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TN's only 3th Skunk


TN's only 3th Skunk
Photo Information
Copyright: Asbed Iskedjian (CeltickRanger) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1211 W: 60 N: 2305] (7663)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-10
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix F601zoom, SUPER EBC FUJINON LENS 3X Optical Zoom
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-21 20:52
Viewed: 635
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
hello dear TN friends, today i am posting an image
that was shot last month, it is the Striped Skunk from far,
i did a good cropping to get it a little bit closer

i think it is only in North America that we have Skunk's,
our other friend from other parts of the world
i will say you that Skun's best defence it spray
on you a liquid that odour is unbearable

this photo it is TN's only 3th Skunk, 2 other Skunk images
in TN are close-up shots with much better details

Rick's (Adanac) image :
http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo113497.htm
and
Lise's (Lise) image :
http://www.treknature.com/viewphotos.php?l=3&p=168197

my photo was shot with my Point & Shoot
Fujifilm 3 megapixels and 3X zoom camera
in JPEG format and ISO200

and yesterday i had an misadventure with a Skunk,
i was in the nature park near my home
when i saw a Skunk in a Marmot's hole entrance,
i was happy because i was close to him
and say to myself i will finnaly have a close shot

i did few steps to be more closer, and i wanted
to be at his level, when i saw him leaving
the marmot's hole entrance and coming to me,
i was so afraid that i did a u-turn and run like a crazy
and i swear God for 2 hours my hand's where shaking,
i did'nt want to be sprayed by the Skunk

from Hinterland Who's Who website
i choosed some interesting notes
for the complete notes go to this link :

http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=104

« Striped Skunk

This animal

- produces an odour that is strong enough
to be carried almost 1 km on the wind
- is one of the most useful small mammals that inhabit
Canada’s mixed farmlands, grasslands, and forests
- gathers leaves for its den by placing them under its body
and then shuffling along with the leaves held between its legs
- annoys farmers by raiding beehives and henhouses,
but in fact almost 70 percent of a skunk’s diet
is estimated to benefit people

A skunk is not an aggressive animal and will always
try to retreat from a human or other large enemy.
An angry skunk will growl or hiss, stamp its front feet rapidly,
or even walk a short distance on its front feet with its tail high
in the air. The striped skunk cannot spray from this position.
To perform that defence it usually humps its back and turns
in a U-shaped position so that both the head and tail
face the enemy. Many people used to the antics of the
striped skunk have been deceived on their first encounter
with a spotted skunk, which faces an attacker standing
on its front feet with its back and tail arched forward.

The skunk directs the fluid from the glands in a stream
that disperses into a fine spray. The spray can reach as far
as 6 m and can be aimed with considerable accuracy for
up to 3 m. The odour is strong enough to be carried almost
1 km on the wind. At close range the spray of a skunk causes
severe smarting of the eyes and even nausea, but these
symptoms soon disappear as the nasal passages quickly
become desensitized to the odour.

Skunks seem to be aware of the repulsiveness of their
own odour and refrain from scenting on themselves.
They therefore avoid musking in confined spaces, and their
dens have little of the skunk odour about them. »

Merci

Asbed
jaycee, Gert-Paassen, boreocypriensis, zulfu, Silvio2006, eqshannon, lise, maurydv, NinaM, Adanac, MartinL, hester has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To MartinL: hello MartinCeltickRanger 1 06-23 20:11
To Adanac: hello RickCeltickRanger 1 06-22 20:31
To NinaM: bonjour FrancineCeltickRanger 1 06-22 20:23
To eqshannon: hello BobCeltickRanger 1 06-22 20:17
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2765 W: 150 N: 7969] (24819)
  • [2008-06-21 22:47]

This is true, Asbed!
We haven't seen many skunks on TN, despite it being such a striking animal!
This shot shows it clearly against the green grass, despite the grass hiding the lower part of it, but I can understand why these animals are not easy to approach.
TFS this fine contribution,
Have a good Sunday,
Ivan

Hi Asbed,

nice shot from this Skunk in his natural habitat.
Good note's as well.

Gert

Hi Asbed, My dear friend,

Wonderful shot of a Striped Skunk showing its hiding behaviour. TFS. Have a great sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 0 N: 117] (669)
  • [2008-06-22 2:29]

Hello Asbed, wonderful shot of this skunk. TFS. Regards,
Mehmet

I have a close in shot of one...Unfortunately it is dead.. It wasn't hit by a car either and it died with its mouth open and flies were on it...I didn't go near it as it is known to carry rabies...one of the most common rabies carrying animals here in the US besides bats...and we are told that considering skunks are mostly a nocturnal creature, that we should go no closer than needed if we see one in the daytime..which is why you got this image perhaps....I am glad you stayed the distance.
Bob

  • Great 
  • lise Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 184 W: 51 N: 560] (2819)
  • [2008-06-22 8:06]

Bonjour Asbed,
Félicitation pour cette 3ieme moufette!
J'ai remarqué qu'en prendre une en photo est aussi risqué que de prendre celle d'un animal dangereux car il faut se tenir à une très bonne distance.
Excellente capture
Bravo
Lise

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1909 W: 8 N: 4974] (16081)
  • [2008-06-22 8:34]

Hi Asbed,

It surprises me that there have only been 3 skunks on TN. Guess because even though they are nice to look at no one wants to take the chance of getting too close. Loved your story - I can just picture you racing away from him. He may be far away but he shows up well in the green grass.

Jane

Bellissima cattura, è difficile incontrare questi animali per le loro caratteristiche di comportamento, ottima documentazione, dal punto di vista fotografico risente dell'utilizzo di una fotcamera con minori potenzialità. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-06-22 12:10]
  • [+]

Bonjour Asbed, j'ai bien ri en lisant ton histoire. Il est vrai qu'elles puent mais elles ne sont vraiment pas agressives, j'en ai approché souvent en revenant de mes sorties d'adolescentes, chez mes parents, la nuit... elles sont si mignonnes! En tout cas, tu es très drôle et ta photo est bonne malgré le fait qu'on ne voit pas sa face... il te faudrait réussir un portrait! Merci!

Francine

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15130)
  • [2008-06-22 18:53]
  • [+]

Hello Asbed,
Very nice capture of this muck maligned creature, I find them cute and very restrained at spraying. Although I have been about 2 meters from one that sprayed and let me tell you they have a great defence there, my eyes and nose were burning for a few minutes. Thanks Asbed great iamge and note.
Rick

Hi Asbed,
Nice catch from this skunk , Excellent POV. and details, lovely colors and sharpness. Humm not easy to take someone take her leg on her nek ;) and not take a picture,,
Well done..
Michel

Hi Asbed, great capture of interesting species, good colors well reprised natural habitat, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Asbed,

I can't blame you from not trying to get closer! I had a chance to photograph a skunk once but even with a 300mm, once it started getting closer, I decided to get into my car. Better safe than sorry. Seriously though, I don't think a skunk would spray you if you didn't not scare it - they are rather smart I'd say. I must also say that they are really beautiful. Very nice picture my Friend. TFS.

Best Regards,

Martin

Hi ASbed,
Brave soul taking his photo.Now that u mention have not seen many pictures of Skunk's perhaps with good reason:).
Photography is always a challenge and adventure..
Well seen and taken..

:)
Jane

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-24 21:09]

Hello Asbed

Congratulations on bagging a skunk for TN.
I have been trying to get a good shot of one for two years.
They are clever fellows.
Saw one last evening but I did not have my camera.lol.
Well done.
TFS
Rob

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1480 W: 18 N: 3033] (11122)
  • [2008-06-25 14:11]

Hi Asbed

I personally have not seen a picture of a skunk on TN. Great to see, it is a lovely animal. I'm glad you kept your distance!

TFS

Karan

Hello Asbed
Firstly my apologies for not returning your kind words on my previous posts..I have been very busy and find so little time at the moment.
That said this is a striking capture of the Skunk and a rarity on TN as you say.
The crop to me is fine and shows this fellow of very well indeed....It is perfect tracking from you to actually capture him at all as they seem to be wary of humans,
All the best
Paul

Poor misunderstood creature.
Thank you for taking the opportunity to photograph and share this little guy with us. All of God's creatures are beautiful in their own way. Thank you for seeing that!

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