EEK! Critter Corner, Skunk
EEK! Critter Corner, Skunk
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The skunk is a member of the weasel family. Some people call them "stink cats," "polecats" or "smell cats." (I bet you can guess why.) With a name like that, you'll definately want to keep your distance. Skunks have a fierce and stinky defense system under their large bushy tails. They can spray foul-smelling musk at predators as far as 15 feet away. The smell can carry for a mile! And, as if the the overpowering smell isn't bad enough, the musk can also burn eyes and cause a temporary loss of vision. Not much fun for an unsuspecting predator.
This mammal is the size of large house cat. Striped skunks have black fur with a wide, white stripe from the head all the way down the back on the body. Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. They are nocturnal animals (active mostly after dark). They don't hibernate, but stay in their dens during most of the winter.
Please visit the website for the rest of the article.
Votes:5
Comments: 0