Urban Wildlife: Striped Skunk (12)
Feb 19, 2013 19:20:10 #
When I went out for my morning walk, my friend was out trying to round up his Labs (dogs). He said he saw a Skunk walking along the woodlot heading toward a neighbor's house. After leashing the dogs, we spotted the skunk returning from the hillside, coming our way. My friend headed for the garage to put the dogs inside. I ran back to the house for my camera. (My wife warned me not to come home if I got sparyed.)
I've been trying to get pics of a Skunk for quite a few years. I was never satisfied with the night shots I took using flash. These animals are nocturnal and we were surprised to see this one running about in daylight. It hardly ever stopped. It ran around much like when you let you pet dog out for exercise.
This critter headed for my backyard and proceeded down a neighbor's driveway with me in pursuit. I wasn't going to get too close and relied on 400mm to get me the shots. I figured 40-ft was close enough. I had to back off when the Skunk returned to my backyard and went under my shed. I moved in closer to see where it might come out and when I saw it poke its head out from one of the groundhog holes, I retreated to a safer distance. Its coat was surprisingly clean with only a few rub marks on its right shoulder and behind its right ear. A handsome looking critter.
The temp was 39 F this morning and the Skunk is the first we've seen coming out of hibernation this early (well ... Phil said we were having an early spring). 5 hours later, a cold front moved in and dropped 1" of snow on the ground. The Skunk was back in its burrow by then.
These pics were taken from about 45-ft using a Canon EOS 50D w/EF 70-200mm f2.8 L lens + 2.0x II TC; Av @ f8; AI Servo @ 5 fps; ISO 400. PP w/PSE8.
When I downloaded the pics into my computer, I was surprised to see the catchligts but didn't correct in Post. The sky was overcast with low cirrus clouds and the sun only peeked out for a very short period of time. Enjoy these. As usual, comments welcome.
-- Gene
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk
I've been trying to get pics of a Skunk for quite a few years. I was never satisfied with the night shots I took using flash. These animals are nocturnal and we were surprised to see this one running about in daylight. It hardly ever stopped. It ran around much like when you let you pet dog out for exercise.
This critter headed for my backyard and proceeded down a neighbor's driveway with me in pursuit. I wasn't going to get too close and relied on 400mm to get me the shots. I figured 40-ft was close enough. I had to back off when the Skunk returned to my backyard and went under my shed. I moved in closer to see where it might come out and when I saw it poke its head out from one of the groundhog holes, I retreated to a safer distance. Its coat was surprisingly clean with only a few rub marks on its right shoulder and behind its right ear. A handsome looking critter.
The temp was 39 F this morning and the Skunk is the first we've seen coming out of hibernation this early (well ... Phil said we were having an early spring). 5 hours later, a cold front moved in and dropped 1" of snow on the ground. The Skunk was back in its burrow by then.
These pics were taken from about 45-ft using a Canon EOS 50D w/EF 70-200mm f2.8 L lens + 2.0x II TC; Av @ f8; AI Servo @ 5 fps; ISO 400. PP w/PSE8.
When I downloaded the pics into my computer, I was surprised to see the catchligts but didn't correct in Post. The sky was overcast with low cirrus clouds and the sun only peeked out for a very short period of time. Enjoy these. As usual, comments welcome.
-- Gene
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk
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Feb 19, 2013 19:26:57 #
GeneM wrote:
Urban Wildlife: Striped Skunk (12) br br When I ... (show quote)
Beautiful little stinker, couldn't resist. Great shots, never seen a skunk let alone gotten a shot of one. Lucky you...
Feb 19, 2013 19:34:09 #
CJartist wrote:
Beautiful little stinker, couldn't resist. Great shots, never seen a skunk let alone gotten a shot of one. Lucky you...
:lol: A little stinker that didn't stink today, CJ. Glad you like them and thanks for looking.
Feb 19, 2013 19:42:06 #
Those are all great photos!! You were a very brave soul! The catch lights look great too.
Feb 19, 2013 19:48:37 #
Wendy2 wrote:
Those are all great photos!! You were a very brave soul! The catch lights look great too.
Thank you, Wendy, glad you like them. Oh, I wouldn't say I was brave, but I sure was cautious. I retreated several times and was in doubt if I would get the closer shots I wanted. I kept in mind what my wife told me before I went back out with the camera. :) Thanks for looking.
Feb 19, 2013 19:55:40 #
Nice set Gene!! Love is in the air here too. The Skunks and Raccoons are all coming out and looking around.:) Just be careful going out at night! You might be sleeping in the garage one of these nights.:):)
Erv
Erv
Feb 19, 2013 20:11:07 #
Erv wrote:
Nice set Gene!! Love is in the air here too. The Skunks and Raccoons are all coming out and looking around.:) Just be careful going out at night! You might be sleeping in the garage one of these nights.:):)
Erv
Erv
Thanks, Erv. Glad you like them. I told my friend that this critter was probably looking for a mate. He was most worried about the dogs getting tangled with it. Wise choice to put them in the garage. He came back and helped me locate the critter so I could get these pics.
Since we live in a wildlife prone area at the edge of town, I'm always very cautious when I need to go our at night. But, I try to avoid it as much as I can, especially when the bears are raiding the garbage cans. Thanks for looking. -- Gene
Feb 19, 2013 20:13:55 #
nice photos , 1 word of caution we've had a serious rabies outbreak last year and normally if you see skunks in daytime there is a good possiblity of being rabid.
usually the one I see are crossing the road in the early morning or the ones that didn't make it ( barely hit a live one last week but it was enuff to leave a slight odor on the front tire .
usually the one I see are crossing the road in the early morning or the ones that didn't make it ( barely hit a live one last week but it was enuff to leave a slight odor on the front tire .
Feb 19, 2013 20:39:58 #
dooragdragon wrote:
nice photos , 1 word of caution we've had a serious rabies outbreak last year and normally if you see skunks in daytime there is a good possiblity of being rabid.
usually the one I see are crossing the road in the early morning or the ones that didn't make it ( barely hit a live one last week but it was enuff to leave a slight odor on the front tire .
usually the one I see are crossing the road in the early morning or the ones that didn't make it ( barely hit a live one last week but it was enuff to leave a slight odor on the front tire .
Glad you like the pics. Thanks for the advice. I'm aware of the seriousness of rabid skunks. From time to time it occurs in our area. We'll be keeping an eye on this critter. We know where it lives and will probably have an exterminator on site shortly. Thanks for your concern, and thanks for looking.
Feb 19, 2013 21:00:45 #
your very welcome there cute lil critters but sure are lil stinkers too lol
Feb 19, 2013 22:00:52 #
dooragdragon wrote:
your very welcome there cute lil critters but sure are lil stinkers too lol
:lol: :thumbup:
Feb 19, 2013 22:15:47 #
They are so cute! I live in the country east of San Diego. We always have skunks around and always a dog who wants to chase them. I have bought every kind of skunk spray there is and finally went on the Internet. I got a recipe mainly using Hydrongen Peroxide,baking soda and a small amount of liquid soap. I used this on my dog and the smell was gone Immediately. I could not use it around her eyes but it worked great on the rest of her body. CHEAP and works.
Feb 19, 2013 22:37:02 #
Puglover wrote:
They are so cute! I live in the country east of San Diego. We always have skunks around and always a dog who wants to chase them. I have bought every kind of skunk spray there is and finally went on the Internet. I got a recipe mainly using Hydrongen Peroxide,baking soda and a small amount of liquid soap. I used this on my dog and the smell was gone Immediately. I could not use it around her eyes but it worked great on the rest of her body. CHEAP and works.
:thumbup: Yep, my friend used the same concoction when his Black Lab got nailed by one of those cute critters last summer. He found it on the Internet, too. Works great. But he wasn't in the mood for a repeat performance. That's why he gathered up the dogs and put them in the garage. Thanks for looking.
Feb 19, 2013 23:22:48 #
Feb 20, 2013 05:39:22 #
I chased a baby one thru a friends field last year, my wife told me if I got sprayed I was walking home, didn't get sprayed, nice series, thanks for sharing.
GeneM wrote:
When I went out for my morning walk, my friend was... (show quote)
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