Little Stinkers - Minnesota DNR
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by Christine Petersen
naturalists
Young
▼
Little
Stinkers
Skunks live among us, but they’re not looking
for trouble—just food.
What do you think of when Most skunks are no bigger than a house
you hear the word “skunk”? Chances are, cat, with a tail that’s as long and fluffy as
a nasty odor like burned tires and rotten a feather duster.
eggs pops into your mind. That dreaded Ten species, or kinds, of skunks can
scent comes from a liquid made inside be found in North and South America.
the skunk’s body, and it can be sprayed Minnesota has two skunk species:
whenever the skunk feels trapped by a striped and spotted. You’re much more
larger animal. likely to see a striped skunk because a
Skunks spray only when they abso- spotted skunk hasn’t been seen in the
lutely have to. These clever and easygo- state since 2011.
ing animals live throughout Minnesota, The striped skunk is larger than any
often close to people—on farms, in other North American species. Its black
towns, and even in big cities. Most of fur is marked with white that starts on the
the time, they go about their peaceful head and splits into a V along the spine.
lives unnoticed as we sleep. A thin slash of white fur runs between
the skunk’s black eyes, from forehead
BILL MARCHEL
Black and White. All skunks have to nose. Every striped skunk has its own
black fur with white stripes or spots. unique fur pattern.
34 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer January–February 2018 35
ALAN G. NELSON, DEMBINSKY PHOTO ASSOCIATES
DNR PHOTOS
One of a Kind bage can that has been tipped over by
raccoons. They don’t hesitate to climb
these dark and smelly spaces led to
the Underworld, where an even more
The skunk’s fur coat tells us that it’s In Search of Prey. Their vision is in and grab a few tasty scraps. Dried powerful god ruled over the spirits of
a mammal, an animal that is warm- not excellent, but skunks have a finely corn is fair game if skunks come across the dead. Many centuries later, scien-
blooded and produces milk to feed its tuned sense of smell. They are noctur- it in a field, farmyard, or barn. Skunks tists decided to give every species a
young. But there’s no other mammal nal, active mostly at night. Sniffling and will even eat rotting meat from ani- Latin name. For the striped skunk they
quite like a skunk. snuffling as they walk, skunks locate mals that have died. chose Mephitis mephitis, in honor of
Scientists divide the mammals into mice in their nests and flush sleeping the volcano goddess.
smaller groups based on how they grasshoppers from fields. Frogs and How the Skunk Got Its Name. Of course, American Indian people
behave and how they are related. For crayfish are also on the menu. Skunks More than 2,000 years ago, ancient had already named the animals living
example, mammals that catch and chew chase after their prey in short leaps. Romans worshiped a goddess called around them. In the 1600s, European
prey must have sharp teeth and long Long front claws work like a cage to Mefitis. Her temples were built where colonists heard Abenaki Indians de-
claws. This group is called the carnivores. capture and hold the food as it is eaten. foul-smelling gases rose from cracks in scribe this black-and-white animal as
It includes cats, dogs, bears, and other Skunks also eat nuts and fruit. Now the earth. (Today we would call them segankw. Over time, English speakers
hunters—such as skunks. and then, skunks come across a gar- volcanoes.) Ancient Romans believed changed the word to skunk.
36 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer January–February 2018 37
DAVID BRISLANCE
BILL MARCHEL
The Long Winter temperature drops and its metabolism
slows. Less of the skunk’s stored fat is
place to raise her young. She might dig
a new den or use a hollow log or a rock
Winter is hard on small animals. Food and snow flies, skunks head under- needed to make energy. pile. Thick shrubs can provide shelter. If
is scarce, and freezing temperatures ground. A skunk’s long, curved claws Skunks go into torpor more often she lives near people, the doe can set up
can be life threatening—even to mam- make excellent tools for digging. Some- during very cold winters. When the her house under a porch or in a barn.
mals with a thick coat of fur. A skunk’s times, a skunk hollows out a fresh bur- weather is mild, they remain awake in She wants a place that is safe and dark,
best hope for survival is to cozy up and row for its winter nap. Or it might settle their dens or step out for a few hours to with food and water nearby. The doe
wait out the worst of the season. into an empty den made by another an- look for food. But winter takes its toll. lines her nest with leaves and grass to
imal. Several skunks curl up together to Skunks can lose more than half their make it warm and soft. Four to six kits,
Getting Ready. Throughout autumn, share body heat inside the winter den. body weight over the winter. sometimes more, are born in early May.
skunks eat as much as they can find. Their Usually, a single den contains several Skunks rarely fight with each other—
mixed diet makes it easy for a skunk to fat- females guarded by one male. Spring Is Coming. By mid-February, except in spring. A mother skunk will
ten up. Sometimes, fat is the only source Striped skunks go into torpor in win- skunks can sense that winter is coming not allow male skunks near her kits,
of energy a skunk can rely on to survive ter. Torpor is a kind of slowing down, to an end. Bucks and does (male and and she fearlessly defends them against
the long, hungry months of winter. different than the deep hibernation female skunks) mate in February and predators. If she senses a threat, the doe
used by bats, frogs, and chipmunks. For March, then go their separate ways. moves her whole family to a new den.
Settling In. When temperatures drop a few hours or days, the skunk’s body As the snow melts, a doe looks for a Better safe than sorry.
38 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer January–February 2018 39
SPARKY STENSAAS
DNR PHOTO
Curious Kits schoolchildren following a teacher.
The doe teaches her family by ex-
a skunk family visits. Mother skunk
shows her young to dig for beetle
Striped skunk kits are born blind and den. The curious kits wander nearby, ample. She catches caterpillars and grubs in the soil. They remove harm-
helpless. Each kit weighs barely an wrestle with each other, or play with rolls them between her front paws be- ful insects like Japanese beetles and
ounce—about as much as five quar- sticks and other objects. Play and ex- fore she eats them to rub off the toxic snails that damage our gardens and
ters. Only a thin, downy covering of ploration are fun ways to practice the hairs that can make a skunk sick. She crops. Young skunks also learn to
fur protects the baby skunks’ bodies. adult skills they will need to survive. cracks bird eggs with a quick toss catch mice that could eat grain or
But their skin is already marked with against a hard surface. She shows kits spread disease.
a familiar pattern that will color their Skunk School. When the kits are how to knock on a beehive. When
fur coat when it grows in. about six weeks old, their mother takes the bees buzz out, the hungry skunks Grown Up. Young skunks are ready
At first, the kits stay hidden inside them out into the world. A group can reach in to pull out sweet honey. to leave home by early August. Males
the den while mother skunk leaves of skunks is called a surfeit, which And while hunting crayfish or frogs, wander until they locate new territo-
at night to hunt. Their main food is means “too much of something.” But the kits learn that their webbed toes ries, while females often stay with the
her nutritious milk. After about four a family of skunks together is actu- work like paddles if they must swim. mother for their first year of life. Skunks
weeks, the kits’ eyes open. It’s not long ally rather charming. The kits walk Human neighbors are often scared prefer to live alone until winter forces
before they begin to sneak outside the in single file behind their mother, like of skunks. But we can benefit when them to find company once again.
40 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer January–February 2018 41
Back Off!
Most mammals have brown fur that Skunks are not so well protected
helps them hide from predators or sneak against flying predators, especially great
up on prey. A skunk’s bold black-and- horned owls. These night fliers can drop
white coat serves a different purpose. It down silently on skunks from above.
is a warning: Back off or you’ll regret it! And because owls have very little sense
of smell, the musk doesn’t bother them.
Ready, Aim, Fire. A skunk always tries
to avoid danger. When it can’t run away, Stopping the Stink. You can do a
the skunk works hard to make the ene- few things to avoid skunk sprays. When
my leave. It hisses, grunts, and stamps its you’re outside at night, use a flashlight so
feet on the ground. The bright white tail skunks know to run the other way. Keep
is raised into the air like a flag, making your dogs on a leash or indoors. Lock
the small skunk look larger and fiercer. down garbage-can lids so raccoons can’t
When all other warnings fail, the striped pry them open, which invites skunks
skunk turns its back to the predator. and other animals to feast. And be sure
Keeping its tail raised, the skunk looks to vaccinate your pets against rabies and
its enemy in the eye, aims, and fires. distemper, so they don’t become ill if
Skunks are born with the ability to they come into contact with an infected
produce liquid musk from a pair of wild animal.
glands on their bottom. They can release When the worst happens, skip the to-
a fine mist of musk or direct a stream of mato-juice bath. Experts say that skunk
the liquid at targets up to 20 feet away. musk is best removed with a mixture
Young foxes, coyotes, and bobcats of hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar,
sometimes make the mistake of hunting baking soda, and liquid soap. Find a
skunks. It’s a painful choice. Musk not safe recipe before experimenting be-
only stinks—it burns and causes nausea. cause these ingredients can be danger-
The predator is blinded for a few min- ous when used incorrectly.
utes, while the skunk escapes. After it People and skunks are bound to cross
BILL MARCHEL
recovers, the predator avoids black-and- paths. A bit of common sense can help
white creatures in its path. us live as good neighbors. n V
Teachers resources
Find a Teachers Guide and other resources for this and
other Young Naturalists stories at
42 mndnr.gov/young_naturalists. 43
January–February 2018 43
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