LARGE STRIPED SKUNK 



feet in all directions, on a still day. The Skunk is loathe to 

 eject this fluid if it can possibly be avoided and will put up 

 with a surprising amount of abuse (sometimes) before losing 

 restraint. The usual posture of defense is head low and 

 toward the enemy, tail stiffly erect, and the hairs of the tail 

 distended. This is an obvious warning and if not crowded 

 the Skunk will usually soon assume a less tense attitude. As 

 long as the tail is lowered and less rigid the Skunk will not fire. 



The animal can aim the discharge and not only is he 

 effective upon an enemy to the rear, but even upon one that is 

 facing the Skunk. No position is safe within a circle of two or 

 thiee yards. 



The fluid from these scent-glands is a clear yellow in color, 

 strongly acid in reaction, and said to be slightly luminous after 

 dark. It is exceedingly painful if it falls into the eye and m^ay 

 cause temporary or possibly permanent blindness. Clothing 

 which has been saturated with this spray will retain an odor 

 for days and weeks, although burying the garments in the 

 ground will hasten their return to normalcy. One discharge 

 from the glands does not empty them; they are capable of a 

 number of salvos. 



It is possible to kill a Skunk so that there is no emis- 

 sion from the glands. The surest way is to drown the Skunk. 

 Shooting usually results in a drenched atmosphere unless the 

 spinal cord is cut. It has been stated that if the tail of the 

 Skunk can be kept lowered, the animal is defenseless, and 

 there are various ways in which the Skunk may be dispatched 

 which depend upon this fact for their efficiency. The animal 

 may even be caught alive if the tail is grasped and kept down. 

 My own experience is that the element of risk is so great, and 

 the likelihood of some part of the scheme not developing as 

 per schedule so imminent, that I would class these latter 

 methods as impractical for the layman. 



Skunks make very interesting pets and Merriam, Seton, 

 and others have written accounts of their experiences with 

 these mammals which show a surprising side to Skunk nature. 

 They are playful and affectionate and show a nice regard as 

 to the abuse of their powers. By a bit of minor surgery Skunks 

 can be rendered incapable of discharging musk and are then as 

 innocuous as Cats. 



Skunks become very fat in the fall and den up during the 



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