had their returns turned over after the Douglas County returns were in. 812 Massachusetts raftmen of fine leather good. Group fills jobs, avoids problems An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of rehabilitation. The Human Relations Commission functions in a preventive manner. Ray Samuel, executive director, said yesterday that if an unemployee person came to them they could provide him individual counseling and assist in job placement. When a person solves his financial problem he is less likely to break the law, Sanchez says. Samuel said the Affirmative Action program involved an effort to employ applicants and to provide consultation between management and employees. The Human Relations Commission enforces Equal Opportunity employment in Lawrence and provides an Affirmative Action program. HE SAID PROMOTIONAL campaigns had been established to inform the public of the rights encompassed in the Equal Opportunities laws. Job placement is an important function of the commission, he said. "We've placed over 200 persons in jobs in the last two and a half years," he said. HOWEVER, LAWRENCE NEEDS a service that would provide job placement, on-the-job training, and referrals, he said. His office doesn't have the staff to handle the volume of unemployed persons who need help, he said. Ken Keltz, assistant director said, "We relate to our clients and establish a good relationship with them." Samuel said that the governor's office had divided Kansas into five districts for the allocation of funds for job-help programs and for grants. All funds was responsible for the entire district. basis and direct them to the appropriate agency." HE SAID HE didn't bid for the funds because his concern was with Lawrence and Douglas County and because his office was understaffed and underfinanced. He will probably subcontract for a training center from an agency such as the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), he said. By subcontracting, he said, a training center could be established through government funds. THE PROGRAM HAS five components—recruitment, intake, feeder, counseling and training. In the recruitment process, the community is informed of the services offered by OIC to recruiters who live in the community familiar with the persons who need help. OICa is a comprehensive manpower organization for the underemployed and the unemployed. The intake process gathers and assesses individual needs and desires and refers the results to the staff. THE FEEDER COMPONENT involves pre-employment training. Clients are trained in such skills as clerical work, retailing and retailing, and consumer protection. Now Delivering Now Delivery 5-12 Daily 5-1 a.m. Fri. & Sat. 5-10 p.m. Sun. C/o 841 2000 Call 841-3233 HOWEVER, THE SKUNK'S victim may then be left with the smell of the cure, be it Maupintour travel service Make your airline reservations NOW for Thanksgiving and Christmas with Maupintour Occupational counseling is available to clients adjust to new jobs and to deter them from taking risks. Four convenient offices to serve FLIGHTS ARE FILLING FAST you: In the job development process, OIC assists in finding and creating jobs and job placement. OIC keeps up-to-date employment files. 900 Massachusetts The Malls Hillcrest Kansas Union Phone 843-1211 OIC IS FUNDED by the Mayor's Comprehensive Manpower Training Office. Also, these cures have obviously limited applicability. The poor soul whose house is overloaded with smelly food intends to impractical to soak his house in tomato juice, and may be at a loss to find a contained large enough to dip his house into. The skin of the skin of the skunk small and keep the windows open. Samuel said clients sometimes were admitted to the OIC services in Kansas City. The pamphlet says skunk trapping was more popular in years past than it is today Samuel said that the commission was geared toward correcting discrimination against minorities, but that one-third of his clients were white. COURSES BEGIN JUNE 1st., DEC 1st. "We are here to service the total community," he said. Acapulco Gold A documentary on the harvesting of marijuana. Filmed in the scenic Kaw Valley of Kansas, the Ozark mountains, the blue hills of Kentucky and southern Mexico. Eighty-eight minutes of spectacular color footage shot on location. November 25th thru 29th Monday thru Friday Shows at: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. For further information call 842-6930 Music by Leo Kottke, Santana, Flying Burrito Bros. and others.