Skunk 



I like to think of the many creatures that 

 are afoot at night while most humans are 

 asleep. Thoreau wrote in Walden, "It is now 

 dark. The wildest animals do not repose, but 

 seek their prey now; the fox, and skunk, and 

 rabbit, now roam the fields and woods without 

 fear. They are Nature's watchmen links 

 which connect the days of animated life." 



After dark this evening, while I was taking 

 my accustomed stroll in the apple tree com- 

 munity, I came upon a skunk nosing his way 

 through the tall grass in a search for some- 

 thing to eat. The two white stripes on his jet- 

 black fur, and his long, bushy tail arched 

 high, made him a conspicuous figure. At close 

 range his bright, beady eyes gave me a hint of 

 intelligence and good nature. He eyed me 

 with but casual interest as he worked his way 

 through the orchard grass, stopping now and 

 then to dig into the ground for a grub or a 

 worm. 



I am sure the skunk must come into my 

 orchard often at night, for I see many deep 

 little holes in the ground near the apple tree 

 where he has been digging for his supper. He 

 does me a good turn by eating grubs, crickets, 

 grasshoppers, and field mice. Only when he 

 must defend himself does the skunk use his 

 bad odor. 



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