July 26, 2008
skunks!
A pack of 6 skunks (or “polecats”), one all white, has been reported around the north end of 33rd Street. Be careful.
Not all skunks are black with a white stripe down their back either. There are all white skunks, white skunks with black stripes down their backs and even skunks with patches of white and black all over their bodies. They have very cute little faces with short snouts. Skunks can live an average of about 8-12 years as pets and about 3-4 years in the wild. They weigh an average of 6-9 pounds, but these can all very.
Skunks eat fruits, vegetables, some meat and just about anything else they can get a hold of. The are thieves and they are probably the ones responsible for getting into your garbage cans at night to see what left overs are good (either that or raccoons). Despite the fact that they may occasionally get into your garbage can and make a mess of your yard, they actually can help you by eating mice, beetles, rats, moles and other household pests.
18 Responses to “skunks!”
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Knowing there are skunks here in the city makes me happy. Here in Fulton, I’ve spotted fox, bunnies, groundhogs and wild turkeys:)
Haven’t seen or smelled a skunk but I’d like to….
No you don’t want to smell a skunk. I hit one back in 2004 in Hanover and the car smelled for days. My ride home was worse… the smell got inside the car and I rode home with the windows down in February. The spot where I had hit the skunk also smelled for a long time. I had even runover the remains of a skunk in the road and I swear the smell came back. I almost get sick smelling them just in passing on the road.
What part of Fulton have you seen fox and turkey? I’ve seen the rabbits there and groundhogs don’t surprise me, I saw one on Libby Hill.
You wouldn’t believe I saw a deer grazing by the side of the road on Mechanicsville Turnpike at the Showplace the other night. Now that’s not the city but it’s pretty developed over there that I’d never thought deer would be there. I still can’t figure out where it came from… it had to wander through neighborhoods.
We have had possum over here the last 10 years and one of our neighbors said they had a raccoon in their yard.
My brother’s dog got skunked recently. Even the dog was whining, rubbing itself all over the grass trying to get the odor off.
I saw a big groundhog run through the empty lot next to the steps on 26th and Main, and also saw a turkey on the boundary of Chimborazo, probably where the skunk sighting was. It’s pretty woodsy back there.
Seeing wildlife in our area is not good news. I’m glad to know I’m part of a greater ecosystem, but when a bear or skunk strays into a residential area, it’s never good news for them.
Not seeing wildlife is bad news for all of us…IMHO
And I thought the strange odor was because a bunch of neocon Republicans had passed through the area…..
‘possums and ‘coons are a normal part of life up here. Groundhogs too, there’s a big bunch of them on the hills behind Libby Hill Park.
Why did this discussion stoop to political bashing, Celeste?
I agree with ‘kimmy’ about the wildlife…and last year there was an owl in my back yard oak tree. What a treat that was to hear.
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“strange odor was because a bunch of neocon Republicans had passed through the area…..” Personally I think this joke only works with unwashed hippy libs but whatever…
Back on topic… skunks are known to be a common carrier of rabies and are very nocturnal… if you happen to see one out and about during the day be a bit wary. You are also pretty lucky if your dog only get’s sprayed. They have a leave me alone-i’ll leave you alone attitude but will deliver pretty nasty bite if cornered…
I am more concerned about the number of possum I see around. They can do some serious damage to a dog that just thinks it’s another squirrel in the back yard.
This is your weekely varmit report from your friendly neighborhood redneck.
PS. neither taste like chicken.
A good page about coexisting with urban wildlife:
http://www.fundwildlife.org/coexist
The skunks made the TV news:
At Clay and 28th, there is a fat raccoon that lives between my house and my neighbor’s, eating from our compost and drinking the cat’s water. I hear it at night knocking over pots and such in my patio, but I think it’s cute anyway. There is also a humongous super-obese possum that I’ve seen a few times over the years. It has got to have coronary disease from all of the ghetto-garbage it’s been eating all this time.
Last night I was carjacked by a groundhog and a pack of rabid squirrels. It was terrifying. The car was located by police several hours later in eastern Henrico. It was stripped of everything of value except for my George Michael CD collection. Thank God for little blessings.
We have to do something before this wildlife rampage dooms us all.
Last year it was “wild dogs are terrorizing us” This year it is “skunks have us all trapped in our houses”. Our neighborhood gets enough bad press as it is.
I am tired of news trucks in front of my house bashing my neighborhood. Please stop posting this hysterical drivel and feeding in to this.
The caption on the news this morning read “Skunk Invasion”!
Then they showed tape of residents saying they were afraid of being attacked by one. Alls the skunks want to do is live with their buddies and be left alone. If anybody get attacked it’s because they went fucking with one, and in which case they deserve what they get. My raccoon and I have been living in harmony all these years because I don’t mess with it, and it don’t mess with me. We are perfect neighbors!
Actually, the city is chock full of wildlife. My yard is often home to a ten point buck come nightfall, raccoon and possum (sp?) and rabbits often make the scene. Falcons take their share of squirrel and owls are no stranger to urban livin’.
Folks think you can simply trap them… doesn’t work, another one will soon move in.
The key to critter conttrol is to remove their food sources and then they’ll go away in short order.
TvNB
Skunks are generally harmless unless they are diseased or threatened. Dog are normally the culprits to skunks spraying. If you would like to know more about skunk spray, the attached site is very informative.