Think You've Got a Mesa Skunk Visitor? Learn How to Identify Their Tracks!

The presence of the Mesa skunk can easily be recognized. They have the white and black fur that makes them distinct from the rest of the wild creatures. The nauseating musk that emanates from them will also help you to determine the presence of their infestation. Apart from that, they tend to leave other identifiers that will help the homeowners be alert on the possible problems that they may face from the skunk.



The Distinct Track of the Skunk

The track of the skunk has a unique 5-toed feature and noticeable claw marks. The thing that makes their Arizona track different is that claw marks can be found on both front and hind feet. Nonetheless, there are instances that the paw print is still like the cat. Since the cat has the capability to retract its claw, you will still be able to determine if the print belongs to a skunk or a cat. There is also an obvious difference between the front and the rear track. The hind track usually comes with a heel pad that ranges from 2-2 ½ inches in terms of length.

Front Track

The front track of the skunk will show five toes. The claw marks on the front track will manifest ahead of the toe print. This is because the claws of the skunk on the front feet will be longer since they will be using this to dig their burrows. Not all the discerning feature of the skunk track will be seen in case you encountered the skunk track. Often, the track will clearly show the metacarpal pad but not the carpal pad. When you have a striped skunk in your property, you will not usually see the carpal pads or even the metacarpal pads due to the way that the creature substrate or walk. This will be a lot challenging. You should pay attention to the claw marks instead.

How to Tell the Left and Right Footprint of the Skunk

When you stumble upon an Arizona skunk track, you will notice how one of the toes will be smaller and will be a lot lower compared to the other track. This is commonly referred to as the inner toe. Expert trackers will call this as Toe#1. By looking at the position of the Toe#1, you will be able to determine if this is the left or the right front track.

Apart from the tracks of the Mesa skunk, they will leave other signs behind that will help you determine an active infestation. For example, skunks are known for their digging prowess. They will create two types of holes in your yard. The deeper hole will be used as their den and the shallow holes is a sign of their hunting. Smelling an irritating musk will make people think that they have a skunk within their property. However, this is not usually the case. Remember that the skunk can travel great distance and the musk may just be an indication of a passing skunk.



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