The Nature of Skunks

Mammals come in all shapes, sizes and coats of many colors. It's not the black fur and white stripes that people find most memorable in a skunk. No, those cute little wild animals are unforgettable because they can be big stinkers. More people have probably smelled a skunk than have actually seen one alive in the wild.

Skunks used to be part of the mustelidae family, along with minks, weasels and otters. Because of their uniqueness, skunks are now are in a class of their own. In Pennsylvania, we have two species of the mephitidae family roaming the land.

Striped skunks Mephitis mephitis are much more common than the rare, smaller spotted skunk. A great deal of variety can be found in the coats of the striped skunks. Some have a lot of white fur, others only little. Coat design of the spotted skunks can also vary greatly.

The stuff that makes skunks stink is a liquid yellow oil in two musk glands; one on each side of the anal region. In self-defense or when wounded, the animal will shoot a foamy spray several feet. Mist goes even further. An unpleasant odor may carry up to a mile. In addition, the oil can cause unpleasant medical conditions so it's best to just stay away from the animals.

You may wonder if skunks have predators. Foxes, hawks, bobcats and owls are a few of the known hungry creatures to have feasted upon skunk. In addition, the fur is also sought after. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has approved a no limit trapping season for skunks from October 20th through February 22, 2003. For licensed furbearers there is no closed season, but there are certain exceptions during deer and spring turkey season.

No matter what season, it's not likely that you will happen upon the wild things easily. They are crepuscular. Seen around twilight, dawn and in between, skunks wander about at night foraging for food. The striped species are omnivorous and fill their bellies with insects, grubs, eggs, mice, fruit and maybe even some crops. Spotted skunks, on the other hand, are classified as carnivorous, feasting on a bit more meat. Some people consider them pest.

For a skunk, daylight hours are spent in slumber in old groundhog holes, dens, and under logs and thickets. If you do see a skunk walking about during the day, there is a possibility that the thing is rabid, so particular caution would be prudent. However, it may just be wounded, sick or moving it's young ones.

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