Pew! What’s That Smell?

Do you know what a skunk smells like? If you’ve ever smelled one, you won’t forget it. I have never been sprayed by one, but my friends dog got sprayed. It was horrible! Even after several baths with all kinds of crazy shampoos, he still smelled horrible. He was stinky for weeks. Hopefully he will stay far away next time.

Skunk comes from a Native American word that basically means “one who sprays”. Skunks are mammals that come from the "New World" or North and South America. There are several varieties with various colors and stripe patterns. The most common one in North America is the black and white “one stripe” skunk, usually just called the striped skunk. The spotted skunk is usually found in Central and South America.

Skunks like to live in burrows or under sheds and houses. They are omnivores (eating plants & animals) but really love to eat beetles, grubs, grasshoppers, and crickets. They have long claws that they use to break apart rotten logs as they search for food. They will also eat fallen fruits and nuts if they can find them.

Skunks only live for about seven years in the wild. They have a great sense of smell and great hearing, but are really nearsighted and can’t see very far. That is why they often get hit while trying to cross roads.

Mother skunks give birth to four to six babies called “kits”, and raise them on their burrow. She has to take care of them for about eight weeks before they can leave the burrow.

Skunks are most famous for the foul smelling spray that they can shoot from a gland under their tail. They will often do a head stand when they are spraying. They can be accurate up to ten feet! It’s even potent enough to repel a bear.

They only real predator of skunks is the great horned owl. It seems they don’t have much of a sense of smell. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skunk)

Here’s a video of skunks for you.

Until Next Time!

Love Papaw.