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Skunk
I have two types of skunks in my area: The Hog-Nosed Skunk, with a single broad white stripe down its back, and the Striped Skunk with two separate stripes that meet on top of the head. Both types will spray the sulphuric spray, called mercaptan, up to 15 feet from a gland under their tail if threatened. Most of the time, skunks forage at night and are usually vegetarian, but will eat snails, slugs, reptiles and even rodents. They also like to dig around in your garden and seem to love onions. During the mating season, and when it gets really cold at night, you will see skunks waddling around during the day without a care in the world. It's interesting to note while most wild animals evolved with some sort of camouflage to protect them from predators, the skunk remains flamboyant as ever. Owls remain the skunk's only threat besides the automobile. Skunks are stubborn and hardheaded, as anyone who ever tried to shoo one off their porch can tell you, and are physically strong for their size. They will also deliver a nasty bite with their sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Skunk families like to hunt together and sleep together and you will often see a whole family crossing the road in single file. They can become mature adults at only four months of age. If you suspect a skunk is living in or under your house or barn, sprinkle flour at the entrance, and when the footprints in the flour show the skunk has left for the evening, plug it up. Now is a good time to go around your homestead and look for potential skunk burrows, because for the next eight weeks skunks will be looking for that perfect home to raise their new family. If you or your dog gets skunked, there is a mild shampoo available at the most vets that will remove the smell. Some states allow skunks to be kept as pets, but not Texas. Of course, the scent glands are removed when they are domesticated. They can be trained to use a litter box, and they like to fetch and can be treated like a small dog. Contrary to popular belief, all skunks don't carry rabies. But, all pets should be vaccinated regularly because once symptoms appear it is too late. Rabies is spread by contact from saliva and infection usually occurs after a bite from an infected animal.
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It won't be long now before the highways of east-central Texas will be paved with skunks. February is skunk-mating season, and if you live in the country, you've already seen or smelled an increase in skunk activity.
