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Skunks,
of course, are best known
for their own smell!
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Fall is by far my favorite time of year in
Colorado, with one exception. Dead skunks. As I drive the backroads and
highways from Bayfield to Durango, I seem to see them everywhere, and it
makes me sad. OK, I admit it. I like these stinky cousins to the weasel!
We have two kinds of skunks in southwestern Colorado, the
striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and the more uncommon western spotted
skunk (Spilogale gracillis). The striped skunk, with the easily recognizable
white “V” along its black back, is about the size of a house
cat and weighs 4-10 lbs.
Skunks like warm dark dry defensible sites and will den
in other animals abandoned homes, woodpiles, and under houses and decks
if access is made available. Skunks are nocturnal, and have an excellent
sense of hearing and smell; handy when you have to find your groceries in
the dark.
Skunks, of course, are best known for their own smell.
This odor, emitted from special glands near the base of the tail, is so
noxious that at close range it can make their enemies gag, cough and choke.
If directed into the eyes, it can temporarily blind the threatening creature.
We found out at my house that it makes a great flea repellent as well. Just
after one of our dogs got “skunked” the fleas were abandoning
dog en mass, and landing on us!
Skunks do not spray unless provoked. They can only spray
5 or 6 shots of scent before they have to “reload”, which can
take days. Warnings of an impending blast usually include stamping their
feet and directing the tail in the direction of the threat. While skunks
do not have great eyesight (partially accounting for their frequent demise
on the roadways) they can accurately aim their spray up to 15 feet away.
Threats to skunks include bobcat, coyote, fox and badgers, but their biggest
predator aside from cars is owls, who don’t seem to mind the smelly
odor.
Skunks, unless they are living under your house or raiding
your chicken coop, can be nice to have around. Their diet is made up largely
of rodents, including rats and mice, and insects. In the fall they will
eat fruits and berries as well. They are, however, opportunistic feeders,
and will raid chicken coops, bird feeders and garbage cans if these foods
are made available. Treat skunks the same way you would bears. Keep your
food inside so they aren’t tempted.
What do you do if you our your dog gets sprayed. Check
out this handy Skunk Smell Recipe.
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