I’m a dedicated animal advocate, teach humane education to both youth and adults, and volunteer for TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, return) for community felines. One day I inadvertently trapped a skunk, and the woman I was helping was frantic.  I told her to go inside, and I would be fine. As I slowly moved to the humane trap, I spoke softly to the skunk and told him I was not going to hurt him, but free him. The closer I got, the softer I spoke.  He was sitting quietly in the humane trap.  As I tried to free him, the door kept falling shut, probably nerves, finally, on the third try, I got the door open, and he wiggled out.   My friends then called me the skunk whisperer.