BADGER is a three-year-old skunk, injured in the wild and found non-releasable by a veterinarian and rehabber. He got his unique name due to his close relations to badgers. Their families split about 7 million years ago. Badgers, when scared (which is not very often) can also spray in a similar fashion. Skunks are success stories in our cities as they come out at night while we sleep in our beds and are nature's cleanup crew! They even eat rodents and insects. Skunks have poor vision, so it is easy to scare a skunk and get sprayed by accident. Given the opportunity, they will mind their own business. Pleae be aware that you shouldn’t feed native wildlife. Feeding them brings in all kinds of animals, including coyotes, which makes it dangerous for people's backyard pets.
ORDER: Carnivora
FAMILY: Mephitidae
GENUS: Mephitis
SPECIES: Macroura
Hooded skunks are solitary creatures; however, they may gather in small groups at a feeding ground without showing any signs of aggression. They shelter in a burrow or a nest of thick plant cover during the day and are active at night. Like other skunks, for self-defense they spray bad-smelling oily musk from two gland located at the base of their tail. They are omnivores, their diet consists mostly of vegetation, especially prickly pear, but they also eat insects, small vertebrates, and bird eggs. During mating season, the male mates with several females. They usually breed from February to March and after a gestation period of 50 days, females give birth to 3-8 kits.
Threats
Currently not endangered due to their ability to live in human suburban areas. Their fur is of low economical value. They are hunted by people and owls for food.
Conservation Status
LC - Least Concern