Spotted skunk vs. Raccoon

Alan Cameron captured this series of remarkable videos of a confrontation between an Eastern spotted skunk (ESS) and a raccoon.  These were taken on November 4 at one of his camera trap sites in the DuPont State Forest, North Carolina. The raccoon was at the site from 0309-0455 and was finally successful in getting the can of sardines out of the suet basket, even though it was wired shut.  The ESS confrontation was eight minutes long and occurred from 0348-0356.

At first, the raccoon challenges the approaching ESS.

But after that it pretty much ignored the ESS as it worked on the suet basket.

At 0350 the ESS decided to retreat and go around the boulder and approach from the other end.  It then started to lap at the 'skunk crack' (recipe courtesy of Emily Thorne of VA Tech) slathered onto the rhodo trunk and which apparently was the reason it was willing to challenge the raccoon.

Do spotted skunks like pizza?

A homeowner from Chambers county, Alabama captured this fun picture of an eastern spotted skunk sampling pizza in her yard. Wildlife biologists often use canned sardines or cat food to attract skunks, but maybe they should think about switching baits! Seriously, we recommend forgoing the human food and letting these little critters feed on the rodents, insects, and reptiles around your home. This is healthier for the skunk and prevents them from learning nuisance behaviors that can get them into trouble.

North Carolina spotteds

Alan Cameron shared this playful video of 3 spotted skunks visiting one of his camera stations on August 28 in Transylvania County.

 

Specimens needed for parasite research

Camp Blanding Florida spotted skunk search

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-12-17/spotted-skunk-elusive-experts-want-track-numbers

Researchers in on Camp Blanding military base in Florida are in search of Florida spotted skunks.

Skunk in the bbq

Brian in San Marcos, California recently shared this photo of a cute little western spotted skunk his three small dogs found under their covered bbq grill.  Luckily his dogs got away with only a slight spray in the nose.  He has lived in the area over 25 years and this was his first sighting, further illustrating that these little guys can be in your backyard and are harmless.  So letting them be and enjoying having such a gentle tiny neighbor who is likely eating bugs and mice on your property in the middle of the night is a good thing.

Cougar vs. skunk

While not a spotted skunk, this video from Canada of a mountain lion approaching a stripped skunk is too cool not to post.  More evidence of the value of scent glands and how it allows these small carnivores to co-exist with larger carnivores on the landscape.