Skunks out in force

[ForwardBias]

Anybody else notice a high number of skunks the past couple years? Seems i cant go a day or two without coming across one.

[Talking moose]

Talking moose wonders what area of province your seeing them?

[ForwardBias]

West central

[leeaspell]

I've seen more skunks this fall than I have ever seen before. Actually last year was the first time I seen a live one. Usually see at least one when I'm out grouse hunting.

[Gade81]

I'm north west of lethbridge and we've had a skunk problem for as long as I can remember. I see em constantly, little families on the prowl

[score]

let one spray you so you don't smell so human....

[Hydro1]

They have always been around here. However this year has been HORRIBLE. Dog has been sprayed 4 times, killed two of them. I have been sprayed twice. I usually see a few a day. In the warmer months this year i would see at least 5 a day.

[Arachnodisiac]

This thread title makes me imagine armies of skunks marching down gravel roads, perhaps with some sort of flag at the front of the line.

[score]

One time driving down a gravel road between two small sloughs, a mother skunk popped up from the ditch, followed by several babies in front of the truck. They stood in the middle of the road and wouldn't move along for some reason. When I eased up to scare them off the mother turned her arse end toward the truck in defense so I stopped again. After a few seconds she led them into the other ditch, all in single file with their tails up in the air. It was kind of cute to see.

[NCC]

Everywhere I drive in Central AB seems to have a dead skunk on the road. I lived in the Peace for 15 years and saw one skunk up there, this year my brother and his hired man both have them living in their shops. My buddy who had never seen a skunk around his place near RMH now says he can't get to his tree stand without stepping on one.

[roger]

And me without the special draw this year. I 999ed them. What a fool I am i went for antelope instead.

[From The Hip]

This year seems to be skunk crazy.I have had my bedroom stunk out from a dead roadkill skunk 4 or 5 times this summer when I left the window open on a hot summer night.All told I have seen 6 roadkill skunks and I live in Calgary.

This is a bad year for skunks.

FTH

[bobalong]

I was just in Eastern Alberta and the cousin and neighbours have had more skunks than ever this year. Any bios out there know why, never really heard of skunks having a cyclical population.

[ForwardBias]

Originally Posted by Arachnodisiac

This thread title makes me imagine armies of skunks marching down gravel roads, perhaps with some sort of flag at the front of the line.

Its headed that way dude. lol. My buddies from Hinton have been raving about seeing skunks. I guess they never really saw any growing up. My folks are having a bear of a time, their dogs have been getting into skunks almost weekly. I past dead ones on the highway daily, and see lots in the field. Id like to hear a biologist's opinion on skunk populations in Alberta the last few years.

[roper1]

They are distant relatives of the grizzly, hence uncountable in AB

[HunterDave]

Maybe were hitting the coyotes to hard and there aren't enough of them to control the skunk population?

I doubt it but the threads on AO seem to indicate that there are a lot more critters around this year. There was a similar thread awhile back about an abundance of fox as well. Personally, I haven't noticed but with the good growing seasons and reasonable winters that we've had the past few years, I wouldn't doubt that it favours some species and they will flourish because of it.

[Arachnodisiac]

That's funny because I haven't seen a single one all year around home!
(If anyone has an extra skunk skull... still need one!)

Originally Posted by ForwardBias

Its headed that way dude. lol. My buddies from Hinton have been raving about seeing skunks. I guess they never really saw any growing up. My folks are having a bear of a time, their dogs have been getting into skunks almost weekly. I past dead ones on the highway daily, and see lots in the field. Id like to hear a biologist's opinion on skunk populations in Alberta the last few years.

[greylynx]

Originally Posted by Arachnodisiac

This thread title makes me imagine armies of skunks marching down gravel roads, perhaps with some sort of flag at the front of the line.

I have noticed mommy skunks with the baby skunks following her all in a row.

They are sneaky quiet animals I have had them try to set up a nest under my pheasant coop.

Skunks also mean another thing. Rabies.

[Arachnodisiac]

So do bats and I still like them. They are pretty cute.

(Says the girl who was treated for rabies exposure at 13 years old and still has immunity.)

[ForwardBias]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

Maybe were hitting the coyotes to hard and there aren't enough of them to control the skunk population?

I doubt it but the threads on AO seem to indicate that there are a lot more critters around this year. There was a similar thread awhile back about an abundance of fox as well. Personally, I haven't noticed but with the good growing seasons and reasonable winters that we've had the past few years, I wouldn't doubt that it favours some species and they will flourish because of it.

From what ive read only domestic dogs, and owls prey on skunks. If anyone else knows better please share!

[Gerryburnie]

As an aside, in my forthcoming novel "The Brit, Kid Cupid, and Petunia" (set in Pincher Creek in 1874), Petunia is a strawberry-jam-loving skunk that has a litter of kits in the story. So, maybe these are some of her offspring (just saying).

[JDK71]

I have only seen one this year Caroline area

[densa44]

I have pigeon/chukar coops and I thought that was what was attracting them.

I worry about rabies and my dogs.

I didn't know about owls but I didn't think that they had any natural enemies. I can see why.

They were trying to move into my garage in the fall.

[Pioneer2]

Every time it gets mild their dens flood and out they wander to find drier accommodations.

[HVA7mm]

Our dog got misted twice within a 3 week period in September. Once in our yard, once through the fence between driveway and yard, live in SW Edmonton. Put a trap out for a week, no sign of it. I'm guessing that it was probably a juvenile. If it returns in the spring, a more aggressive trapping program will ensue. One gentleman from NE Edmonton I spoke to while picking up trap from animal control, said that he had trapped 4 already.

[fordtruckin]

I've got several phone calls at work concerning skunks here in MT. Seems like everyone wants to live trap a skunk then call the game warden to release it. Sorry folks it ain't going to happen. First and foremost I am not getting sprayed trying to release a skunk you don't want. Second I can't relocate them because they are rabies carriers and I could inadvertently be spreading the disease to a new location if I were to relocate them. Third, if I show up all I'm going to do is shoot it with a .22lr from a SAFE distance. Fourth, they are a protected or managed species so FIFTH SHOOT THEM YOURSELF if you don't want them!

[270person]

Originally Posted by densa44

I didn't know about owls but I didn't think that they had any natural enemies.

#6 shot?

[BeaverJim]

more skunks than white tails !

[Pioneer2]

Originally Posted by greylynx

I have noticed mommy skunks with the baby skunks following her all in a row.

They are sneaky quiet animals I have had them try to set up a nest under my pheasant coop.

Skunks also mean another thing. Rabies.

They would be stealing eggs........pinhole in one end and suck out the contents.

[Gray Wolf]

Originally Posted by ForwardBias

Anybody else notice a high number of skunks the past couple years? Seems i cant go a day or two without coming across one.

I'm not so sure about that ^ anymore.

The Mods have been pretty good about clearing out most of the skunks around here lately!

The 'air' is so much sweeter now
.