Dead Skunk in the middle of the Road!

This week the rainy weather warmed up my neighborhood, melted all the snow, 

and made the river rise!

A few local animals came out of their 

winter dens and had a look around!

Striped Skunk - Mephitis mephitis

Unfortunately a Striped Skunk was hit by a car on our road, 
and died this week.  Apparently, their biggest enemy is moving cars.
Many skunks die every year on our roads and highways.
Please "Brake for Wildlife" when you're driving! 

Male Striped Skunks have just started to "surface" in my neighborhood.  They have been sleeping in an underground den during the past few months of winter. In February and March, they are out searching at night for a female to mate.

Skunk dens can be in an abandoned ground squirrel or fox burrow, or under a woodpile, rock pile, cement slab, front porch, or in a hollow tree.  
Skunks use their dens year-round.  Skunks will often share a den with 
other skunks.  They don't hibernate, but go into a state of torpor, in which 
their body temperature drops and they fall into a deep sleep.  
To stay warm during winter weather they plug the entrance to their den 
with dry leaves and grass.  

The highly potent musk of skunks, keeps most predators away!  
When approached by a predator, they raise their tail, then they 
stamp their front feet vigorously and hiss and growl.  
If those actions don't deter the predator, they will quickly present their 
hind end and spray musk. They can spray up to 12 feet away, with accuracy!  
Most predators don't come back a second time, once they've been sprayed!
 
Skunks have poor eyesight, but like many nocturnal animals they have highly developed senses of hearing, touch, and smell.  They are omnivores, and eat mice, gophers, voles, rats, birds & eggs, beetles, beetle larvae, caterpillars, fruit, nuts, carrion, bird seed, some garden produce, and even pet food!


Striped Skunks measure 22"-32" + a 10"-13" tail.
They weigh 8+ lbs.

I was so happy to see a Chickaree out and about!
He was busy looking for food in this warmer weather!

At this time of year he is also looking for females to mate, like the skunk!

Nocturnal animals can see a LOT better than 

we can at night because:

1)  Their retinas are packed with Rods and have few Cones. 

Human eyes have way more Cones than Rods.

Rods can sense very dim light, but no color.  This gives them better 

perception of edges, movement, and silhouettes in dim light.

Cones account for color vision, but only in bright focused light. 

Some animals do see some colors, but most, even in daylight, 

only see shades of black & white.

2) Unlike humans, most nocturnal animals also have a mirror like layer, 

the tapetum, behind their retina. This reflects light back through 

the retina, and enhances their night vision.

3) Nocturnal animals have wider pupils, than humans, that lets in more light!

The river is racing along!  

What do fish do to keep from being swept downstream? 

What do fish eat in the winter?  

Do River Otters move to streams for the winter?

Check back next week for the answers!