Under The Back Shed Gang

[JimmyM]

This is the 2011 family of skunks born and raised by their mother under my back shed . This has been a spring/early summer event for the past 6 years .
The skunks have been out foraging for food just at dusk for the past week or so . We expect that they will be vacating their nest within the next few days .
Their antics and behavior are fun to watch . To date, no bad incidents have ever taken place despite my banging around in the shed and cutting the grass nearby .
Roaming house cats and racoons keep their distance and only once did I notice the skunk scent in the air - early in the nesting period and probably the result of an animal nosing into the opening .
 We get some free grub control as a bonus.
Jim

[JimmyM]

Oops - these are the photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37848947@N06/5905786858/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37848947@N06/5905794006/

Jim

[birddog]

Nice to see someone who isn't freaking out over shunks. Many people would call wildlife control agency or wildlife removal companies instead of enjoying nature at its finest. Enjoy!

[Kin Lau]

Young skunks are such fluffy little guys... a whole bunch of Peppy LaPews.

[JimmyM]

Birddog and Kin - thanks for the comments .
If something in the area momentarily excites them - its funny to see them freeze and 6 tails go up in unison ( no release though).
Jim

[Rob'in'To]

That's awesome!  I haven't seen a Skunk in years.  We used to see them in the back gardens in the middle of the night when we shone a light out there.  Beautiful creatures to say the least.

[JimmyM]

Well, here its well into august and 2 youngsters and the mother skunk still have not left the nest . 3 left shortly after my first post . With the 3 hanging around it gives me a chance to watch their interaction with the other animals that visit my backyard . Just before dark, a large racoon walked between 2 of the skunks - close enough that both turned , lifted tails and let go at the same time, however the racoon was ready for this (apparently a veteran of skunk encounters) and covered his eyes with a paw then in a few seconds passed through - a little smelly but unharmed .
  A nice thing is that the skunks tend to keep the neigbourhood cats from preying on birds at my feeder, not so nice is exiting the front door and meeting up with skunk coming towards me . No harm done though , but I think its time for them to become "wild" .
Jim