Green Group discussion

Mary Holland's Naturally Curious had a mystery question today:

Without googling or looking up the answer, what animal do you think might be the Striped Skunk’s primary predator?

What do you think the answer is? Take a guess.

https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholla...

hawk?

(view spoiler)[It is a snow owl. Look on Naturally Curious for a detailed story. My logic was like yours. It could not be a mammal, so I went with bird and said hawk. (hide spoiler)]

:-)

Maeve Greyson tells me she had a close encounter with a skunk.

"If you've followed me very long, you know that I'm the crazy cat lady in my neck of the woods. Not only do I have five indoor kitties, I also feed a colony of ferals and strays as well as provide them a warm place to sleep with "diy-engineered" insulated beds.

Feeding all those outside kitties also attracts a trio of raccoons, a pair of possums, and my little black and white friend with his own special perfume.

The other morning, I went out to feed the herd, and, of course, they came running. However, I noticed what I thought at the time was one of the smaller black ones hanging back in the shadows by the straw bales and trying to remain hidden.

I divvied the food into several pans to cut down on fighting and hissing and since that little black one was hanging back as if scared, I fixed him (or her) a special pan of food and took it to him in his little hiding spot where he felt safe.

That's when he whirled around, hiked his tail, and let loose with a warning poot that made it quite clear he was not a feline but a skunk. Thank goodness, the little guy was good natured enough to warn me and not spray me down with that noxious aroma. Needless to say, I backed away but couldn't resist hanging around to watch him.

Poor little guy had a hurt front foot and was limping but did eat the entire pan of food before he gimped off into the woods. I hope he'll be all right. Nature can be a cruel place for an undersized skunk with a bad foot even if he is fully armed with stinkiness."

Facts About the Skunk by Lisa Strattin