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What stinks?I've been thinking about starting a pool at work. Everyone can toss in a quarter, and whoever can count the most dead skunks on the drive to the office wins. Seeing as though I have the longest drive, my odds are looking good. The recent rise of inanimate skunks in roads has left me wondering what these clumsy animals were searching for when they decided to cross the road, and why on earth they didn't take that chicken with them. Skunks, members of the weasel family, are undoubtedly best known for the foul smelling odor they can discharge when provoked. The scent, produced by two internal glands located at the base of the tail, is usually released for self-defense. But this thick, volatile, oily, sulfur-containing spray doesn't come without warning. The skunk will normally preface the attack by stomping their front feet rapidly, and growl or hiss at the predator. Skunks live in underground dens that can be found in vacant buildings, under crawl spaces of houses, culverts or brush piles. These dens are lined with leaves, hay or grasses. The critters are nocturnal, becoming active at sunset to slightly after sunrise. During the winter months skunks may remain stationary for a period of days or weeks. They do not hibernate, but rather become inactive and rely on stored body fat to get them through the winter. Several skunks may share the same den in order to conserve body heat. Female skunks do not typically travel great distances. The males, however, may commute up to four or five miles per night during the breeding season. At this time of year the males move slowly, become active during the day and are reluctant to flee when endangered. This is the time of year when they are most often struck by cars. Men... The breeding season begins in late February. Yearling, or one year old females mate in late March, while older females mate earlier. Gestation period is a seven to ten week phase, and there is usually only one litter per year. The litters consist of four to six kits, but sometimes range from two to sixteen. The young are weaned when they are about two months old. The family then breaks up as the young leave to find individual homes in August or September. Skunks, like most wildlife, become a nuisance when their burrowing and feeding habits don't coincide with our human agendas. Skunks eat plants and animals in about equal amounts. They eat considerably more animal matter during spring and summer when insects, their preferred food, are more available. Adult grasshoppers, beetles, and crickets are the insects most often taken. Field and house mice are regular and important items in the skunk diet, especially in the wintertime when other food sources become scarce. Exclusion is the best control method in order to prevent a skunk encounter. Seal off all openings to crawl spaces under houses or sheds. The body of an ordinary skunk is comparable to the size of a house cat. If you think that a cat could fit through the hole, a skunk probably could as well. Eliminating piles of clutter, such as firewood or lumber can also decrease the number of den options. Another easy step is to dispose of garbage in areas where skunks cannot easily gain access. If it is apparent that a skunk has set up camp under a building start the removal process by sealing off all but the most obvious entrance point. Scatter a layer of plain white flour on the ground at the entrance. After dark, inspect the flour looking for fresh tracks which indicate that the skunk has left to feed. If the tracks are not visible, wait another hour, and then re-check. Once the skunk has left, seal off the opening to prevent re-entry. Another option is to contact your local Animal Control office. Most sites have traps that can be loaned out with a cash deposit for a set period of time. Instruction is provided on how to bait the traps and deal with the specific situation. The good news is that some traps are completely enclosed in order to keep the trapper out of the 'line of fire'. Understanding the life cycle and habits of our wildlife friends is often the best tool to make the most of our cohabitation. If we can make our habitat less attractive to them, the skunks should keep on shopping until they find what they're looking for. And if the skunk is lucky, what he's looking for might just be on the same side of the road. 3/10/08 Date: 3/3/08 Advertisement
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