Characteristics
Our only house-cat-sized black mammal with a large white V along the top of its back; when molested protects itself by use of scent glands which emit a powerful offensive odour.
Habitat
Woods, meadows, farms; lives in burrows and sometimes under camps, barns and out-buildings.
Skunks were introduced into Prince Edward Island in the early part of this century when many were released from pens after the pelt value declined. Since then they have increased to pest proportions and have declined sharply in recent years, probably due to an epidemic of distemper, except in a few areas. It is interesting to note that a bounty was paid for skunks from 1932 to 1964 to control their numbers but instead they increased so that the amount of money paid out for skunk snouts increased as well. Bounties in general, fail to control animal pests and cost the tax-payer a great deal of money to no avail.
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