Skunk

Skunk pic1

Skunk are mostly nocturnal animals, meaning that they are most active at night. They are omnivores, which feed on both meat (insects and small rodents) and plants (berries, seeds, and fruits). Skunk are also known for raiding human garbage to find food. They like to live near sources of water, and prefer to make their homes in areas that are warm, dry, dark, and easy to defend. The two main threats that skunks face are cars and great horned owls. When a skunk feels threatened, it will fluff its fur, stamp its front feet, and possibly spit to try to scare whatever is attacking it. If these tactics do not work, the skunk releases a spray from two small glands beneath its rectum in a fanlike pattern. This spray has a distinct and persistent smell2.

For more information about the skunk and wild animals in general, click here to go to the Q&A page.

 

References:

1) Image is ClipArt from Microsoft Word

2) (2004). Living with skunks. Retrieved April 14, 2009, from Project Wildlife Web site: http://www.projectwildlife.org/living-skunks.htm