![]() Any control of this damage must first begin with the control of white grubs in the soil. The damage is distinguishable from that caused by raccoons, as the sod appears as if someone has neatly rolled it back with the intent of transplanting it elsewhere. In late summer and fall, skunks can cause damage to lawns as they search for insect larvae, such as white grubs. They also consume eggs, berries and other fruits, and in winter and early spring when other food is scarce, small rodents. Striped skunks have a very good sense of smell, and being omnivores, consume a varied diet, preferring insects and their larvae. As evidence of this shuffle, notice how many road-killed skunks and raccoons you see during the fall. This behavior, known as the “fall shuffle” puts roaming skunks at risk, increasing encounters with humans, our pets, and predators. The young stay with the female until fall, when they begin to disperse in search of their own territories and winter den sites. Striped skunks typically have litters of 4 to 6 young born between May and June. Pay attention to the overall health and behavior of the skunk, and if it appears to be going about its business, do not disturb it and maintain a respectable distance. Seeing a skunk in daylight is not necessarily an indication of rabies and should not cause undue alarm. Striped skunks are typically nocturnal, but during times of increased feeding, such as spring when the female is pregnant and fall, when fattening up, they can be seen earlier in the day or evening. Meanwhile, the striped skunk has remained ubiquitous, occasionally to the chagrin of a dog or homeowner. With the loss of small farms, diversified agriculture, and the lack of rodent prey attracted to readily available grain, once stored in open cribs, the “civet cat” has all but disappeared from Iowa’s farms and countryside. Little is known about where they may still be found in Iowa. The latter, also known as a "civet cat", is smaller than the striped skunk, has white spots and shorter, broken white stripes against black fur, and is listed on Iowa’s endangered species list. Iowa has two species of skunks: the striped skunk and the spotted skunk. But, in the case of skunks, they can release a potent mist or stream, at close range and up to 20 feet, to defend themselves against predators! Members of these families use musk to mark territories and den sites, and attract a mate. Skunks, now classified in the family Mephitidae, like members of its former family Mustelidae, the weasels (mink, weasel, badger, otter, etc.), emit an oily musk from their anal glands. Pee-Yew! It's fall and you've caught a whiff of that unmistakable pungent smell drifting on the night air that could only belong to the skunk.
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