Concord, Mass.
1907.
July 12
 As Mr. Forbush and I were walking through the
apple orchard at the farm this afternoon we started a Skunk
in the uncut grass. It was so tall that I could see only
his back and the tip of his tail as he galloped off. He
moved by a succession of long, high bounds and so swiftly
that although I ran at my very best speed I had not gained
on him perceptably when he reached the woods. The distance
which he travelled in the open was about sixty yards
for the first half of the way over a gentle downward
incline for the latter half down a rather steep hillside.
All the while he was about twenty yards in advance of
me and running almost as fast as a Rabbit runs when
startled but not closely pursued. This experience happened
at exactly half-past six o'clock with the sun shining
from a cloudless sky. Taken in connection with the
observation I made here last autumn, from my chamber
window, early one morning, it convinces me that Skunks
are at times really wary animals and that they can & do
run much faster than is ordinarily supposed. These
facts account, in a measure, I believe, for the extreme
infrequency with which they are seen even in places
(such as this farm) where the signs they leave, when
digging for crickets and for turtles' eggs, show that they
must be very numerous. They have been most persistent
and successful in their quest for turtles' eggs near 
Ball's Hill this season (chiefly in June) as the heaps
of empty shells scattered thickly over the sandy fields fully
attest. I did not know before that Skunks can come
out to feed in the bright sunshine, as was the
case with the animal above described.
Experience with a Skunk
July 15   
  As I was walking along the river path within 30 yards of the cabin at 9.30
P.M., the night being clear but intensely dark under the trees, I heard an animal which
I felt sure was a Skunk trot slowly up the hillside. It started within 2 yards of
me. I got a lantern & followed but could not find it. Next morning I found on
ground where I started it torn up with fresh diggings. Several turtles' nests had been opened.