Blogging Thru the Alphabet – Animals – S is for Skunk

I’m joining in the Blogging Through the Alphabet series with Through the Calm and Through the Storm as well as Adventures with Jude. I will be having animals as my theme.

Here are my past posts in case you missed them:

A for Aardvark    B for Badger    C for Capybara    D for Dodo    E for Eagles  F for Falcons

G for Giraffe  H for Hedgehog   I for Ibis    J for Jackal   K for Killer Whale   L for Leopard

M for Macaw   N for Nyala   O for Okapi  P for Porcupine  Q for Quetzal  R for Rhinoceros

I really enjoyed doing the rhino last week and was surprised with how much I learned about such a “commonly known animal.” So I thought I would do it again this week – but with a skunk. I am excited to see what we learn today!

Nearly all skunks live in the Americas.

There are many different species of skunks that range from spotted to striped to swirled (didn’t know this either!) but they always contain black and white and normally are about the size of a house cat. The four species found here are:

• Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis, most common)
• Eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius)
• Hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura)
• Hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus)

Skunks are known for their black color with a white stripe down the middle. They are also know for their stink, I mean, their sprayable smell. This smelly scent is actually an oil that comes from glands under their tail. This can be sprayed up to ten feet! (WOW! I did NOT know THAT!) This spray doesn’t cause any harm to whatever it hits but it does cause much discomfort and normally distracts whatever it hits. This then allows the skunk time to get away.

Skunks are opportunistic eaters with a varied diet. They are nocturnal foragers who eat fruit and plants, insects, larvae, worms, eggs, reptiles, small mammals, and even fish.

Skunks have strong forefeet and long nails, which make them excellent diggers. Skunks will live in burrows (usually made by other animals), hollow logs or empty buildings.

Each female gives birth to two to ten young every year. Average life span in the wild is 2 – 4 years. (WOW – that isn’t very long! Didn’t know this either!)

As a side note: Skunks are the primary carriers of rabies in the Midwest.

A few “interesting facts”:

• Immune to snake venom, skunks are known to eat poisonous snakes like rattlesnakes.
• Although skunks have very poor eyesight, they have excellent senses of smell and hearing.
• A group of skunks is called a surfeit.

I hope you enjoyed learning about these amazing animals as much as I did! Come back next week when we cover the letter T and learn about the termite.

Now go check out all the other posts of those who are joining in with Blogging Through the Alphabet. They can post this entire week so make sure to check back and see what has been added!

Enjoy the journey!

Tagged: Animals, skunk