Here is a fine group of skunks. They include,
from left: a little skunk from UNIPAK; P.U. Spraymore
from the Bearington Collection; Baby Squirt and Squirt
Jr. from Purr-Fection by MJC; Buster B. Stinky is
actually a Bear in a skunk suit and is made by Boyds; next to
him is a Skunk Cuddlekins from Wild Republic; in front
of him is an Itsy Bitsy Skunk from Wild Republic; way
up front is a tiny little fur figurine skunk; next is Stinky
the Skunk from Douglas Cuddle Toys; Petunia the Skunk
is next and she is a puppet made by Cascade Toys and the last
little skunk (far right) is Petunia Phew from Boyds.
Many of these striped skunks are living at
Jeannie's Cottage and are also in the Gift
Shop.
The skunk is a North
American carnivorous mammal, belonging to the family Mustelidae.
The Striped Skunk is found in Canada, the United States and as
far south as Honduras. It is about the size of a house cat, seven
inches at the shoulder, approximately 18 inches long not including
its seven-inch tail. It weighs about 10 pounds.
When provoked, the Stiped Skunk arches
its back, raises its tail, stamps its front feet, and shuffles
backward. If the warning is not heeded, the animal ejects a spray
of acrid, blinding fluid from its anal glands. It can spray as
far as nine feet or more. As a result, few animals other than
large owls prey on skunks. The striped skunk ambles about at
dusk and after nightfall in search of animal and plant food.
It is especially fond of grasshoppers, ground beetles and even
bees, excavating their nests and eating the larvae. It is also
capable of catching mice, snakes and frogs. It will also eat
berries, fruits and grain. It becomes fat in autumn and spends
the winter in a den, emerging in warm weather to forage. Skunks
do not hibernate.
The skunks mating season is in February
and March. Babies are born 50 days after mating. There are four
to eight babies. The babies eyes open at three weeks and they
begin foraging with their mother 14 days later. They are weaned
at the age of two months.
Skunks can be kept as pets. It is possible
to have the scent glands removed. Skunks are docile and loving
pets and can keep the house free of rodents.
Other animals that you can find
in the forest are:
Aardvark | Anteater
| Armadillo | Badgers | Bat
| Beaver | Bears
| Bighorn | Boar
| Bobcat | Chipmunk
| Cougar | Deer
| Elk | Ferret
| Fox | Groundhog
| Hedgehog | Kangaroo
Rat | Lynx | Marmot
| Marten | Moose | Mouse
| Opossum | Otter
| Porcupine | Potbelly
Pig | Rabbit | Raccoon
| Red Wolf | Reindeer
| Squirrel | Sloth
| Skunk | Tapir
| Tarsier | Weasel
| Wolf | Wolverine
