Mammals of the Southwest Mountains and Mesas

by George Olin

Should the reader be involved in an encounter with one of these malodorous creatures, there are many remedies prescribed but few giving any great measure of relief. If the skin is washed with a weak solution of acid such as lemon or tomato juice and then scrubbed thoroughly with soap and water, much of the odor will disappear. Clothes can be given the same treatment, but usually it is cheaper and easier to burn them and charge the cost to experience. Grandpa said to bury scented clothes in damp earth. Perhaps in time this will do the trick; I contend they are better left there.

So much misinformation exists about the skunk’s defensive mechanism and the manner in which it is employed that brief explanation may not be amiss. The scent is a fluid stored in two glands located near the base of the tail. These glands are embedded in a mass of contractile muscle, and each has a duct which connects with a tiny spray nozzle that can be protruded from the anus. When danger threatens the tail is lifted, the nozzles aimed at the enemy, and the contraction of the muscles around the glands forces out a spray of fine droplets which may carry as far as 15 feet. The result is usually effective and lasting. Contrary to popular belief, the odor is distressing to the skunk as well as to its enemy. The tail is kept out of the way if possible, since its plumey depths would hold the scent for a long time.

striped skunk

Skunks of different species will use this defensive weapon against each other. Whether individuals of the same species use it in their fights together is not known. In situations involving humans the skunk will try to bluff the enemy if possible. This consists of stamping the front feet, of short runs at the intruder, and finally of hoisting the tail and aiming the “guns.” If a skunk is approached deliberately and if quick movements are avoided, it is surprising what liberties may be taken before it will resort to scent. On the other hand, should it be taken by surprise or should it be physically hurt, retaliation is swift and certain. In all cases where skunks are encountered at close range, remember that this little animal is one of the most independent creatures on earth, that this nonchalance stems from a supreme confidence in its defensive powers, and that if left alone or at least treated with consideration it will go on its way as soon as possible.

This independent attitude inherent in all skunks probably has much to do with the happy-go-lucky life that the young family lives. About midsummer when the young are able to leave the burrow, the mother often will take them for a stroll early in the afternoon. As she walks, oblivious to danger, the young play along behind her, sometimes a ball of struggling little bodies with now and then a fluffy tail breaking free and again all at odds in a mock show of ferocity with front feet stamping and flared tails held aloft. When the patient mother finds a tidbit on the trail, there is a concerted rush for the prize, which is seldom won without a struggle. All of this is excellent practice against the time when they will be on their own. It is during this early age that the young first learn to catch insects, items of great importance in skunk diet. Later frogs and small mammals will also be preyed upon.

The striped skunk is generally considered a hibernating animal. This is not strictly true for, while it may remain inactive in its den for weeks at a time, the body processes do not slow down to the extent common in true hibernation. The skunk does lay on a considerable amount of fat each fall in preparation for this period of winter when food is scarce. Actual retirement to a den for even a few days is rare in the Southwest, however. The mild climate makes this unnecessary, except in the highest part of their habitat.

Black bear
Euarctos americanus (Latin: a bear ... of America)

Range: At present the range of the black bear in the United States is confined to a narrow strip adjacent to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, a few of the southeastern States, a narrow band in the Great Lakes area, and the Rocky Mountain chain.