8/7/2023 0 Comments Do skunks hibernate torper![]() ![]() Their waste may contain roundworms or carry pathogens that cause leptospirosis and canine distemper. Another disease risk from these critters comes from their urine and feces. Skunks carry rabies, and though skunk bites are rare, they may use their teeth to fend off a threat. Their claws can also do some serious harm if you corner one and it feels the need to attack. They can also tear through wood, vents, and soft metals. They may not be good climbers, but their sharp claws are made for digging. In addition to causing a stink, skunks can do some damage if they dig their burrows where there is wiring, venting, or plumbing. ![]() However, if you or your pet startles or frightens a lone skunk or a mother with kits, you risk getting sprayed, and skunks can hit their targets from 10 feet away. Skunks only take aim when they feel threatened or are protecting their little ones, as it takes between 10 and 14 days to replenish. Their primary defense is their notoriously foul-smellingspray, which can be detected as far as a mile away. Skunks aren’t aggressive animals and generally look for the quickest escape route when encountering other animals, including the human variety. Why Do You Want To Keep Skunks From Denning on Your Property? This generally happens at night, so you may not see a skunk in your yard during the day, even if there is one. During the winter months, skunks wake up when the temperatures warm up or when they need more calories since they cannot consume large enough food in the fall to keep them full the whole season. Torpor doesn’t last as long as hibernation, but their time in the state depends on food availability and temperature. In this state, all their body functions slow down, allowing them to conserve energy when food sources are scarcer. Instead of hibernation, they spend time in torpor. As the temperatures drop, they spend more time in their dens. Before the cold weather strikes, skunks spend time eating as much as possible to build up fat stores. The winter denning season lasts five months, from November to March. Sometimes striped skunks burrow with each other to stay warm, but male skunks won’t den together in any other season - they are tolerant of one another’s presence only during wintertime. When the temperature drops, a skunk prepares its den using leaves and grass to block the entrance and keep out the cold air. Fortunately, skunks aren’t good climbers, so you won’t find them in your attic. In urban areas, some of their favorite places to den are under people’s porches and decks for added protection from the cold and snow they provide. During the cold months, skunks seek residence in places that offer warmth and security. Striped skunks usually occupy several dens over the year, moving dens if they feel their current one is threatened or insufficient. Find out where these stinky critters hunker down during a Milwaukee winter, ways to prevent them from making themselves at home on your property, and what to do if it’s too late for prevention. ![]() They go into a similar state called torpor. ![]() In the coldest months of the year, they hole up in a comfortable, warm den and spend much of their time conserving energy.ĭo skunks hibernate? Not quite. Skunks are shy, nocturnal creatures, so you may not spot them often most months of the year, but skunks in the winter are even more elusive. ![]()
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