Almost skunked but he didn't leave before giving me his two cents

[GKMan]

Feeling a bit bummed that I detected hard for most of the morning and all I found was a skunk detecting for bugs in the same field I was detecting for coins..... He was there as long as I was which was a couple hours and I believe he was doing a lot better than I was.... In the end I detected another part of the field at a safe distance from him and found a 1919 and 1920 wheat cent...

I tried to shoo the little bugger away yelling at him but he didn't pay me any attention....
[attachment 289538 1.JPG]

 

["Dr.Tones"]

haha! could've been worse.

 

[CTX3030]

Be careful skunks can be rabid which might account for him ignoring you.

 

[GKMan]

I thought it was odd he was out during the day...of course it was gorgeous out there so I suppose he thought he might as well take advantage of it.
last year in the fall I was detecting, I heard the leaves rustling behind me turned around and a raccoon was following me..he was probably about 20 feet away. he gave me a look and I gave him a look back, and he sauntered away, stinking wildlife...

 

[McClod]

Be glad he didn't give you 2 scents!

 

[GKMan]

hahaha

 

["Dr.Tones"]

Probably rabid

 

[sube]

No there not rabid just out eaten bugs and stuff at least you got 2 cents . sube

 

[RoyW]

Skunks aren't actually nocturnal, they are crepuscular, which means they come out about dusk and dawn. That is except for mother skunks that are hungry, which is no doubt what you observed. Mom skunks stay with their babies during all of the early evening, dark and early morning hours because that's when predators are most active. So those hungry moms have to eat during the day.

Skunks are also very near sighted and no doubt would not have been able to see you at that distance. As you saw, when they are out hunting bugs they keep their nose to the ground and pretty much ignore what's going on around them as adult skunks really don't worry much about predators for obvious reasons. You could have just about tripped over her without getting her upset. It's actually pretty hard to get a skunk to spray, although a big, charging, barking dog can get the job done quite nicely.

On the other hand, raccoons, which are truly nocturnal, should not be seen in the daytime. The chances of a raccoon out during the day being rabid are pretty high so definitely stay far away. Of course, staying far away from a skunk is always a good idea regardless!

 

[GKMan]

Interesting, thanks Roy!

 

[Dekeyser68]

wow holy smokes i woulda been worried. looks like he jinxed you and you got skunked on the silver.