Fartilda appears to be the runt of the litter, but she is definitely capable of holding her own. Last night, around 7 PM, the same neighbor saw the baby on the stairs. By the time the phone was in hand to take photos, the skunk farted and the cats came running in and sat just inside the door, guarding the house from the tiny skunk. The baby scampered off into the bushes.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 12, 2016. Last year ,The Little Skunk had a litter of six. This was their first group outing in the yard. Tip for shooting skunk photos: they don't see well, stand still and use your zoom. DO NOT attempt to feed or pet any wildlife. I was crouched down, about 6 feet away. They either saw or smelled me and charged me. I just sat still and shot photos until their mom called them and they joined her.
It's a myth that skunks are not active in the daylight. We've always seen skunks in the daytime on Corralitas Drive. Some yards are more conducive than others to skunk activity. Presence of dogs does not deter them since skunks have the upper hand. Usually, the mother comes through the yard first, spraying to keep predators and people away, then the kits come through.
Take precautions if you have dogs. Keep your dogs on a leash. We're often surprised by skunks, opossum and raccoons. Wildlife keep a routine foraging schedule and they quickly learn what time you feed your animals. If you must feed your pets outside, pick up the food bowls immediately after they eat.
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