How 'bout Skunks? I remember going to some business event 30 miles east of Seattle. It was a BBQ party at one of the team member's home in the "country." We had turned on to a back road (no stripes or markings on the road) when just ahead of us came two adult skunks and 6(!) little ones. It was one of those "Kodak" moments passed by without a photo. I must say, though, I have been lucky since. The Hooded Skunk below is one of my favorite animal encounters as well as favorite photos. The Hooded Skunk ranges from Southwest US to Central America but is most abundant in Mexico. It is found in grasslands, deserts, and in mountain canyons, avoiding high elevations. It tends to live near a water source, such as a river, stream, or wash. The diet of the Hooded Skunk consists mostly of vegetation, especially prickly pear, but it will readily eat insects and small rodents as well. The Skunk in the photo below was searching for insects. It shelters in a burrow or a nest of thick plant cover during the day and is active at night or under cloudy days. Its breeding season is in the late winter and the female bears an average litter of three young.
Hooded Skunk
photo taken in the Galiuro Mountains of Arizona
T
he Striped Skunk is omnivorous and found over most of the United States and Canada. The Striped Skunk has a black body with a white stripe along each side of its body; the two stripes join into a broader white area at thenape. Its forehead has a narrow white stripe. It is about the size of a house cat weighing up to 14 pounds although the average weight is 6-8 pounds. The bushy tail is 7 to 10 inches long. The presence of a Striped Skunk is often first made apparent by its odor. It has well-developed anal scent glands (characteristic of all skunks) that can emit a highly unpleasant odor when the skunk feels threatened by another animal. I must say that I often encounter the skunk smell while in the wilderness, however had never seen one that I smelled first. Whenever I have seen a skunk there is no smell. The Striped Skunk feeds on mice, eggs, carrion, insects, grubs, and berries. At sunrise, it retires to its den, which may be in a ground burrow or beneath a building, boulder, or rock pile. While the male dens by itself, several females may live together. The Striped Skunk does not hibernate but instead goes into a dormant or semi-active state.In February or March, mating occurs, and by early May a litter of about five or six young is born. The young are born blind, and follow their mother until late June or July.
Striped Skunk
photo taken in the Galiuro Mountains of Arizona
Still at Muleshoe in the Galiuros, I have come across hooded skunks (also striped skunks) on a number of occasions. Skunks are fun to photograph. First, because they are so beautiful. Forget what you think when the term "skunk" comes to mind, they are gorgeous like the hooded skunk in this photo. Second, they are very business oriented, constantly searching for ants, bugs, worms, etc. so, you can follow and photograph them as long as you don't get too close. I found out how close is too close, once. I didn't get sprayed, but the skunk "charged" me like a bear did -- once. They do what is called a "false" charge: two or three steps to let you know you are too close. I suspect skunks are a little reluctant to spray, because it could leave them defenseless. But, finding a skunk in the wilderness and being able to watch it for a while is as trilling as seeing a bear.
