Where does the skunk live? Views and Photos

The world of wildlife is surprisingly beautiful and unusual. There are many beautiful animals in it. One of them is the skunk. This animal is a predatory mammal of small size. The gait of the skunk is very unusual. To make a step, he first arches his back, the tail pulls aside and makes a small jump, that is, the movement is carried out skipping.

Where does the skunk live? It can be found in zoos, but quite rare. After all, employees and visitors would have to wear protective masks. The protective reaction in skunks involves the allocation of a highly odorous substance. It is better to get acquainted with this animal in its natural conditions and at a sufficient distance.

Close relatives of skunks - ferrets, badgers, martens.

Description

Many mammals use odoriferous substances, but skunks have been able to turn it into a powerful and effective weapon for their own defense.

Under the tail of the beast are two glands, through which there is a surge of liquid with a strong unpleasant odor. In the air, the jet breaks up into small droplets.

Such a "shot" can reach the target at a distance of up to four meters. So the animal can do up to five times. After that, it takes some time to make up.

Looks animal is attractive. The body is strong, paws short with large claws. Males are usually larger than females.

Where does the Mexican skunk live, an amusing representative of the animal world? This question is asked by many, having learned about the existence of the animal.

Composition of squirting liquid of skunk

Nature has given skunks such a feature as protection with odor. The main active substance of the liquid is ethyl mercaptan, butyl mercaptan and other natural compounds that are present in the secretions of many mammals.

Regardless of where the skunk lives, the result is the same. All representatives of this species have secretions of a special "aroma" and firmness. If the liquid of the animal has got on anything, even after long treatments and airing, the smell does not go away and after a few months.

This protection allows the animal to feel fearless and proud, no matter how small it is. Skunk does not run away, because it's not necessary.

Habitat

Where does the skunk live? On which continent? The birthplace of the skunk is North America. They feed on insects, frogs, mice, lizards, ruin birds' nests, do not disdain carrion, and, which is unusual for predators, like berries and fruits. Many explore the terrain and play. Densely populated areas are the places where the skunk lives. He likes to visit backyards and trash cans.

The shores of the reservoirs are the place where the skunk lives. The continent is large, but animals do not like being too far from the watering place. But in the US there are not always places where skunk dwells. He does not live in Alaska and Hawaii.

This unusual animal prefers not to rise above 1800 meters above sea level. But some still climb into the mountains, to a height of up to 4000 meters. They prefer to exist in forests and meadows, close to people. Most of all they like shrubs, rocky slopes and fringes near rivers. Before falling into hibernation, skunks prepare dwellings, collecting dry leaves and grass.

Choose a dry and inconspicuous place for the night. Often the animal chooses a burrow that was dug by someone else earlier. Males hibernate separately, and females - with cubs.

These beasts destroy rodents, harmful insects. Nice and attractive. Often people keep houses of skunks with the removed odorous glands. Alas, they are prone to rabies.

In Italy, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and the United States, this animal often houses, so you can say that Europe is another place where the skunk lives. In some places, these animals are protected by law, they are prohibited from selling. In places where their purchase is allowed, skunks are removed from the odorous glands.

Types of skunks

There is not one kind of skunk. Color they have the same type, but each has distinctive features. Kinds:

1. Striped skunk. Weight up to 5.3 kg.

2. Spotted skunk. Dwarfish appearance, weight up to 1 kg.

3. Pork skunk. The largest species. It is known that it can reach nine kilograms.

4. Smelly skunk.

Each of them has such an unusual remedy, like a smell.

Striped Skunk

This kind of easy to distinguish. He has wide white stripes on his black back, from his head to the tip of his fluffy tail. By weight can reach 5.3 kg. Over the summer, the animal accumulates a layer of fat and from November to March goes into the ground holes in hibernation. Lifestyle night. Before the attack makes a threatening pose and only after it releases a jet. If it gets into the eyes, the fluid causes temporary blindness. The smell is difficult to remove.

These animals have a gentle character and playfulness, for which they are valued.

Places of residence of a striped skunk

Skunk is an omnivore. Plain areas with tree plantations, meadows and farmland are places where a striped skunk lives. As a rule, the animals select the sites located not more than three kilometers from the water. The marriage period is from February to March.

Females are sociable, often live in a common burrow. Pregnancy lasts up to 77 days. In a litter there are from 2 to 10 blind and deaf puppies. After 8 days, they may splash with liquid for protection purposes.

Small skunks leave mothers about the age of the year, after puberty. Males are polygamous, so they can mate with several females. They do not take care of the offspring. In captivity can live up to 10 years, in natural conditions - less.

The main cause of death of skunks - all sorts of diseases, including rabies. Often, animals perish on motorways, as they are slow and have poor eyesight. Despite the powerful defense, they are attacked by large predators, and animals can not always survive.

The place where the striped skunk dwells is the mainland America.

Food

Skunk is not able to fish or large prey, so feeds on small rodents, frogs, etc. Zverek is able to attack helpless bunnies. The rest of the menu depends on the season. In a warm time, he eats fruits, berries, seeds, vegetation.

Hunt predator mainly at night. The vision of a skunk is bad, so for hunting he uses hearing and smell.

Some prey the animal rolls on the ground, but not just so, but to eliminate the poisonous peel or to remove the thorny villi. Regardless of what catches the skunk, he eats it right away. Do not skunk skunks and feast on honey, nabredaya on the hive, they eat all the contents, including honeycomb and bees.

For them, there is no threat of a bee sting, because thick wool provides protection against bites. The muzzle can suffer only.

Content at home

If you keep the skunk at home, then you should follow the recommendations for nutrition. Food should be uninstructed, unsalted, unsweetened, lean. Half of the diet should be vegetables and fruits. To replenish proteins, a boiled chicken, egg or fish will do. There should always be rice, millet and other grains in the diet. Skunks consume only natural products. In the farm bring many benefits, as they eliminate rodents and dangerous insects.

As already written, America is the place where skunk lives. The photos clearly show how the animals look, demonstrating the distinctive features of the species. In Russia, even during the Soviet era, attempts were made to acclimatize the beast, but attempts were unsuccessful.

Skunks are amazing small animals that live in the wild. They are endowed with special protection and attractive appearance, as well as an excellent character.