Predators for skunks12/19/2023 ![]() They are both prey and predators, keeping populations of small mammals and insects in check. Skunks, in all their smelly glory, play a key role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystems of southeast Arizona. ![]() What other animal is active at night, large enough to eat a skunk, and doesn’t rely on their sense of smell? If you guessed a great horned owl, you are correct! These formidable birds are one of the primary predators of skunks. This defense doesn’t work as well on all predators, however. Most animals, rather than risk having their nose blinded in this way, would prefer to leave skunks alone and go for an easier meal. Being hit with skunk spray overwhelms their sense of smell for days on end, rendering their nose useless and putting them at a serious disadvantage. However, many of the skunk’s predators, including bobcats and coyotes, rely on their sense of smell to navigate their territories, track and capture food, and communicate with other members of the same species. Although the smell of a skunk’s spray is very potent, it may seem that a hungry predator wouldn’t mind putting up with a bad smell for a while to get a meal. However, their body takes several days to produce more of the liquid, during which they are defenseless if they have run out of spray, so they reserve spraying for a last resort. Skunks can hit targets up to three meters away and can spray up to six times in a row. This spray contains compounds called thiols, the same chemical found in onions, that give the spray its foul odor. If these warnings fail to deter a predator, they expel a liquid from scent glands located on each side of the anus. Skunks combine their contrasting colors with warning behaviors, including lifting their tail, hissing, and stomping their feet at a perceived threat. ![]() All skunk species exhibit bright black-and-white coloration, an example of a phenomenon known as aposematism: when dangerous or noxious creatures have coloration that attracts attention to warn potential predators that they are not worth attacking. They are active during the night and forage by sniffing and digging in the ground, searching for insects, lizards, eggs, fruit, grubs, and mice. Skunks are most commonly found in thick, brushy areas in uplands and rocky, riparian canyons and are less common in the low desert. The smallest resident skunk is the western spotted skunk, which is instantly recognizable by its beautiful spotted and striped coat and small size. Another resident of southeast Arizona is the white-backed hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus leuconotus, which can be distinguished by its long, furless nose. Striped skunks are closely related to hooded skunks, Mephitis macroura, which are similar in appearance but have longer fur around their head and a white back that resembles a hood. The most familiar of these is the striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, which is found throughout the mainland United States and is a common resident of suburban areas. There are four species of skunks found in the Southeast Arizona parks. ![]() What creature is fluffy, boldly colored, and packs a chemical defense so powerful it can stop even bears in their tracks? That’s right, we’re talking about our iconic friend clad in black and white: the skunk. ![]()
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