40-1 (05)
release dates: October 1-7
TM
TM
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
© 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
By BETTY DEBNAM
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
The Little Stinker
The Skunk
photo by J. Larsen Maher © Wildlife Conservation Society, courtesy The Bronx Zoo
Have you ever caught a whiff of
skunk? Some say skunk spray smells
like really bad body odor, or like rotten
eggs, or like both mixed together.
But a skunk is actually a beautiful
animal that just wants to be left alone.
Its stinky spray is its main defense
against enemies. Experts say that if
you don’t bother it, it won’t bother you.
The Mini Page takes a closer look at
this pretty little stinker.
Skunk relatives
Most experts believe skunks belong
to a family of animals called Mustelids
(MUStuh-lids).
Other
members
of that
family
include
weasels, mink, wolverines, badgers,
ferrets and otters.
There are about nine kinds of
skunk. In the
United States, the
striped skunk is
the most common.
Other American
skunks include the
spotted skunk and
Spotted skunk
the hognosed
skunk.
Skunks live
in the wild in
most parts of North
and South
Hognosed skunk
America.
A grown striped
skunk is about as big
as a fully grown
housecat, weighing 4
to 5 pounds and
about 9 to 12 inches
long, not counting
their tails.
Skunks usually live in
a small area by
themselves. From one
to 20 skunks might be
living in an area the
size of a city block in
either the city or the
country. After they are
born, the young may
stay with the mother
for up to a year.
A family of stinkers
The nose knows
Many
members of the
Mustelid family
besides skunks
make bad smells.
Otters and minks leave a strong scent
to mark their territories. Minks and
wolverines also ooze a stinky liquid for
defense.
People used to mistake a skunk for
one of its relatives, a striped polecat.
The polecat also
sprays a badsmelling liquid at
its enemies. Polecats
are found in the
wild in Africa.
But none of these smelly animals
stinks as bad as a spraying skunk.
The skunk’s stink comes partly
from a chemical called sulfur. This is
the same chemical that causes rotten
eggs to stink.
Skunk spray can reach 12 to 15
feet. The mist from the spray can go
even farther if there is a wind. The
smell from the spray can stick around
for days.
Skunk spray not only
stinks, but it stings the
eyes as well. If skunk
spray gets in an animal’s
eyes, it may not be able
to see well for days.
If an animal is sprayed by a skunk,
it will remember the stink and the
stinging. It probably won’t get near
the skunk again.
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
®
40-2 (05); release dates: October 1-7
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
More About Skunks
Perfume of skunk
The smelly spray that skunks and
other animals make is called “musk.”
No other animal produces musk as
stinky as skunk musk.
Some people like the smell of
some animals’ musk. Perfume
makers sometimes use animal musk
in their cosmetics.
There are even some perfume
makers who make perfume out of
skunk spray. The perfume makers
separate out
what makes
the bad
smells and
keep the part
that makes the smell stay around.
Cleaning humans
If you are sprayed by a skunk,
rinse your eyes thoroughly with
water. Wash yourself with strong
soap and tomato juice.
Try washing your
clothes in the following
recipe and then hanging
them outside for about a
month to air them out.
But it might be a lost
cause. You may have to throw out
any clothes sprayed by a skunk.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Mini Spy . . .
Recipe to get rid of skunk smell
Has your dog ever annoyed a
skunk? If it has, it probably made
you and your dog very unhappy.
If your dog is ever in that fix
again, wash it in the following
formula as soon as
possible. The longer
the dog goes
between being
sprayed and being
bathed, the harder
the smell will be
to get rid of.
Have an adult
help you make the recipe and also
help you wash your dog in the
formula.You can also buy readymade products especially made to
get rid of the smell of skunk.
TM
Mini Spy and her friends are visiting a skunk at the zoo.
See if you can find: • word MINI • mushroom • ladder
• top hat
• football
• muffin
• key • bird
• lizard
• letter H
• comb
• fish • ax
• pencil
• sailboat
• lima bean
• witch’s hat
Brown
Basset ws
The Ned’s
Houn
TM
Here are the directions for getting
rid of the smell of skunk.
Mix together:
• 2 pints hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 2 tablespoons liquid dish detergent
• 1 pint tomato juice
Mix ingredients just before bathing
your pet. Bathe your pet in the formula
and leave it on for 15 minutes.
Then rinse thoroughly.
Recipe provided by Dr. Donald E. Moore.
Reprinted with permission from “Tug Hill:
A Four Season Guide to the Natural
Side,” by Robert McNamara, Tug
Hill Tomorrow Land
Trust; published by
North Country Books
Inc., Utica, N.Y.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
SKUNKS
TRY ’N
FIND
Words that remind us of skunks are hidden in the block below.
Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find:
SPRAY, STINK, DEFENSE, PRETTY, BLACK, WHITE, STRIPES,
SPOTS, GENTLE, WILD, SMELL, MUSK, STING, TAIL,
MARKINGS, OWL, DANGER, ENVIRONMENT, COLORING, FUR,
DEN, HABITAT, NIGHT.
M D S S T O P S S E P I R T S
KEEP YOUR
A A S M K C A L B Y T T E R P
DISTANCE FROM
A SKUNK!
R N M P E L I A T K E T I H W
K G O U R L F U R T H G I N V
I E W W S A L D E N K N I T S
N R L Y L K Y G E N T L E V W
G G N I T S V G N I R O L O C
S E S N E F E D T A T I B A H
W I L D T N E M N O R I V N E
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®
40-3 (05); release dates: October 1-7
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
TM
Go dot to dot and color.
Rookie Cookie’s Recipe
Microwaved Apricots
in Orange Sauce
You’ll need:
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons orange marmalade (divided)
• 1/4 cup juice from canned apricot halves
• 2 (16-ounce) cans apricot halves
• 1/2 cup sour cream
What to do:
1. In an 8-by-8-inch microwaveable baking dish,
combine the 1/3 cup orange marmalade and apricot juice.
2. Arrange the apricot halves on top of the mixture.
3. Cover tightly and cook on high for 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Remove from microwave, let cool, and refrigerate for
30 minutes.
5. Remove from refrigerator and spoon apricot mixture into
4 serving dishes.
6. Combine remaining marmalade and sour cream in a small bowl.
Spoon on top of each serving. Makes 4 servings.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Meet Jonah Bobo
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
A KID ’ S
G U I D E T O T HE
WHI T E HO U S E
Betty Debnam
Kids!
Kids!You're
You're
tothe
the
Invited
Invited to
White
White House
House
A Kid’s Guide to the White
House is a terrific behind-the-scenes
look at a very special house.
Written with the cooperation of the
White House Historical Association, the
book is full of fun information, photos
(some in full color) and puzzles that
kids of all ages will enjoy.
To order, send $9.95 plus $3.50 for postage and handling for each copy. Send check or money order (U.S.
funds only) payable to: Andrews McMeel Universal, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206.
Please send ________ copies of A Kid’s Guide to The White House (Item #2153-2) at $13.45 each, including
postage and handling. Toll free number 1-800-591-2097. www.smartwarehousing.com
Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ____________________________________________________________State: ______________ Zip: ____________
Jonah Bobo is the young actor who
plays the character Danny in the movie
“Zathura.” The movie is about the
adventures of two brothers whose house
magically travels through space. It is
based on the book “Zathura” by Chris Van
Allsburg.
Jonah, 8, has already been in several films. He has
also played voice-over parts. He is Austin in the
Nickelodeon fall series “The Backyardigans.” He is the
voice of Tod in the upcoming movie “Fox and the Hound II.”
Jonah grew up in New York City. He likes playing the
piano and listening to rock ’n’ roll. His favorite sport is
baseball, and he is a big New York Yankees and New
York Mets fan.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
TM
All the following jokes have something in common. Can
you guess the common theme or category?
Elaine: How much does a pirate pay for
earrings?
Eric: A “buck an ear”!
Eileen: Why did a pirate put a nest
where he buried the treasure?
Ernest: Because “eggs” marks the spot!
Ellen: What is the pirate’s favorite movie
rating?
Erin: Arrrrrrrr!
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
®
40-4 (05); release dates: October 1-7
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
A Skunk’s Life
photo by J. Larsen Maher © Wildlife Conservation Society, courtesy The Bronx Zoo
Skunk spray
photo by John Collins, courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Skunks store their stinky spray in
an area on each side of their rear
ends, right under their tails.
They can store
enough for five to six
sprays. After they have
used up their stored
spray, it might take a
few days or even a
couple of weeks for their
bodies to make more. This is another
reason skunks spray only when they
feel very threatened.
Skunks like to live in
small holes or dens.
They might dig their
own dens, or they
might find a
comfortable hole
already made. They
make their dens under
porches, under
buildings, in hollow
trees, or in woodchuck
or other animal holes in
the ground.
They can live in almost
any habitat, including
cities, deserts,
grasslands and woods.
Giving warning
Danger marks
A skunk’s life
Skunks spray only as a last
resort. If they feel threatened, first
they try to scare off their enemies.
They don’t want to fight.
Like other animals, skunks try to
make themselves look bigger when
threatened. A skunk arches its back
and puts its tail up. The hairs on its
back and tail stand up.
If the threat moves closer,
the striped skunk will start
stamping its feet and
growling.
If none of these warnings
work, the skunk will then curl
its body into a U-shape. Its rear and
head will be facing the same way so
it can see where to spray.
Some animals are colored so that
they blend into their environment.
They don’t want to be seen.
But skunks
want just the
opposite. They
want to show
up. Their
coloring is a
warning to their enemies.
Skunks have bright fur patterns
with white stripes or spots on black
fur. Most animals know to stay away
from them as soon as they notice the
bright patterns.
Bright markings are often a
warning in the animal kingdom. If
an animal shows up really well,
there is a good chance it will be
poisonous, smelly or bad-tasting.
Skunks are usually active at night
and sleep during the day. Experts
believe skunks have poor eyesight
and hearing, but a good sense of
smell. No one knows if they enjoy
the scent of skunk spray.
Skunks eat almost anything,
including bugs, fruits, vegetables,
ground-nesting birds, dog and cat
chow, lizards, frogs, garbage and
small rodents.
The
skunk’s
white
markings
make it
easy to
see at
night.
Although
the marks
warn off
most
enemies,
the white
shows up
like a
target to
an owl
flying
above.
The Mini Page thanks Dr. Donald E. Moore,
director, Wildlife Conservation SocietyProspect Park Zoo; and Diana Tancredi,
supervisor of special animal exhibits and
operations, Wildlife Conservation SocietyBronx Zoo, for help with this story.
Site to see: www.kidsgowild.com
Look through your newspaper for stories
about animals.
Next week The Mini Page is the second
issue in our nine-part series about the
U.S. Constitution.
Dangers to skunks
Skunks do not have many
enemies. Most animals don’t want to
get near them.
The automobile is one of
the biggest
dangers to
skunks. The great horned
owl is their main animal enemy.
Hawks may also eat skunks.
Experts believe that birds have
less of a sense of smell than many
other animals, and so the skunk
odor does not bother them. And
when they attack a skunk from the
air, the owls and hawks are not in
the direct line of the spray.
The Mini Page is created and edited by
Betty Debnam
Associate Editors
Tali Denton
Lucy Lien
Staff Artist
Wendy Daley
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
photo by J. Larsen Maher © Wildlife Conservation
Society, courtesy The Bronx Zoo
Read all about
the skunk
in
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
by Betty Debnam
Appearing in your
newspaper on ____________.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam
© 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
(Note to Editor: Above is cameraready, one column-by-41/4-inch ad
promoting Issue 40.)
release dates: October 1-7
40-5 (05)
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The MIni Page Publishing Company Inc.
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
Standards Spotlight:
The Skunk
Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each
week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’s content and offer
activities that will help your students reach them.
This week’s standards:
• Students understand the characteristics of animals. (Science: Life Science)
• Students understand the interaction of animals and the environment. (Science: Life
Science)
Activities:
1. Make a set of skunk trading cards. Draw a picture of a skunk on the front of each
card. On the back, write something important about skunks, like how big they are,
where they live and what they eat.
2. Have a contest with a friend. Make a list of other animals that are black and
white. Compare your answers. Who has the most animals?
3. Look through your newspaper for things with different smells. Circle things that
smell good with a colored marker. Circle things that smell bad with a different
colored marker.
4. Write a paragraph about all the different ways skunks defend themselves.
5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about another member of the
Mustelid family. Use these questions to guide your research: What is the animal?
How large does it get? Where does it live? What does it eat? How does it defend
itself? How is it like the skunk? How is it different?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
(Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 40.)
TM
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Supersports: Mike and Bob Bryan
Mike: Height: 6-3
Bob: Height: 6-4
Mike: Weight: 192
Bob: Weight: 202
Both born: 4-29-78
Hometown: Camarillo, Calif.
Oh brother! Mike and Bob Bryan are twin terrors on the
tennis court.
Bob plays left-handed, Mike plays right-handed, and their
opponents usually come up shorthanded. In 2004 the Bryans
Mike Bryan
combined to win seven doubles titles. They currently rank at
or near the top in the world in doubles.
Before succeeding as professionals, Bob and Mike helped spark
Stanford University to two national titles in the 1990s.
They were born with a racket in their hands, so to speak.
Their parents taught them to play when they were 2 years old!
In addition to tennis, both enjoy playing basketball, and
both like music. Mike plays the drums and Bob plays the
keyboard. They also participate in an annual charity event
at their club in Camarillo to help raise money for abused
children.
Bob Bryan
(Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 40, to be
used in place of ad if desired.)
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