Grit

PUNGENT VARMINTS

Anyone old enough to remember the classic Looney Tunes cartoons is familiar with Pepé Le Pew, the amorous French skunk in relentless pursuit of romance. In real life, skunks, which are about the size of a house cat, command deference from animals much larger in stature. Even bears give this mammal, which belongs to the Mephitidae family, a wide berth to avoid an encounter with a bad ending. Ironically, it’s the skunk’s confidence in its potent defensive weapon that gives this furry creature the swagger and charm portrayed in so many children’s stories.

There are several species of skunks in the United States: hog-nosed, hooded, spotted, and striped.

Hog-nosed and hooded skunks are found in the Southwest. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the eastern U.S. This includes the eastern spotted skunk, found throughout the Great Plains to Texas and Florida, and the western spotted skunk, which is found pretty much everywhere west of

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