ISALC: ESL 382: Computer Applications - Fall 2000
Hatchet: Student Survival Guide

  I have never seen a skunk so far. What I know about the skunk before I started to research is that they are small animals like rabbits or squirrels and they spray a very disgusting odor. I took an interest in the skunk since I read Hatchet. I can't imagine their odor, so I would like to smell their odor just one time.

This is why the skunk was important in Hatchet:

The skunk appeared to steal Brian's turtle eggs in Hatchet. Although he threw a handful of sand at the skunk in order to drive it back, the skunk sprayed sulfurous rotten odor on him. He suffered from the disgusting odor of the skunk, he was completely blind for almost two hours, and the smell could not be removed from the shelter, his clothes and his hair. He had a hard time; however, he learned many things from the skunk attack, that he needed a better shelter, not just a shelter to keep the wind and rain out, a shelter to make him safe and someplace to protect his food. Therefore, the skunk was important in Hatchet. 

After reading Hatchet and completing my Internet research, this is what I have learned about the skunk

  Skunks are known as the animal that sprays foul smelling odor from the glands near their tails when they are scared or feel danger. The size of the skunk is close to a cat. Their color is black and white and their backs have a white stripe. If you want to know more about the appearance of the skunk, click here. They belong to the weasel family and have four species in North America: striped skunks, hooded skunks, spotted skunks, and scarce hog nosed skunks. The skunk is not completely nocturnal; they sometimes appear in the daytime. The average life span is about seven years.

Most skunks dig shallow burrows. They are under ground and lined with dry leaves. They are also seen around buildings where there are a lot of mice or leftovers to eat. They prefer dark, warm, dry and defensible areas, so the basements of houses are suitable for them. Skunks are omnivorous and they eat mice, fallen fruits, insects, frogs, lizards, birds, bird eggs, acorns, and garbage. They often walk around at night to look for their food.

Skunks have very sharp teeth; however, they also spray their enemies to protect themselves, because their spray is more successful and accurate. Their spray has sulfurous rotten odor. They stamp their front feet to give warnings before they spray. However, they rarely spray without cause. Their spray can cause temporary blindness and excessively irritate human eyes. It is very difficult to remove their disgusting odor from your clothing completely. Their odor stays for days. You may be able to remove it by washing repeatedly in vinegar or tomato juice; however, the best way to remove it is throwing away or burning your clothing. There is a good site that you know how to remove their odor.

Skunks tend to be disliked by humans as they are stinky; however, they contribute to our environment by eating grasshoppers, wasps, and mice. Their odor is terrible to humans, but very attractive to other skunks in the mating season.

Skunks will be good, affectionate, and funny pets if you have patience and knowledge about them. If you want to keep a skunk in your house, you should have their odor glands removed. You can get much good information from the SKUNK INFO Web page. 

Created by: Claris@lclark.edu
Updated: 10/20/00