Smell? What Smell? Cops Get Skunked in Florida The Associated Press

J U P I T E R, Fla., May 17 — A mound of sand on the beach with a sign saying a baby was buried inside turned out to contain a box holding a skunk that sprayed police and animal sanctuary officers who dug up the container.

Police said they found no baby, and they are still looking for the prankster.

Frank Cook of Jupiter was jogging on the beach just after 7 a.m. Wednesday when he spotted the mound with the sign on top. Cook immediately reported the find to police, who quickly uncovered a flower box buried two feet in the mound.

A Spray-and-Run

"As they started to open (the box) about that time, they smelled a great stench and a little skunk popped out and sprayed everybody," said David Hitzig, director of the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary.

The black-and-white spotted skunk then ran off.

"It kind of ran around the beach a little bit," Hitzig said. "He had no injuries and he looked pretty healthy, so we let him go."

Common Skunk of Jupiter

Hitzig said spotted skunks, which often resemble ferrets or large squirrels, are common in the area. He also said it could have been easy to corner the skunk and get it into the box, just by coaxing the animal in.

"Whoever did it, I'm sure that they thought this was a really good joke to play," he said It would've been great if it was April 1."

Cook laughed late Wednesday when informed the sand mound contained a skunk. He declined comment.

"We're looking into it and it will be a pending investigation for cruelty to animals," said police spokeswoman Amy Facchine.

Skunked

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

Answers

ROTFLMAO~!~!~!

Better they buried it than mailed it, thankyouverymuch~!

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2001

At least they didn't mail it?

Oh, now I get it.... well, nobody can smell you in cyberspace....

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001