Several years ago, I saw a striped skunk meander slowly across our lawn at dusk, crawl into a hole in one of our garbage cans and later back out with something edible that it ate. Then it went into the can again for another edible tidbit. That skunk did that every evening for a few weeks while I sat at a discreet distance and watched with interest. Another time, on that same lawn, I saw my brush pile in a ditch get flooded during a heavy rain. And, as I watched, a skunk and an opossum came out of it to avoid the water. The skunk ambled across our lawn to another hiding place and the 'possum climbed a small tree. And I have seen a few mother raccoons, at different times, with their young trailing along as they all patrolled waterways for frogs on shore, and crayfish and fresh water clams called mussels under submerged rocks.
Several people over the years have told me about the skunks, 'coons or 'possums that live in their yards and have even wandered into their garages or other out buildings. I heard about a family of baby skunks in a basement window well. And someone told me about a raccoon living in a tree hollow in her front yard.
Striped skunks, raccoons and opossums appear to be chunky, bumbling fur-bearers, though 'coons can be swift and fierce fighters when defending themselves. These mammals, that are about the size of house cats and larger, are in different families, but they all have traits in common, including being predators of mice, small birds, invertebrates and other little critters. They also eat carrion, birds' eggs, fruits, vegetables, including corn in the "milk" stage and morsels of garbage. They can be a nuisance in gardens and corn fields, but they also ingest many pesky rodents and insects as well. Skunks, for example, dig up many beetle grubs from short-grass lawns.
As they are throughout most of North America, all these mammals are common in three habitats in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, including farmland, suburban areas and woods. Raccoons are most likely to be around waterways and impoundments in those habitats, watery places where they catch frogs, and feel under submerged rocks for crayfish and mussels.
I have seen all these mammals many times in Lancaster County over the years, mostly at night. Some I've seen crossing roads, where some of these critters get killed, but not by me. Others I have watched foraging for food at night, with the help of car lights or powerful spotlights. I have seen females of all species with babies, including opossum young riding on their mothers' back one time on our lawn.
These mammals live in shelters in or on the ground. They dwell and give birth to young in abandoned wood chuck holes, drainage pipes, under sheds, brush piles, log piles and rock piles, and in hollow logs, among other sheltering places. Raccoons and opossums, being climbers, also live in tree hollows above the ground.
Skunks are a chubby-looking branch of the slim and completely carnivorous weasel family. And like all weasels, skunks create a musky smell for self defense. Most everybody knows that skunks spray their musk from their rears to dissuade any would-be attackers.
Skunks are not gray or brown to blend into their backgrounds to be invisible like rabbits and deer. Skunks are black and white striped so attackers that get sprayed will remember that color pattern and leave all other skunks alone. So their bold coloring is a defense.
Raccoons are related to bears and distantly related to the canine family. Raccoons are identified by their gray body fur and the black rings of fur on their tails and the black masks of hair around their eyes. This animal utters frightening growls, screeches and chortles when angry or frightened.
Opossums are marsupials like kangaroos and koala bears. Opossums are gray all over with naked, rat-like tails. Their greatest defenses are hissing menacingly and playing dead. Each female gives birth to many small young, about eight of which can find a teat in her pouch to get milk until they can eat solid food. Having many young each year makes up for many losses, mostly as victims on roads.
Watch for these common, nocturnal mammals if you live in their ranges. They are interesting, as long as we give them room to be themselves and do their things.
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