At a skunk raccoons water bowl in southwest Austin, a skunk kept drinking while raccoons pulled at its tail. The encounter was captured on camera by Texas Backyard Wildlife.
Dan says he cannot explain why raccoons are so drawn to skunks. In the footage from the bowl, the raccoons sniff the skunk’s rear end, handle it, and sometimes pull on its fluffy tail.
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The skunk did not react. Dan noted that the animal was enjoying a cool drink and was neither defensive nor preparing to spray, and he said that calm skunk behavior is more common than people think. He had seen similar scenes dozens of times without any spraying.
Calm at the bowl
Skunks have a reputation for being quick to spray. Dan argues the video shows otherwise, calling skunks “the most tolerant beings on the planet.” He wrote that this skunk came to the bowl for water and kept minding its own business while the raccoons pestered it.
What the raccoons appear to be doing
Dan observed that raccoons treat one another the same way at the skunk raccoons water bowl. His reading is that they regard the skunk as one of their own, and the skunk seems to have accepted the arrangement.
A write-up of the video points out that the raccoons look somewhat jumpy. Hisses, foot-stamping, and threat postures are a skunk’s standard warning signs, and the skunk showed none of them here.
Restraint may be a practical choice here. According to the write-up, a skunk carries enough spray for five or six uses, and a full refill can take about ten days. A skunk that stays calm keeps its defense for when it matters.
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Dan Ballard and Jane Hunter run Texas Backyard Wildlife. They use a network of cameras to film the animals that visit their five-acre property in southwest Austin. This clip, a raccoon and skunk encounter, shows a skunk that appears to have decided that a drink was worth more than a fight.
Sources & Links
Source: laughingsquid.com
Frequently asked questions
Did the skunk spray the raccoons at the Austin water bowl?
No, the skunk did not spray. Dan said it kept drinking and was neither defensive nor preparing to spray while the raccoons pulled at its tail.
How much spray does a skunk have before needing a refill?
According to the write-up, a skunk carries enough spray for five or six uses. A full refill can take about ten days.
Who runs Texas Backyard Wildlife and where is it located?
Dan Ballard and Jane Hunter run Texas Backyard Wildlife. They use a network of cameras to film animals on their five-acre property in southwest Austin.
How do the raccoons seem to treat the skunk at the bowl?
Dan observed that the raccoons treat one another the same way they treat the skunk at the bowl. He reads this as the raccoons regarding the skunk as one of their own.
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