Hobbies And Interests
Defense
The skunk's main form of defense against predators such as humans and other large mammals is its ability to produce a strong-smelling musk. When threatened, the skunk can spray an oily, yellow substance from scent glands at the base of its tail for distances of up to 20 feet. Humans or animals that have been sprayed by the musk are deterred by the foul smell and can also experience a stinging sensation and temporary blindness if their eyes come into contact with the substance. However, skunks only spray musk as a last resort after a series of warning signals that include growling, arching its back, raising its tail and stamping on the ground.
Feeding Habits
Skunks are omnivorous animals that adapt their diet depending on the type of food that is available. This helps to ensure that a source of food is almost always available. When vegetation is abundant, particularly in summer, skunks eat vegetables, berries and fruit as well as a range of animals including insect larvae, birds and reptiles. When vegetation is scarce in the winter, the skunk's diet is mostly carnivorous and is mostly comprised of small mammals such as chipmunks and voles. When skunks live in close proximity to humans, garbage also provides a range of food for skunks. Skunks help to ensure that they will be able to survive food scarcity in the winter months by building a thick layer of fat before temperatures drop in the fall.
Nocturnal Life
Skunks are mostly nocturnal and mainly search for food in the darkness, travelling distances of up to 5 miles per night. Foraging in the dark helps the skunk to remain hidden from its prey. It also gives the skunk additional protection from predators. Although the majority of a skunk's activity takes place at night, it may also be seen in the morning or afternoon when it is breeding or eating more food than usual to fatten up for winter.
Denning
Skunks usually select a winter den as temperatures start to drop towards the end of the fall. Skunks are able to use their long, sharp claws to excavate dens under buildings or in piles of refuse. However, it is more common for them to use existing dens that have been excavated and abandoned by other animals such as foxes. Dens are particularly important to skunks in the winter as they help them to survive through the coldest months. Although skunks do not truly hibernate, they do enter a state of dormancy. This period of inactivity usually lasts for a few weeks. Female skunks usually share their dens with their young. Some male skunks may join their mate and young while others prefer to occupy a den of their own. Females also use dens to raise their young.