ECONOMIC VALUE OP NORTH AMERICAN SKUNKS. 



5 



eastern Washington. On the coast they are found from southern 

 British Columbia to Lower California (fig. 3). 



Fourteen species and six races of little spotted skunks are known, 

 13 of the 20 forms occurring within the United States. These ani- 

 mals are considerably smaller than the other skunks. The total 

 lengths of species in the United States vary in average from 320 to 

 560 millimeters (12.6 to 22.4 inches). The pygmy spotted skunk of 

 Mexico is the smallest skunk known, the only specimen in the col- 

 lection of the Biological Survey measuring but 9.4 inches in total 

 length. 



Spotted skunks, like the common large skunks, vary much in 

 the amount of white in the fur as well as in the pattern of the spots 

 or short stripes. The skin is strong and the pelage good in the more 

 northern forms, but because of the small size and many white spots 

 the fur is not very valuable. In the fur trade the skins are known 

 as " civet/' and, dressed in the natural color, they are now much in 

 vogue for garments. 



GENERAL HABITS OF SKUNKS. 



Skunks are mainly terrestrial. The little spotted skunks occa- 

 sionally voluntarily climb trees in search of food, but the larger 

 forms apparently do not climb unless driven to do so. None of the 

 skunks swim unless forced into deep water, but all are fond of bathing 

 in shallow ponds or streams. They have plantigrade feet and well- 

 developed claws, especially in front. The white-backed skunks of 

 Central and South America are more given to digging than the others, 

 and in general outline, shape of nose, and strong development of 

 claws, they much resemble badgers, the only other group of the 

 musteline family that have the feet better adapted for digging. 



While skunks often dig dens in ordinary soils, they much 

 prefer to use natural cavities in rocks or burrows dug by other 

 animals, as the fox, badger, and woodchuck. They are said some- 

 times to attack and kill the woodchuck before taking its burrow. 

 Fallen logs, recesses under stone walls or fences, and cavities under 

 tree roots furnish the skunk convenient retreats. If the floor of a 

 building is near the ground, the space below is often used by the 

 animals. Also, they nest under well covers, board walks, hay scales, 

 and stacks, as well as in culverts, covered drains, abandoned cellars, 

 and caves for storing vegetables. In winter the warmth of the 

 floors of occupied dwellings or country schoolhouses seems to be 

 especially attractive to them; and the animals often take up their 

 abode in carelessly filled trenches conveying steam pipes from boilers 

 to distant buildings, no doubt attracted by the warmth. 



When skunks dig their own dens the burrows are seldom very long 

 or deep. They go down below the ordinary frost line, and after a 



