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Striped Skunk - (Mephitis mephitis)
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| Between 9 and 10 PM a
pair of skunks make their nightly appearance and
try to clean the sunflower seeds that have
fallen on the ground under the feeders. We try
not to make any startling moves or noises in the
house since the doors and windows are usually
open. |
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While sitting at my desk, one
night, I knew, by the usual way, that we had a
skunk visitor. Even though I wasn't a threat to
him, I was on the receiving end of the warning.
I didn't think any more about him until I pulled
into the driveway the following week, shortly
after full dark. Just out of reach of the
headlights, I could see a white streak. It
appeared to be a slim white snake, but it seemed
to be slithering several inches above ground
level. Switching to high beams, I saw a skunk.
Moving slowly (both of us) I exited the car. I
made it to the house without setting off any of
his alarms.
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| Turns out that we have at least two skunks-
their stripe widths vary greatly. We had to rig
some lights in our side yard to take pictures .
When we watch them, even though we're inside ,
we talk softly and shoo the cats away from the
windows. I know we could smell the spray from in
here, if we startle a skunk. |
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November 12, 2008 - This
week brought some other visitors to our backyard
and front yard. We have caught opossum,
deer and skunks in our headlights on our own
driveway.
We set up some lights in our side yard near
the pond and took photos of two different
skunks, one having much broader white, side
strips than the other. After several
nights of watching, we noticed that an opossum
also arrived in the yard at the same time, every
time (no clear photos of him yet). He kept
a healthy distance from the skunk, and it wasn't
clear if the skunk was even aware of the
opossum. Both animals enjoyed the areas
under the feeders,
especially those sloppy with sunflower seeds.
We were careful not to annoy
or startle our new black and white friends and
hoped all other
nocturnal travelers were equally careful.
Before we ever saw any skunks, we were aware of
at least one unhappy, encounter when
we smelled the results of his spray.
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Size: |
Head and Body Length: 12-30 in |
Tail Length: 6.5-15 in |
Weight: 2-14 lb |
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ID:
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Male: Medium sized
(similar to a cat) stocky body; glossy
black coat; narrow band of white down
center of face to the nose; white on
crown and nape; two white stripes
branching from nape, over the shoulder,
down the sides of the body to the rump;
black stripe down center of the back;
this stripe and the white ones vary in
width between skunks; tail has long
hairs on the tip and can be all white,
all black or a mix of the two; scent
glands under the tail; very short legs
Female: Similar to male except
smaller |
| Habitat: |
Wide range-
farmlands, gardens, woodlands, deserts;
usually found at forest edges with open
areas and near a water source |
| Diet: |
Omnivorous, insects,
ground nestlings and eggs, small
mammals, fruit, corn, vegetation,
garbage, and carrion |
| Family Behavior: |
Mating
Habits: Breeds in February or March; 1
litter
Nests: Burrows under woodpiles, rocks
and buildings; abandoned burrows
Young:2-10 (5-7 average) born April or
May; blind, deaf, helpless; covered with
fine fur, but the color pattern already
visible; weighs 7 oz; 3 weeks until eyes
open and can now spray; weaned at 8
weeks; independent at 10 weeks, but may
stay with mother for a year
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| Activities: |
Mostly nocturnal;
usually solitary but may share winter
den with several others; does not
hibernate and emerges on warmer days;
fattens for wintering mostly in den;
generally walks (no need to run with
vile smell for defense); gives warning
before spraying by stamping forefeet,
hissing and raising fur; spray is an
eye-stinging, acrid, yellowish musk;
sprays accurately up to 15 feet |
| Range: |
Across US and
northern Mexico to southern Canada |
| Predators and
Dangers: |
Great horned owls,
hawks and sometimes bobcat and coyote;
automobiles |
| Vocalization or
Sounds: |
Loud rustling sounds
rummaging through dead leaves; growls or
hisses warnings |
| Lifespan: |
2-3 years in the
wild |
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