Striped Skunk
By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist
A balanced ecosystem requires us humans to realize that every creature holds an important component to that ecosystem, adding value and service to its maintenance and health. This realization often escapes most folks, and this misunderstanding possibly applies to no critter more than our colorful but greatly stigmatized skunk. Let’s peek into the ecological niche of these interesting mammals.
Our Striped Skunk, Mephitis mephitis (meaning “bad odor”), was once classified as a weasel, but DNA studies have placed it into its own, 12-species family — the mephitids. They all have oversized, muscle-controlled scent glands that use nipples (papilla) to direct the defensive odoriferous spray up to 20 feet, with very good accuracy within six feet. Before spraying, however, skunks will first run away from any perceived threat. Second is to face the threat and stomp the ground with front feet. Raising its tail is third. Then comes the fourth devastating, neighborhood filling, scent deterrence spray. Humans can smell it at a concentration of 5.8 parts per trillion, which is about ⅓ teaspoon in an olympic sized swimming pool or like tasting a pinch of salt distributed across one ton of potato chips! The spraying almost always gives the skunk time to continue its running away tactic. However, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and dogs will predate upon them when hungry enough. Some raptors will get them too, especially Great Horned Owls; most birds have a poor sense of smell, so aren’t bothered too much by the spray.
The mephitids’ journey began about 35 million years ago, evolving into skunks about 12 million years ago in Germany and eventually crossing the Siberian land bridge into Canada. Fossil evidence puts them in Nebraska about 1.8 million years ago. “Shee-gawk” is the Midwestern U.S. Algonquian word for Chicago which means “skunk land”. The fur trappers eloquently called them Alaska Sable, which undoubtedly enhanced sales.
Striped skunks live from central Canada, throughout the continental United States and down to Mexico. They’re about two feet long and 10 pounds, with claws curved in the front and straight in the rear that make them great tree climbers. In winter, a state of dormancy called torpor is used to drastically slow their metabolism while housed in their den, sometimes shared with other critters. Skunks will lose up to half their weight during torpor. Breeding is in late February, with the birthing of six to eight kits about two months later. Mom teaches her kits the art of foraging until early fall, when the young strike out on their own. About a third of them make it to age one, with a life span of about four to five years or 10 in captivity.
Skunks choose a habitat based upon water and food availability. Their concern for predators is low due to their coloration which advertises their formidable defense capabilities. As with many other woodland creatures, skunks are attracted somewhat by the relative “messiness” of human occupation, which results in food scraps around outbuilding shelters, cultivated fields, pastures and gardens for the skunk’s use. Dens, insulated with leaves and grass, are dug mostly along hedgerows and under outbuildings, but old woodchuck dens are preferred. These are used by females with their litters, sometimes with other skunk families, and during winter, communally by both sexes. Otherwise, males and non-lactating females use above-ground retreats during the day, doing most of their foraging at night within a one-mile radius. But young adventurous skunks, and those with amorous intent, will roam five miles or so!
The scrapings we see on our lawns are evidence of skunks eating the grubs that eat the grass, ultimately helping to keep lawns healthy. Skunks eat mostly insects but also dine on rats, mice, moles, gophers, beetles, snails, grasshoppers, yellow jackets and cockroaches. For many homeowners, a skunk can be a benefit to have around, keeping those other critters from becoming bothersome to gardens, decks and patios. But these opportunistic creatures can cause a bit of havoc in fruit and berry orchards and in our unfenced vegetable gardens, especially in late autumn when they’re fattening up for their winter torpor sleep.
Did your dog get sprayed? Mix one quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda, and one teaspoon of dish detergent in a bucket. Apply the solution, avoiding the eyes, ears entrance and mouth. This solution will not store well, so use immediately. Note that peroxide will discolor clothes. Tomato juice? The authors of the book, Land Mammals of Oregon say, ”Don’t waste good tomato juice. Add a little vodka and drink it. It won’t reduce the odor, but the odor won’t bother you so much!”
Editor’s note: Did you see something unusual last time you were out in the woods? Were you puzzled or surprised by something you saw? Ask our “Out in the Woods” columnist Kevin McKeon. He’ll be happy to investigate and try to answer your questions. Email him directly at: kpm@metrocast.net
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