Part 13

Although this little animal has a slight heaviness of the hind quarters, reminiscent of the larger skunks, it is indeed, as both generic and specific names suggest, much more like a weasel. This impression is heightened by its quick movements and a bright-eyed attention to details which its larger relatives would hardly notice. It lacks the wild and fierce disposition of the weasels however, and becomes a charming and confiding nocturnal visitor if properly encouraged. Remember though that this acquaintance can be no more than an armed truce, and that should the articles of Formal Conduct be violated it can be terminated at a moment’s notice.

Probably no nocturnal mammal in the Southwest is more likely to be encountered than this little skunk. How many of my readers can recall drifting up from an uneasy sleep to the sibilant whisper of, “there’s something in the tent.” While eyes strain to pierce the darkness, faint patterings on the floor and urgent scratching at the grub box indicate that there is indeed “something in the tent.” Turning over with the utmost care, while the joints of the cot loudly complain, the flashlight under the pillow is finally extricated. Surely the creature has been frightened away, but no, the rattlings continue—in the dishes now. The brilliant white beam stabs in that direction. Red eyes stare back, interested perhaps, but unafraid. The rounded ball of black and white fluff waits motionless to see if any harm is intended. When none is offered, his highness makes his way to the door and ambles away into the enveloping darkness. In the morning tiny squirrel-like tracks in the dust show that _Spilogale_ has paid a nocturnal call. These, and perhaps the contents missing from the butter and bacon grease containers, because this little animal dearly loves animal fats. These are the foods which attract these animals to camp sites in such numbers that they frequently become a nuisance.

In the wild, spotted skunks live largely on insects. These are taken not only in the adult form but also in great numbers in the larval stage, as is shown by the well-winnowed debris under clumps of cactus and around the bases of shrubs and trees. In these searches for insects small prey of other kinds is captured as circumstances permit. Worms and scorpions as well as small rodents are not refused. More rarely a ground-nesting bird may be disturbed and the eggs or young taken. In rural communities hen roosts are sometimes raided too but in the main the spotted skunk should be considered beneficial, with control of grasshoppers and beetles it’s chief function.

Like most predators, this member of the weasel family has few natural enemies. This is not surprising; few animals willingly take a chance on attacking this doughty little warrior, which sometimes does a handstand the better to spray it’s enemies. These tactics avail nothing against the steely monsters that rush up and down our highways in the dead of night. In the space of 50 years the automobile has developed into the most successful enemy of the spotted skunk. Yet even in death on the highway the skunk has it’s revenge. Few will pass the spot for many a day without paying unwilling tribute to this malodorous legacy.

Striped skunk _Mephitis mephitis_ (Latin: a pestilential exhalation)

Range: The southern half of Canada, the whole of the United States, and the northern half of Mexico.

Habitat: All life zones up to timberline in places which have a sufficient food supply and proper cover.

Description: This is the “wood kitty,” approached with due respect by all but the most naive. About the size of a house cat. Total length 22 to 30 inches. Tail 8 to 15 inches. Weight 6 to 10 pounds. Body color is black, with black tail except for the tip, which is commonly white. There are usually two white stripes on the back joining in a “V” at the back of the head and a white stripe down the front of the face. The head is small with a rather pointed nose, small black eyes, and small ears. Front legs are short, and the small feet are tipped with stout claws. Hind legs are longer and appreciably more of the large hind feet touch the ground. The tail is quite long and extremely bushy. It is carried in a downward curve when traveling; if its owner is startled or angry, it is held straight up with the hairs flared out. Dens of the striped skunk are usually in an underground burrow, but dens in hollow logs have been recorded. The usual number of young average from four to six. The family remains together for the greater part of a year before the young leave to make their own way.

There are four species of skunks in the Southwest, but the observer in the higher country will see only two. These are the striped and the spotted. They are distinguished by two characteristics: first, the striped skunk is easily double the size of the spotted skunk; and, second, the spotted has a pattern of broken stripes and spots of white, whereas the larger animal has definitely long, continuous white stripes along sides or back. Both species have the same method of defense, but the odor of the smaller skunk is said to be somewhat less pungent and dissipates sooner than that of the striped. To the recipient of either barrage this has the same consolation as if he were given a choice between being hit by the H bomb or the A bomb. In the event of a direct strike it makes little difference.

Should the reader be involved in an encounter with one of these malodorous creatures, there are many remedies prescribed but few giving any great measure of relief. If the skin is washed with a weak solution of acid such as lemon or tomato juice and then scrubbed thoroughly with soap and water, much of the odor will disappear. Clothes can be given the same treatment, but usually it is cheaper and easier to burn them and charge the cost to experience. Grandpa said to bury scented clothes in damp earth. Perhaps in time this will do the trick; I contend they are better left there.

So much misinformation exists about the skunk’s defensive mechanism and the manner in which it is employed that brief explanation may not be amiss. The scent is a fluid stored in two glands located near the base of the tail. These glands are embedded in a mass of contractile muscle, and each has a duct which connects with a tiny spray nozzle that can be protruded from the anus. When danger threatens the tail is lifted, the nozzles aimed at the enemy, and the contraction of the muscles around the glands forces out a spray of fine droplets which may carry as far as 15 feet. The result is usually effective and lasting. Contrary to popular belief, the odor is distressing to the skunk as well as to its enemy. The tail is kept out of the way if possible, since its plumey depths would hold the scent for a long time.

Skunks of different species will use this defensive weapon against each other. Whether individuals of the same species use it in their fights together is not known. In situations involving humans the skunk will try to bluff the enemy if possible. This consists of stamping the front feet, of short runs at the intruder, and finally of hoisting the tail and aiming the “guns.” If a skunk is approached deliberately and if quick movements are avoided, it is surprising what liberties may be taken before it will resort to scent. On the other hand, should it be taken by surprise or should it be physically hurt, retaliation is swift and certain. In all cases where skunks are encountered at close range, remember that this little animal is one of the most independent creatures on earth, that this nonchalance stems from a supreme confidence in its defensive powers, and that if left alone or at least treated with consideration it will go on its way as soon as possible.

This independent attitude inherent in all skunks probably has much to do with the happy-go-lucky life that the young family lives. About midsummer when the young are able to leave the burrow, the mother often will take them for a stroll early in the afternoon. As she walks, oblivious to danger, the young play along behind her, sometimes a ball of struggling little bodies with now and then a fluffy tail breaking free and again all at odds in a mock show of ferocity with front feet stamping and flared tails held aloft. When the patient mother finds a tidbit on the trail, there is a concerted rush for the prize, which is seldom won without a struggle. All of this is excellent practice against the time when they will be on their own. It is during this early age that the young first learn to catch insects, items of great importance in skunk diet. Later frogs and small mammals will also be preyed upon.

The striped skunk is generally considered a hibernating animal. This is not strictly true for, while it may remain inactive in its den for weeks at a time, the body processes do not slow down to the extent common in true hibernation. The skunk does lay on a considerable amount of fat each fall in preparation for this period of winter when food is scarce. Actual retirement to a den for even a few days is rare in the Southwest, however. The mild climate makes this unnecessary, except in the highest part of their habitat.

Black bear _Euarctos americanus_ (Latin: a bear ... of America)

Range: At present the range of the black bear in the United States is confined to a narrow strip adjacent to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, a few of the southeastern States, a narrow band in the Great Lakes area, and the Rocky Mountain chain.

Habitat: In the Southwest, the higher mountains mostly in the Transition Life Zone and above.

Description: The black bear needs little description because through pictures and reputation it has become well known to almost everyone. It averages 5 to 6 feet in total length with a tail so short as to be inconsequential. Height at shoulders is 2 to 3 feet. Weight 200 to 400 pounds. Color varies in the Southwest from deep, shining black through brown to light cinnamon. In all color phases the nose is brown almost back to the eyes and there is usually a white “blaze” on the chest. The legs are short and muscular. The feet are plantigrade, that is, the bear steps on the whole foot, not just the toes. There are stout claws on all four feet. The head proper is rather round, the muzzle long and pointed. Ears are relatively small, as are the dark eyes. The young number from one to four, with twins being very common. They are born while the mother is still in winter quarters. When the weather moderates to a point where she can leave, the cubs are large enough to follow her.

Bears are probably the most popular of our wild creatures to those who visit the National Park Service areas. Why this should be is hard to say. Perhaps it dates back to the nursery tale of the three bears, familiar to all of us from the time we were able to walk. Perhaps too it stems from the easy familiarity with which these roadside bandits hail the tourist in hopes of a handout. At any rate, these seemingly friendly clowns have become endeared to the hearts of the American public. This is regrettable because actually in the Park Service areas these big carnivores are the most dangerous of all animals. Native intelligence indicates to the bears that food may be had merely by standing up alongside the road when a car stops. More complicated routines are soon learned to wheedle bigger and better handouts. At this professional level, a substantial reward is expected when Bruin has “sung for his supper,” and should none be forthcoming, trouble is apt to ensue. This is but a minor annoyance to a bear, however, when compared with some of the indignities dealt out to these big creatures by a thoughtless public. It must be said in all fairness that anyone who teases a bear deserves whatever is handed out in return. It is unfortunate that retribution may be in the form of serious injury or even death. Though this applies mainly to the half-tame bears which roam along the highways in our National Parks, it is only common sense to avoid incidents with any bear wherever encountered. This is especially true of an old female with cubs, a combination well nigh irresistible to the average vacationer with camera.

In more remote areas where bears have not had contact with man, they are wary to the point of timidity. Gifted with a keen sense of hearing and smell which makes up for their poor eyesight, they are difficult to approach. Like most animals, they instinctively know that by “freezing” they can in most cases escape being seen. The sunburned coat of the brown phase of the black bear is especially hard to spot in the underbrush. However, with patience and the aid of binoculars, it should not be too difficult to get a glimpse into the private life of these engaging creatures.

Though bears, because of their dentition, are classed as carnivores, they might more accurately be termed omnivores. It is a matter of record that the black bear will eat almost anything, either animal or vegetable. Nevertheless, its appetite is prodigious and demands little variety, if but a few kind of foods are available. Its status as a predator is somewhat confused. Technically speaking, since the black bear preys on ground squirrels, mice and other small rodents it should be classed as a predator. It will also take young deer and elk whenever it can, but these opportunities come rarely. Actually this bear has little direct influence on its mammal neighbors. As a scavenger it has considerable value in cleaning up the remains of kills made by other predators.

Some of the small animals eaten are in almost amusing contrast with the huge size of their enemy. For instance, ants are eagerly lapped up by most bears, and they will literally tear old logs apart to get at these toothsome morsels. Grubs are another small item which may be found around fallen logs and under stones. Bears are extremely fond of honey and will go to great lengths to get at this delicacy, which they eat comb, bees, and all. Another food item which seems unusual is fish. At spawning time a bear will wade out into a stream and either snag a passing fish on its long claws or flip it out on the bank where it is more easily subdued. Finally, their natural animal diet is greatly augmented in most Park Service areas by the scraps and bones which they pick up on the garbage heaps. They can become a great nuisance in the camping areas where, under cover of darkness, their ingenuity and great strength enable them to steal many a ham and side of bacon.

Wide as this variety of animal food seems, it cannot equal the cosmopolitan tastes of these bears in a vegetable diet. Roots and bulbs of many species are dug up. Grass and browse are eaten during several seasons of the year; even pine needles are recorded as having been eaten. The liking of bears for berries of all kinds is well known. _Arctostaphylos_, the generic name of the manzanitas, translated from the Greek means “bear grape.” Pinyon nuts, acorns, chokecherries, and other stone fruits all are gathered in season. These heavy animals often damage trees severely in their search for fruit. On the garbage heaps, watermelon rinds and seeds, peelings of all kinds, leafy vegetables, and corn cobs add to the fare. All tin cans are licked clean, and in many cases greasy paper and cellophane wrappings are eaten.

The yearly cycle of a bear’s life is a study in contrasts. Much of the warm part of the year is spent in search for food with which to build up a store of fat so that the winter may be spent in inactivity. Bears hibernate or, more properly, retire for several months of the winter. They do not fall into the deep sleep indulged by some of the rodents. Theirs is an uneasy sleep broken by periods of lethargy when they are awake but avoid any activity. By these means they conserve enough of their thick layer of fat to live out the cold weather and emerge in early spring with a considerable reserve.

Hibernation takes place in late autumn, usually after the first light snows. Evidently the animals have a den already located, for when they feel the urge to retire they strike out across country to it. The same winter quarters often will be used by one individual for several seasons. Dens are chosen in a variety of locations. They may be in old hollow logs or in the bases of fire-gutted trees. Some are in crevices among huge boulders, others in caves. The main concern seems to be to find a place sheltered from the wind and snow. If the floor happens to be covered with chips or leaves, so much the better. It usually is, either from air currents which bring in falling leaves or through the labors of woodrats which deposit much litter in such places. The bears curl up on the floor, and after the first heavy snow there is nothing to mark the spot. In the case of a small den, such as a cavity in the base of a tree, an airhole may form in the drift from the warmth of the animal’s respiration.

The cubs are born in late winter. From one to four in number, they are incredibly small at birth. They develop rather slowly and at the time the family emerges from the den are approximately 18 inches long. The cubs may all be one color or some may be brown and some black. The male bear has no part in raising the family; indeed, he is driven from the scene by the irate mother, should he approach too closely. She has all the responsibility for raising the family, and a busy time is assured with such mischievous, carefree youngsters.

One of the first lessons learned by young cubs is that of obedience. The mother insists on compliance with her every command, and enforces her authority with a heavy paw. It is fortunate the cubs are sturdily built, for some of the slaps they receive in the course of an average day’s instruction would kill a less durable animal. The first haven of refuge when danger threatens is in the trees. A special command note and a slap or two sends them hustling. Now the cubs are out of the way and the decks cleared for action, so to speak. The cubs will remain in the trees until the mother lets them know they may come down. This is not a time of boredom for the youngsters, however. Expert climbers, they carry on the same games and rough play indulged on the ground, with never a fall. Their confidence in the trees is amazing. It is not unusual to see a cub sound asleep on the end of a 20-foot branch that is bending down with its weight and swaying in the wind. As the months go on the cubs begin to lose their juvenile ways. By autumn, they have put on enough fat to last the winter. They usually hibernate with the mother, since they remain with her for well over a year. During the following summer they are well able to take care of themselves, and the mother deserts them.

It is normal, rather than unusual, among black bears to breed only every other year. The youngsters usually do not breed until about three years old.

No account of this bear would be complete without mention of the so-called “bear trees.” These are trees situated at the crossroads, that is, near the intersections of bear trails or otherwise prominently located. When a bear encounters one, it stands up and scratches at the bark with its front claws as high as it can reach. Sometimes it will also bite at the bark. Bears have been observed rubbing the sides of their jaws against the bark. Whether this is a way of leaving their scent is not known. It is thought this may be a way of communication with others of the species, but this has not been definitely proven. Many of the trees chosen for this purpose in mountains of the Southwest have been aspens. The heavy black furrows left in the white bark will persist until the death of the tree. Often they are the only evidence that bears have ever been in the locality.

Another custom which will be observed very early in one’s experience with bears is the scratching that goes on. It may be due in part to the presence of ectoparasites, but the bear takes such an obvious satisfaction in scratching that, one feels, this must be only incidental. Trees, posts, rocks, and claws are all employed for this purpose. Some of the smaller trees often suffer severe damage from the treatment accorded them.

My cautious attitude toward bears is a result of early experiences with them, ranging from humorous to tragic, and probably best typified by an incident which took place near Yellowstone Park in the late 1920s. I was on my first trip into the Rockies at the time and hired out on a construction job at an isolated dude ranch. Horses were being used, and their supplies, including a considerable store of oats, were kept in a large tent adjacent to that in which some of the employees slept. On the previous night a bear had gained access to the supply tent, torn open a number of oat sacks, and wasted more of the grain than it had eaten. The foreman, an old-time packer in the Park, vowed vengeance on the bear. That night when he went to bed he leaned a small, double-bitted axe against the entrance to the tent. During the night I awoke as the foreman went out the entrance in his underwear. A partial moon shed a weak light over the scene and revealed the foreman entering the other tent with the axe in his hand. A short silence was followed by a heavy splat, a tremendous grunt, and some frenzied shouts. The supply tent heaved violently, went down, and split open as the bear hurtled out and through the woods toward the creek. When order had been restored it transpired that the foreman had stolen up to the bear, which had its back to him, and had struck it across the rump as hard as he could with the flat of the axe. The element of surprise apparently was all in his favor because the startled bear charged directly away from him into the far end of the tent. Although in this instance no injuries were suffered, it has always seemed that this was an extremely foolhardy thing to do. Although one of the most laughable happenings I have ever seen, it also had all the elements of a possible tragedy.

Grizzly bear _Ursus horribilis_ (Latin: a bear ... horrible)

Range: Alaska, western Canada, and in the United States confined to the high mountains of the Continental Divide as far south as northern New Mexico.

Habitat: Except in National Park areas, grizzlies are seldom seen, since they frequent only the most isolated places in the mountains; Transition Life Zone and higher.

Description: The largest carnivore in the Southwest. Easily distinguished from the black bear by the prominent hump on the shoulders. Total length 6 to 7 feet. Tail so short as to be unnoticeable. Height at shoulders 3 to 3½ feet. Weight 325 to 850 pounds. Color of the southwestern grizzlies is variable, ranging from yellowish brown to nearly black, but has a characteristic grizzled effect caused by the white-tipped hairs scattered through the fur. This is especially noticeable along the back. The grizzly, though massively built, gives an impression of leanness. The shoulders are higher than the posterior, giving the animal a streamlined appearance. The head is large and round with a square, uptilted muzzle. The legs are extremely powerful, the feet large and with formidable claws, those of the front feet being up to 4 inches long. The young will number from one to three, with two being most common. Grizzlies breed every 2 or 3 years.