Dakota Datebook: Dakota Territory skunk prank

Skunks are not native to Norway, therefore many settlers to North Dakota had never seen nor heard of one, and most significantly, had never smelled one. A popular joke was to invite a newcomer to chase one, letting them discover later this animal’s particular charm.

Through correspondence in Norway with relatives already in North Dakota, John O. Haugen had heard of the infamous skunk joke before he arrived. When Haugen’s fellow farm workers invited him to chase a skunk, he knew better. Haugen played innocent, but had a plan. One night, after successfully trapping a skunk, he took the work-clothes of his bunkmates to get thoroughly perfumed. The next morning Haugen’s coworkers awoke to discover their clothes so offensive and smelly they were unbearable to wear. Whether oddly favored or disliked by the mysterious skunk, Haugen’s work-clothes were fine.

“Dakota Datebook” is a radio series from Prairie Public in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and with funding from the North Dakota Humanities Council. See all the Dakota Datebooks at prairiepublic.org, subscribe to the “Dakota Datebook” podcast, or buy the Dakota Datebook book at shopprairiepublic.org.“