Skunks from All Over Texas Come Measuring the Distance Between the Start Together for the Day to Compete

Texas Wildlife Association presents....

April 2017 Kid’s Quarterly Mini-Mag! Vol. 11 No. 2

Postcards from Nancy...... by Elanor Dean Hey there TWA Pals! Spring has sprung which means warmer weather and recorded in the competition. I wish I were able to compete in this fun outdoor events. Today I am writing you from the event, because I had a pretty powerful stomp. 4th Annual Skunk Shuffle which is held in Sulphur We had to walk to a faraway field for the fourth and final event, Springs, Texas. My friend Stanley the skunk invited the spray shoot. There was a long table at the entrance of the field me because he and his family are competing in covered with clothespins, and I could see targets on the opposite the events. side of the field. We ran into Stanley’s sister Each year skunks from all over Texas come measuring the distance between the start together for the day to compete. We arrived line and the targets, 10 feet. Stanley and early, so Stanley was able to take me around his sister were most excited about this to explain each event in the Skunk Shuffle. event. They explained that the clothespins We walked past a stage with a microphone were to block my nose because this was a that was ready for the grunting competition. competition for most accurate skunk spray. In this event, everyone competes to make “Wait, what?” I said, “Skunks can decide the scariest and intimidating presentation of where they want their spray to go?” “Yes,” grunts, hisses and snarls. Next to the stage said Stanley, “we are able to spray pretty well was a long runway set up for the tail swish. over 10 feet away.” The targets were set up Stanley told me that his father won this like an archery circle, and the closest spray competition last year for having the most to the center of the target would win the fabulous tail display. He works very hard to competition. keep his tail well groomed and fluffy in case Photo @thinkstock “Wow,” I said as we returned to the he needs to frighten away a predator. entrance of the fairground, “this looks like it We continued walking through the Skunk Shuffle fairground is going to be a great day!” I wished Stanley and arrived at the strongest stomp stage. There were several good luck and took my seat in the platforms set up with pressure plates that looked like they were stands ready to enjoy the events. ready for some type of measurement. Stanley’s uncle was double- It looks like they are about to checking that the pressure plates were correctly adjusted and he start, so I had better sign off. let us practice stomping. We had to stomp on the pressure plate with both of our front feet as the plate recorded the strength of Nancy our stomp. He explained that the best out of three stomps was Nine-band Critter Connections is made Attention Teachers: possible by a grant from the San Antonio Livestock To receive a free one-year subscription, go to: Exposition. http://www.texas-wildlife.org/program-areas/ subscribe-to-critter-connections Join TWA Today! TWA is a membership-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to educate all people, especially the youth of Texas Wildlife Association Texas, about the conservation, management, and enhancement of wildlife and wildlife habitat on private land. All programs are made possible through memberships and grants or donations. TWA HAS RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - CLASSROOM TEACHERS, HOMESCHOOL TEACHERS, Your consideration of support is most appreciated. INFORMAL EDUCATORS AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, FACILITIES AND CAMPS!

Last year the Learning Across New Dimensions in Science (L.A.N.D.S.) youth education department of TWA provided programming for 337,000 youth across the state. Wildlife by Design - FREE presentations for grades K-8 Contact us to find out how we may help you incorporate wildlife and natural resources into your classroom! brought to your location by a TWA Educator. Each program includes a hands-on, inquiry based lesson and Most programs are free for teachers. activity, 30-60 minutes in length, for a group of 20-45 For information on our educational programs, please contact us at 800-TEX-WILD (800-839-9453). students, and can be repeated up to six (6) times that day. Joining TWA is optional. Each membership helps support TWA programs but it is not required to participate in our programs. Presentations are available regionally. http://www.texas- wildlife.org/program-areas/wildlife-by-design Join us at www.texas-wildlife.org

Membership Levels: Discovery Trunks - Statewide Discovery Trunks are full of hands-on, program-enhancing, natural resource materials ____ Life Member $2,400 ____ President’s Council $1,000+ and lessons, geared for grades K-8. Seven (7) trunk topics ____ Corporate $750 ____ Active $150 are available in two-week reservation periods and are ____ Family $250 ____ Online $35 available at no cost! Designed for groups of 40 students or more. Reserve your Discovery Trunk online http://www. ____ Associate $75 ____ Online Student $20 trunks.texas-wildlife.org/ All members receive a one year subscription to our monthly magazine, Texas Wildlife. Critter Connections - An educational, Educator and Volunteer Workshops & Trainings - Are interactive newsletter targeted for you interested in including conservation, natural youth ages 13 and younger. Subscribe resources, and wildlife education in your classroom? De-Skunk Recipe online for a free class set (25 copies) or Would you like to help advance natural resource literacy Images from www.exploringnature.org an individual subscription (1 copy). All in your community? For more issues available for free online. Several information go to: http:// Oh no! Did your pet encounter a skunk? issues also available in Spanish! Quantities www.texas-wildlife.org/ limited. http://www.texas-wildlife.org/ programs-areas/category/ We have found that this is the best recipe to de-skunk your pet: resources/publications/category/critter- educator-and-volunteer- connections/ resources 1 quart hydrogen peroxide Distance Learning - Watch TWA’s programs to spark your student’s interest in wildlife and private land stewardship. ½ cup baking soda Available as On-demand Webinars and via videoconferencing (also online). Programs are interactive, TEKS-aligned for 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid (blue Dawn works the best) grades 1-6, and free to view! http://www.texas-wildlife.org/program-areas/youth-videoconferencing Viewing On-demand Webinars: Mix fresh ingredients in a bucket and wash your pet with the solution. Viewing Videoconference programs: Once you have rubbed the solution into your pet’s fur make sure you thoroughly rinse with clean water. http://www.texas-wildlife.org/ programs-areas/youth-on-demand-webinars Visit www.connect2texas.net

L.A.N.D.S. Intensive Program & iTunes U - TWA has Trinity River Project - With the collaborated with the Texas L.A.N.D.S. Intensive program, Education Agency (TEA) schools and teachers have to bring our On-demand access to natural resource Youth Webinars to the TEA lessons, special presentations, page on iTunes U. Previews field investigation days, and of each On-demand Webinar and corresponding necropsies, as part of our worksheet are now available right on your iPhone Learning Across New Dimensions in Science (L.A.N.D.S.) or iPad. https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/texas- youth stewardship initiative. Trinity River Project, Grades wildlife-association/id884228948 4-5 — L.A.N.D.S. Intensive Program Grades 7-12. http:// www.texas-wildlife.org/program-areas/learning-across- Follow us on: 2 new-dimensions-in-science-l.a.n.d.s. 7 2 Photo @ commons.wikimedia.org

Did you know... puzzles.....mazes.....oh my! go ahead.....give it a try! Skunk Unscramble Step 1: Use the clues to unscramble the word and then write the word into the boxes. When an animal eats meat and plants it is an MOERNOIV 5 12 Skunks use these do dig SWLCA 6 10 A skunks color is a RANGWIN to predators 11 Skunks produce a stinky PASYR 13 1 An area consisting of a city or town NBUAR 3 Skunks will sleep in a burrow or NDE

word searches...... 7 14 … that skunks can spray very accurately, up to 10 feet to keep their predators away? When an animal is active or awake at night RUNCNLOTA … that their black and white coloration is a warning for predators to stay away? 2 9 … that spraying is only used as a last resort, first they will try to scare the predator away by grunting, The place where an animal lives TBAHITA stomping their feet and fluffing their tail? 4 8 … that the name skunk comes from the Algonquin word seganku? Step 2: Answer the riddle by placing the letters from the numbers boxes above into the corresponding box below. … that there are six different species or types of skunk in Texas? … that skunks only spray five or six times before they temporarily run out of and have to make more? How do you stop a skunk from smelling?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Guess Who? Skunk Image © Sheri Amsel, www.exploringnature.org Conservation Action Items There are six different species, or types of skunks in Texas. The three displayed here are the Hooded Skunk, Spotted Skunk and Striped Skunk. Can you figure out which one is which? Write your guess in the blank below each image.

Feed pets indoors to discourage skunks from entering your backyard. Reduce, reuse or recycle whenever possible. Volunteer with a habitat restoration project. Conserve water and use a reusable water bottle. Tell a friend something you learned about skunks. Sharing your love for wildlife is a great way to get other people involved.

Encourage shoppers in your home to switch to reusable bags. Photo @ commons.wikimedia.org

6 3 corner digging. Skunks do not have a very good sense of vision, Photo by Greg Schechter Photo @ dollarphotoclub they are mainly helpless and require their mother’s care but they are nocturnal, so they do not need to see well since in order to survive. Kits are born with some hair, but they are more active at night. they are blind and deaf, opening their eyes after about Many animals are camouflaged in color in order to blend three weeks. The kits will stay in the burrow and drink in with their environment, but skunks have a color pattern their mother’s milk until they are about two months of known as aposematic coloration. This bright black and white age. They become independent or able to survive on striped color pattern is a warning to predators that they are their own at 10 weeks old, however some species will dangerous. This warning coloration is their first defense stay close to their mother until they reach maturity. against predators. While skunks are known for defending c themselves with a stinky spray, this is actually one of the last things they do during a predator encounter. First, a skunk will make hissing and grunting sounds while stomping both feet toward a predator. If this method does not work, then the skunk will turn around, fluff its tail, and wave it around there are ways that you can help ensure skunks stay wild. in warning. Finally, if none of these methods work, then the First, make sure that garbage is secured inside of a garbage r Skunks skunk will resort to spraying as a final defense. can because skunks are attracted to the smell of food. Also, Skunks produce their chemical spray from a special if you feed your pets outdoors, it is a good idea to start By Elanor Dean pair of glands at the base of the tail. They use spray as a feeding them inside or bring in the food in the evenings last defense because their body can only carry enough to when skunks are active, because they will eat your pet’s Texas is home to six different species, or types of spray five to six times before they have to produce more. It food. Skunks will also seek shelter in garages and under skunks. The Striped Skunk, Hooded Skunk, two species can take up to 10 days for them to produce another supply homes. Make sure that garage doors stay closed and any of Spotted Skunk and two species of Hog-nosed Skunk. of spray. Skunks are able to shoot their spray up to 15 feet holes into, or under the house are secured to avoid any i with a high degree of accuracy. This strong spray can cause unexpected visitors. If you know there is a skunk living in While their markings differ between several spots and stripes, two thick stripes or one thick stripe, they are all temporary blindness if sprayed in a predator’s eyes and is your backyard, or under your home, then have your parents On average, skunks live about two years in the wild; black and white in color and have similar adaptations. usually enough to scare off most predators and discourage contact a wildlife professional who can safely remove the however, in captivity they can live to be 10 years old. By far, the most common skunk is the Striped Skunk them from bothering a skunk after the first encounter. This animal and relocate it to its natural habitat. Lastly, if you Skunks are very important to their ecosystem in (Mephitis mephitis). Striped skunks are found throughout means that skunks do not have very many predators in the encounter a skunk in your backyard it is best to calmly Texas. Most of the land in Texas is privately owned, Texas and the United States and even further north into wild, with the exception of the Great-horned Owl. Owls do walk away and bring any pets indoors to avoid getting which means that individual people own their land and t Canada. not have a good sense of smell, so they are unaffected by sprayed. The skunk will only spray as a last resort if it feels are responsible for keeping it natural and providing Skunks weigh between three to 10 pounds or 1.4- the powerful odor caused by a skunk’s spray. threatened. good habitat for wildlife. You can do your part to help 4.5 kilograms depending on the species and where they Skunks are omnivores, so they eat both meat and plants. Baby skunks, or kits, are generally born in April and skunks and all wildlife by recycling, conserving water live. Skunks that live in the northern parts of their range The main part of their diet consists of insects, but they May. A female skunk will dig a burrow or den to inhabit with and picking up litter. weigh more because they have more fat to stay warm will eat other animals and animal products such as small her three to seven kits. Skunks are altricial, which means in the colder temperatures. Their body length is 15-30 mammals, reptiles, eggs and even carrion, or the remains of inches or 40-80 centimeters with their tail accounting dead animals. They have sharp teeth adapted for crunching t through the tough exoskeleton of insects and tearing up for over one-third of their total length. Male skunks are generally larger than females. Skunks have short, meat. They will also eat plants such as berries, leaves, roots powerful legs and long front claws that are adapted for and nuts. Their ability to eat many different types of food allows them to live in many different kinds of habitats. Their diet can change depending on their habitat and what is available seasonally. In Texas, skunks prefer to live in rocky e areas with thick vegetation or mixed woodlands or brushy areas nearby a water source. They find shelter in rocky areas, or will inhabit an old armadillo or fox burrow. Skunks are best suited to live in wild habitats, but they have adapted to live in close proximity to humans in Photo @ birdphotos.com Photo @ national geographic kids suburban habitats. This is because they can find shelter r under homes and have easy access to food in our garbage and pet food. It is always exciting to see wildlife, but when Sources: skunks live in our neighborhoods, it sometimes leads to Mammals of Texas Online Edition (http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/) unwanted encounters with humans and our pets. However, Texas Parks and Wildlife (http://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/skunk/) corner digging. Skunks do not have a very good sense of vision, Photo by Greg Schechter Photo @ dollarphotoclub they are mainly helpless and require their mother’s care but they are nocturnal, so they do not need to see well since in order to survive. Kits are born with some hair, but they are more active at night. they are blind and deaf, opening their eyes after about Many animals are camouflaged in color in order to blend three weeks. The kits will stay in the burrow and drink in with their environment, but skunks have a color pattern their mother’s milk until they are about two months of known as aposematic coloration. This bright black and white age. They become independent or able to survive on striped color pattern is a warning to predators that they are their own at 10 weeks old, however some species will dangerous. This warning coloration is their first defense stay close to their mother until they reach maturity. against predators. While skunks are known for defending c themselves with a stinky spray, this is actually one of the last things they do during a predator encounter. First, a skunk will make hissing and grunting sounds while stomping both feet toward a predator. If this method does not work, then the skunk will turn around, fluff its tail, and wave it around there are ways that you can help ensure skunks stay wild. in warning. Finally, if none of these methods work, then the First, make sure that garbage is secured inside of a garbage r Skunks skunk will resort to spraying as a final defense. can because skunks are attracted to the smell of food. Also, Skunks produce their chemical spray from a special if you feed your pets outdoors, it is a good idea to start By Elanor Dean pair of glands at the base of the tail. They use spray as a feeding them inside or bring in the food in the evenings last defense because their body can only carry enough to when skunks are active, because they will eat your pet’s Texas is home to six different species, or types of spray five to six times before they have to produce more. It food. Skunks will also seek shelter in garages and under skunks. The Striped Skunk, Hooded Skunk, two species can take up to 10 days for them to produce another supply homes. Make sure that garage doors stay closed and any of Spotted Skunk and two species of Hog-nosed Skunk. of spray. Skunks are able to shoot their spray up to 15 feet holes into, or under the house are secured to avoid any i with a high degree of accuracy. This strong spray can cause unexpected visitors. If you know there is a skunk living in While their markings differ between several spots and stripes, two thick stripes or one thick stripe, they are all temporary blindness if sprayed in a predator’s eyes and is your backyard, or under your home, then have your parents On average, skunks live about two years in the wild; black and white in color and have similar adaptations. usually enough to scare off most predators and discourage contact a wildlife professional who can safely remove the however, in captivity they can live to be 10 years old. By far, the most common skunk is the Striped Skunk them from bothering a skunk after the first encounter. This animal and relocate it to its natural habitat. Lastly, if you Skunks are very important to their ecosystem in (Mephitis mephitis). Striped skunks are found throughout means that skunks do not have very many predators in the encounter a skunk in your backyard it is best to calmly Texas. Most of the land in Texas is privately owned, Texas and the United States and even further north into wild, with the exception of the Great-horned Owl. Owls do walk away and bring any pets indoors to avoid getting which means that individual people own their land and t Canada. not have a good sense of smell, so they are unaffected by sprayed. The skunk will only spray as a last resort if it feels are responsible for keeping it natural and providing Skunks weigh between three to 10 pounds or 1.4- the powerful odor caused by a skunk’s spray. threatened. good habitat for wildlife. You can do your part to help 4.5 kilograms depending on the species and where they Skunks are omnivores, so they eat both meat and plants. Baby skunks, or kits, are generally born in April and skunks and all wildlife by recycling, conserving water live. Skunks that live in the northern parts of their range The main part of their diet consists of insects, but they May. A female skunk will dig a burrow or den to inhabit with and picking up litter. weigh more because they have more fat to stay warm will eat other animals and animal products such as small her three to seven kits. Skunks are altricial, which means in the colder temperatures. Their body length is 15-30 mammals, reptiles, eggs and even carrion, or the remains of inches or 40-80 centimeters with their tail accounting dead animals. They have sharp teeth adapted for crunching t through the tough exoskeleton of insects and tearing up for over one-third of their total length. Male skunks are generally larger than females. Skunks have short, meat. They will also eat plants such as berries, leaves, roots powerful legs and long front claws that are adapted for and nuts. Their ability to eat many different types of food allows them to live in many different kinds of habitats. Their diet can change depending on their habitat and what is available seasonally. In Texas, skunks prefer to live in rocky e areas with thick vegetation or mixed woodlands or brushy areas nearby a water source. They find shelter in rocky areas, or will inhabit an old armadillo or fox burrow. Skunks are best suited to live in wild habitats, but they have adapted to live in close proximity to humans in Photo @ birdphotos.com Photo @ national geographic kids suburban habitats. This is because they can find shelter r under homes and have easy access to food in our garbage and pet food. It is always exciting to see wildlife, but when Sources: skunks live in our neighborhoods, it sometimes leads to Mammals of Texas Online Edition (http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/) unwanted encounters with humans and our pets. However, Texas Parks and Wildlife (http://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/skunk/) Photo @ commons.wikimedia.org

Encourage shoppers in your home to switch to reusable bags. Photo @ commons.wikimedia.org

6 3 Join TWA Today! TWA is a membership-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to educate all people, especially the youth of Texas Wildlife Association Texas, about the conservation, management, and enhancement of wildlife and wildlife habitat on private land. All programs are made possible through memberships and grants or donations. TWA HAS RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - CLASSROOM TEACHERS, HOMESCHOOL TEACHERS, Your consideration of support is most appreciated. INFORMAL EDUCATORS AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, FACILITIES AND CAMPS!

April 2017 Kid’s Quarterly Mini-Mag! Vol. 11 No. 2