Quick: Think of a skunk. What's the first thing that comes to
mind? For many, it's the animal's unmistakable eau de parfum.
Which is too bad, because skunk spray has given the wrong
impression about these gentle, non-aggressive creatures.
Cat-sized or smaller with long fur and long bushy tails,
skunks are easily identified by their distinctive black and
white coloration. These near-sighted creatures are omnivores
and have a hearty appetite for grubs and insects that are pests
to humans. They have also been known to consume mice and baby
rats.
Skunks are members of the Mustelid family, a group that
includes weasels, martens, and badgers. Found throughout almost
all of North America except the far north, skunks often live in
suburban areas—unbeknownst to their human neighbors. In the
East, spotted skunks prefer agricultural landscapes and spend
much of their lives in or near farmyards. Other species, such
as the striped skunk, are adaptable to a variety of open,
scrub, wooded, and developed habitats. Normally, skunks do not
engage in long migrations and have home ranges that encompass a
few hundred acres at most. Skunks can be active all year but
will remain in dens during cold spells.
Striped skunks breed in February and March and sometimes
become quite noticeable when amorous male skunks seek out
females who may not be in the mood. Generally, skunks are
solitary animals, except when raising young or sharing a den
during cold periods.
Baby skunks are generally born in May and June. Skunks den
in cavities such as woodchuck burrows, hollow logs, brush
piles, stone walls, and under buildings. A den is usually used
for brief periods because of skunks' nomadic tendency. Once the
babies are mobile, the mother will appear with young, traveling
single file behind her.
A skunk's only defense is a familiar noxious odor created by
a sulfuric acid that can be "fired" from either of two
independently operating anal glands. Contrary to popular myth,
striped skunks cannot spray over their backs. However, spotted
skunks do have the unique ability to spray while doing a
handstand. Skunks have a limited supply of ammunition; they
don't waste their defensive spray, because they can't "reload"
very quickly. Instead, they stamp their front feet as a warning
when threatened, giving ample opportunity for an intruder to
back off.
—Laura Simon, Director, Urban
Wildlife, The Fund for Animals, New York City
