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Skunks "Conscious of its power, it roams by day about the open plain, and fears neither
dog nor man. " Charles Darwin "The Voyage of the Beagle" Skunks are classified in the family
Mephitidae. (Derived from Latin word for stench) Nine species ranging in size from one to ten pounds
can be found throughout the Americas from South America to Canada. A Skunk has two glands that
produce a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals (methyl and butyl thiols). The odor of the fluid is
strong enough to ward off bears, and can be difficult to remove from clothing. Muscles located next
to the scent glands allow them to spray with high accuracy and distance. (Up to 10 ft.!) The spray
can cause irritation and even temporary blindness, and is sufficiently powerful to be detected by
even a human nose up to a mile downwind. Skunks and man come into conflict for the usual
reasons: Nesting sites and food. Skunks are den critters, so they love old junk and wood piles,
and will move in under your house if they can get in. They're not picky eaters, so trash cans are
a favorite food source. Sealing your home is key to preventing these unwanted housemates.
Up to one third of skunks carry rabies, but so far no recorded cases of human
rabies have been linked to skunks.
Wiki: Skunk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skunk
Skunk Management http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/articles/misc/skunkmng.html
The Science Behind the Stink http://www.humboldt.edu/~wfw2/skunkspray.shtml
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