Here you’ll find facts, common questions, and general info about all kinds of wildlife and exotic pets. (Psst: the terpene compounds in some marijuana strains smell similar to the thiols in skunk spray. ( Log Out /  When approaching, do not run at them or ‘swoop’ down on them. Skunks nest in burrows made by other animals or hollow logs sometimes they live in abandoned buildings. 1982. Evolution. They’re considered a nuisance on golf courses for this very reason. They need to “reload” eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'wildlifeinformer_com-leader-1','ezslot_13',112,'0','0']));Skunks don’t hibernate, but they do occasionally huddle in communal dens for warmth. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'wildlifeinformer_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_11',114,'0','0']));It’s important to exercise caution when coming across any wild animal, and skunks are no exception. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The traditional remedy for removing the smell of skunk spray is a tomato juice bath. To employ this scent bomb, a skunk turns around and blasts its foe with a foul mist that can travel as far as ten feet. Skunk: Cuteness Of The Jungle. For more information and pictures of striped skunks see: Elbroch, M. and K. Rinehart. The spots can be varied through the four species and even by individuals. State Laws on Pet Skunks The first reason why keeping a wild baby skunk as a pet is a bad idea is … A baby skunk is called a kit. Hi, my name is Jesse and I'm the guy behind Wildlife Informer. That weapon being their well-known noxious spray. A litter of skunks usually consists of 4-6 little stinkers and baby skunks can spray after they are two weeks old. They like to raid poultry houses and steal eggs and occasionally a chicken or other fowl. They are weaned at 2 months old. This is just a testament to how concentrated this pungent mixture is. Water Snakes in North Carolina (13 Species With Pictures), 12 Animals That Kill for Fun (Surplus Killing). 0. After they are weaned, they leave the den and at to 10 to 12 months old they are ready to have their own kits. That was a good read. It’s always great to see articles like this about skunks. WildlifeInformer.com is a site that’s all about wild animals and nature. Baby skunk removal is a very common call that many wildlife professionals from all across the united states receive each and every year. Skunk fact: Skunks can spray their scent glands up to 15 feet. A female skunk is called a doe. it is natural to want to try and help it. Baby skunk in the grass 2. Kits are blind when born, since their eyes are sealed shut until around the age of 3 weeks. BY Hannah Keyser. Great horned owls also prey on skunks, and since they have little sense of smell and are also nocturnal they may pose the greatest risk to skunks, but the threat is still relatively small. (Here’s What You Should Know), 8 Exotic Pets That Can Be House Trained (With Pictures). The mother prepares a nursery den, and will give birth to a litter of about 4 to 8 kittens, or kits. Some people debate that de-scenting is inhumane, akin to de-barking, de-clawing, tail docking, and ear pinning. Skunk Facts Skunk Spray Skunk Smell Baby Animals Cute Animals Baby … Do we know for certain that skunks didn’t always have this smell? February marks the start of the adult skunk breeding season. Young skunks produce only a ‘poof’ of gas, says Dragoo. Slow and steady wins the race with skunks. This past week the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reported six new cases of rabies in the City of Hamilton, five of those cases were skunks and the other a raccoon. ( Log Out /  Unfortunately, this isn’t true, as the tomato just covers up and slightly neutralizes the smell. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'wildlifeinformer_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',104,'0','0']));Skunks get a bad reputation, but this amazing animal has some of the most interesting chemistry and behavior of any local animal. These glands carry limited amount, enough to spray 5 to 8 times. Baby skunks are de-scented at an early age (male skunks at 3-4 months old, and females at 4-6 months old), so there is never any concern of them letting loose their musky spray. This is because skunks prey on small creatures that are harmful to gardening and a healthy lifestyle as a whole. How hard they will try to spray or bite depends on the age of the baby and how freaked out they are. Nicely done! Skunk fact: The skunk smell can remain on skin and pet hair for days, weeks and even months. This is usually reserved for threats that are attempting to harm the skunk, but in baby skunks, they tend to The simplest way to ‘catch’ baby skunks is with a … Now I share my knowledge here on this site with you! Baby skunks can spray — but they’re not very potent. That’s one less rodent in your walls looking for heat and food, and one more good thing about these amazing animals. Kits are blind when born, since their eyes are sealed shut until around the age of 3 weeks, according to the San Diego Zoo. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Baby skunks are descented at an early age (male skunks at 3-4 months old, and females at 4-6 months old), so there is never any concern of them letting loose their musky spray. Defensive weapon. After this time, the young will venture out for nighttime foraging with their mother. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control has its first baby skunks of the season! A common wives tale is that bathing in tomato juice will fix the odor if you happen to get sprayed by a skunk. Most skunk owners will tell you that skunks are wonderful pets and are very intelligent. If this is you, consider yourself lucky. In our 27 years in business, we have only discovered baby skunks this early in spring on one previous occasion. Skunks have scent glands located at the base of their tail. Skunks eat wasps and honeybees, and will often attack beehives. With a gestation period of 7-10 weeks, adults have their young during the first part of May, and yearlings during the first part of June. Skunks have two anal glands that carry the spray material. Thank you Ted, and thanks for a fascinating article on the evolution of aposematism. Go back to the Skunk Removal page, or learn tips by reading How to get rid of skunks. Here are a few facts about skunks to help us better understand this misunderstood outcast. In the spring and summer, a skunk’s diet mostly consists of grasshoppers, bees, beetles, beetle larvae, and crickets. No, not just people who are nose blind or have no sense of smell. Although they prefer insects and grubs, skunks are not picky eaters. Behavior of North American Mammals. Wade-Smith, J. and B. J. Verts. They will look under decks, in culverts, and in the burrows of woodchucks, foxes, and even muskrats or badgers. Species that spray anal musk for defense are mid-sized (compared to other carnivores), have black and white markings, are typically nocturnal, use open habitats, and are often stocky animals that do not run fast. The official name for the skunk family is Mephitidae, which means "stink." The thought of just letting nature take its course is tough and most people will try to intercede. This last fact about distance may be one of the most important facts about skunks you can learn. It’s believed this is why they evolved their spray, as nighttime prey is more often attacked in surprise ambushes, which the spray is especially effective in. 10 Interesting Facts About Mountain Lions, Facts About Eastern Box Turtles (16 Fun Facts With Pictures), Rabbits in Texas (3 Species Plus One Hare), Do Snakes Have Bones? Approximately 1 in 1000 people have what’s called specific anosmia, or insensitivity to one particular smell. The hard question is which came first? In basic shape and appearance, skunk tracks most closely resemble bear tracks, except they are much smaller. Although a skunk’s spray is known mostly for its robust smell, it can also cause intense discomfort if it gets into a person or animal’s eyes. While this strategy is remarkably ineffective against cars, it will drive off other animals and skunks will even chase after fleeing intruders. Skunk produces strong disgusting smell as they secrete liquid by glands under their large tails. Skunks are primarily nocturnal which are also known as Polecats. The musk that skunks spray from highly developed anal glands is such an effective defense that adult skunks are rarely killed by predators, although they are occasionally eaten as a last resort by foxes, coyotes, bobcats, or mountain lions. ( Log Out /  Mephitis mephitis. Additional skunk facts. Skunks eat wasps and honeybees are immune to their sting. They eat insects & larvae, earthworms, grubs, small rodents, lizards, salamanders, frogs, snakes, birds, moles, eggs, berries, roots, leaves, grasses, fungi, and nuts. Trending in Animals. Unusual Animals Animals Beautiful Cute … If they can’t find what they are looking for they will dig their own burrow, excavating a tunnel around 5 feet long and lining the chamber of the den with soft grasses and leaves for a comfy mattress. Adolescent skunks tend to get into a lot of trouble in school. This makes skunk track identification somewhat easier than picking out the prints of other, similar-sized animals. This is the kind of interesting question that drives scientists to do what they do, but we understand if it is the last thing on your mind if you trip over an aggressive female skunk some spring night in the future! The mother is … They can run only 10 miles per hour. A male skunk is called a buck, a female is called a doe, and baby skunk is called a kit. Rearing: Baby skunks keep their eyes closed for the first 21 days and remain in the den for the first 6 to 8 weeks. This insures that the babies will be born in the warmer months of May and June, when the winter is over, and food is more plentiful. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. This kind of post ended up being very useful to me. There are plenty of rules and regulations, plus their scent glands are removed so they can no longer spray. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'wildlifeinformer_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',110,'0','0']));Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are highly effective at getting rid of skunk smell. This alters the chemical makeup of the thiols and neutralizes the smell completely after a couple of hours soaking. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Skunks use their strong forefeet and long nails to dig for food like grubs and earthworms. Often compared to cat feces, skunk droppings can take on slightly different colors and shapes depending on the weather, the contents of their meals, and the length of time from the initial deposit. Ever since I was a kid I've loved learning about wildlife. Since the top running speed of a skunk is similar to the running speed of a frightened person this can lead to some heart-pounding nighttime encounters! Even with all this activity, female skunks will do their best to keep their search and their chosen burrow a secret. Of course, this is partly because pet skunks are \"disarmed,\" usually having their musk or scent glands removed surgically at an early age, so they can't spray you. April 23, 2015. iStock. But, as with any exotic pet, appropriate expectations are vital to the enjoyment of having a skunk as a pet. Stankowich T.S., T. Caro, and M. Cox. Mother skunks give birth to 2-10 skunks. Baby skunks are one of the toughest animals to deal with because they like to shoot their smelly spray on everything that moves. A skunk’s diet largely depends on availability. This is usually reserved for threats that are attempting to harm the skunk, but in baby skunks, they tend to The only time skunks appear to even pay attention to a person or animal is if they feel threatened, when they will begin a typical set of behaviors that progress from hissing while arching their back and displaying their tail, to stomping their front feet, and ultimately bending in a U-shape to simultaneously look at the threat and aim the business end of their musk glands before spraying. 374 pgs. a skunk likes to feed on small animals and insects Skunks eat small prey. Those who have one are adamant that the animal makes a great pet, and is has been shown that skunks are smart, curious, and have individual personalities just like a cat or dog. A female with young in a den will aggressively fight off male skunks and vigorously defend the burrow and young from predators, often to the dismay of a coyote or bobcat that has been temporarily blinded by the spray of the mother. In a fascinating display of what is known as convergent evolution, or the evolution of similar attributes in different species groups, all of these species share common traits. Male skunk is called buck, female - doe, and baby skunk - kit. The transformation from docile skunk to protective mother happens about a week before giving birth, and woe to the animal that provokes her at this time. Skunks can run up to 10 miles per hour. They will BITE and they will SPRAY. Did skunks and other species evolve their effective musk defense and then start using open meadows and slowly evolve to be stockier and slower because they were less at risk of predation? Baby skunks are born completely toothless and blind, with the eyes of the baby skunk not opening until the skunk is a few weeks old. Any predator that finds a skunk den can quickly make a snack of the skunk babies, and male skunks also enter dens and kill and eat young.