Different kinds of Skunks?

[Searsmom]

I am currently being very vigilant after coming face-to-face with a skunk in my chicken house (no birds injured, lots of feed eaten). I'm not entirely sure this is a valid post, but not sure where to post it.

The skunk I came so close to was solid black with a white spot on the back of its neck the size of a baseball. I thought all skunks in the SE had a broad white stripe down their back and tail. Are there different types of striped skunks? Is it similar to a different breed of rabbit?

I've only seen pictures of spotted ones and striped ones. This was only one spot and doesn't look anything like the pictures I've seen.

Thanks

 

[amishhippie]

Not all skunks have a complete stripe, some just have spots or a single speck. We all have a picture of Pepe lePeu in our minds we think of them, but they do come with different patterns.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've seen spotted skunks in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Not all skunks in the southeast have stripes. They all have different patterns.

 

[centrarchid]

Striped skunks highly variable ranging from almost black to almost white. The true spotted skunk is much more consistent. Check range map to determine if spotted skunk even occurs in your area.

 

[Searsmom]

Weird - I'm having difficulty replying. I can't upload a picture either.

I did find out I saw a striped skunk, even though spotted are in my area as well. Spotted actually look more like camo to me.

Thanks for suggesting a range map, I learned all kinds of new stuff about skunks.

 

[Makayla1226]

Hello, there are four types of skunks. The striped skunk being the most common. Not all skunks are perfectly marked, and may be partially marked or mostly black, or mostly white. I would be alerted having a skunk in my coop! Skunks usually won't kill chickens for food, but they will if they are threatened by the presence of the chickens. Skunk will go for the eggs and chicken feed which is still not good. What time of day did u see the skunk? If it was in the midst of day, the skunk could possibly be sick.
It's just rare to see skunks out in day light since they are nocturnal. I would skunk-proof your coop!

 

[Searsmom]

Pasting the original thread below, someone suggested posting in the Predators thread area, so...

So I know it's skunks. I went out a little later the other night, it was already dark. Did my usual "crazy lady talks to herself" thing to give any skunks out there time to get away. Got all the way to the outside door, knelt down and was face-to-face with a skunk, tail upright thankfully in the other direction. Dignity flung aside, I scrambled all the way back to the driveway. Decided to go shut the other door. Looked in and there was one at the food dish with it's back to me. I threw stuff at the side of the house and yelled to run them off.

Once the chicken house is closed, there's no way they can get in. I check daily for somebody trying to dig under. I've been making sure there's no spare food left out and dumping the water so they have to go thirsty as well.

I'm not brave enough to trap one and try to put it in my car for release somewhere and there is no service out here that will do it for me. I can shoot it...but the smell....I'll probably only be able to see them at night when they're close by the chicken house and I don't want myself or the chickens (and one duck) to have to live with that smell. OK, mostly me.

I'm thinking a pit with peanut butter bait and check daily. Can they climb out a dirt pit? I'm thinking shoot it and immediately throw dirt over. How big would the pit have to be? Knowing me, I'll probably forget about it an fall in myself.

There will be small chickens and ducks in this house come spring.

Thoughts? Tips? Tricks? Laughter?

 

[Makayla1226]

Catching Skunks isn't the easiest thing but there are ways to do so and not get sprayed. Personally I would just shoot the thing because skunks are a pain to trap and they stink no matter what! Iv'e had skunks that lived on my property and I just threw a smoker down their hole (The same thing I do with groundhogs) and I never saw them again. You can buy gravity traps which are when you have the skunk trapped u can release it by opening the cage with a long pole. Skunk usually spray threats they can see, so just cover the trap with a towel or blanket before you move it. I don't know too much about trap pits but I feel that would be a less accurate way to catch a skunk. Like I said your better off shooting it and immediately removing it after it's dead. Good luck!

 

[Searsmom]

That's probably the best idea. Along with paying attention and closing up at dusk. It's been an unusually cold winter that appears to be warming up some so that should help as well. I'd rather them just get used to the idea that there's no food here than shoot them, but if they don't get the message, that's probably what I'll end up doing.

Out of curiosity, what are the other three skunk types? I thought there were just striped and spotted in the US.

 

[Makayla1226]

There are striped, spotted, hooded, and hog-nosed skunks. They all can be found in the U.S. Another thing you can try is skunk repellent which should help the skunks get the message of moving on.