I have learned a bit about skunks in the past few days.

I have never been a huge fan of skunks other than that beloved cartoon character Pepé Le Pew.

I mean really–who loves skunks?   I have memories of my brother practicing his taxidermy skills during college on a skunk or at least I think that memory is correct.  I DO remember riding home with him one time with some decaying animal hanging from a garbage bag from the trunk because he didn’t want the trunk to stink.  You can imagine how many people pulled up next to us to try to alert us to the fact that something was hanging from our trunk.

But I digress.

As usual.

While I stayed with my sister and brother in law we smelled a lovely skunk smell a couple of nights.  There is nothing quite like that smell.  We were trying to discern from whence the smell was coming .

Their deck is built so that there is no spot under it to crawl in which was an edict of my wise brother in law.  However there was a small space on either side of the steps that a crafty critter could possibly squeeze into.  But no way no how was I going to check.  My sisterly love only goes so far.

What I did offer up was a Google search to find out a bit about skunks.  So for your amusement today here are a few facts I found from Wikipedia. I know —you always learn something when you stop by my blog, don’t you?

1. Skunks are usually the strong silent type but when they do make noise they can make the following sounds: squeal, hiss, screech, whimper, grumble, smack their lips, and stomp loudly.  So if they can smack them they must have them.  I can’t imagine what that sounds like on a skunk.
2. Skunks come not only in black and white but also in brown, cream and ginger colors.
3. All skunks are striped from birth in some way.
4. Skunks are omnivores  –  they eat insects, larvae, earthworms, rodents, lizards, grubs, frogs, snakes and eggs, berries, roots, nuts and leaves to name a few things in their diet. They are also scavengers so if they live where humans live they might hunt for garbage.
5. They have horrible eyesight but a great sense of smell and hearing.  This might explain why so many are found squished on the roads.  I guess they don’t mind smelling themselves.
6. Skunks can spray with a great sense of accuracy and the spray can reach 10 feet and be smelled up to 3 and a half miles downwind.  They don’t spray recklessly as it takes up to 10 days to produce more of the aromatic liquid.

I think that is enough skunk facts for today.  Aren’t you glad you stopped by?  Don’t forget to leave a comment.  All comments this month go to support the Highland Youth Garden. 

By the way, no skunk was found but it continues to waltz through their yard judging from the smell it leaves behind.