Skunks: Sharing the road with motorists

Photo by donjd2

In Kentucky skunks are often killed on the roads during February because of their mating habits. The mating season begins in late January and continues through February, resulting in kits in May and June. During breeding season males of this mostly nocturnal species wander between four and five miles each night. These randy raccoons move slowly and resist fleeing from danger, which results in a high incidence of animals being hit by cars. Many motorists note the increase of animals (and odor) on roads and along roadsides during these weeks.

Members of the weasel family, skunks are beneficial, but because of the noxious and unmistakable odor they emit when provoked, they are unpopular and even feared. They can be found in a wide variety of settings, from woodlots to hayfields to cities, throughout Kentucky. They are opportunistic, eating plant and animal material, including insects and small animals such as mice, rats and shrews. Skunks do occasionally kill poultry and eat eggs, but because they mostly consume what are considered vermin (rats, shrews, moles, etc.), the accepted course is to leave them alone in their habitat.

Skunks can become an issue when they take up residence in close proximity to dwellings, for example, under the front porch or start digging underneath foundations. They also can get into trash cans, beehives and henhouses, where they can do damage. 

In addition to their offensive odor, skunks are susceptible to rabies, a serious viral infection they can transmit to other mammals and humans through biting. Great care should be taken to keep children, pets and livestock away from skunks. Pets and livestock should be vaccinated against rabies. If you are bitten by a skunk, capture the animal and submit it, with head intact, to your public health department for testing. Scrub the wound with warm, soapy water for a minimum of 20 minutes. Seek medical attention immediately. Your local public health authorities, physician and veterinarian can provide more information on rabies. 

The best option to prevent interaction with skunks is to make your house, barns or farm less attractive to them. Use wire mesh and fencing to keep animals away from dwellings; promptly remove extraneous attractions such as pet food, animal feed, garbage or sheltering debris that will bring skunks to your property.

Skunks are beneficial, eating agricultural and garden pests. Since skunks eat large numbers of grubs and can damage lawns, some folks might want to see if they have a grub problem and if so, treat that problem. Habitat modification can limit problems with skunks, but the recommended method is to leave them alone. Skunk musk, while off-putting, is usually simply a means of self-defense.

For more information on skunks, contact your local Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources biologist or contact the Woodford County Cooperative Extension Service at 873-4601.

 Source: Thomas G. Barnes, Extension Wildlife Specialist