Forest Stewardship News Releases
Short articles about aspects of forest stewardship are distributed about ten times a year to news outlets throughout Pennsylvania and to people who request to receive them. To be added to the distribution list, fill out and submit our on-line form.
Forest Stewardship News Release Archive
LATEST NEWS
RELEASE: Why Did the Skunk Cross the Road?
August 30, 2010 - For Immediate Release
Contact: Allyson Muth, Phone: 814-865-3208 E-mail:
Why Did the Skunk Cross the Road?
Written by Dr. Gary San Julian, Phone: 814-865-4287, jgs9@psu.edu
Have you ever wondered why so many skunks, squirrels, raccoons, snakes, and myriad other wildlife species meet their demise on our roads? In the fall, the surfeits of skunks, gazes of raccoons, and drays of squirrels often break up. Many of our snakes lay their eggs in the spring and the female moves on; in late summer, the eggs hatch and the nest disperses without any help from mom. This outward movement of wildlife from established activity areas in wildlife jargon is termed "dispersal." Simply, wildlife has the need to find mates, warmer weather, better habitat or they move just because mom does not want her young around anymore.
The distances species move varies greatly. In one study, a red fox moved almost 100 miles, but for most of our mammals the travel distance is much less. Some animals may leave the area for good and establish their territory in a new habitat. When they leave an area, it is emigration and when they establish in a new area it is immigration. When they leave and come back, as many of our songbirds do, it is termed migration.
Many of these wanderers are young forced out by their mothers. They are inexperienced and moving into unfamiliar areas-- their mortality rate can be high. Dispersal peaks usually occur in spring and fall. These movements help populate new habitats, helping, for example, expand the range of Pennsylvania's elk population. When bear sows drive off their male cubs, they are increasing genetic variability elsewhere. Reintroductions of animals like the river otter in Pennsylvania have restored populations to habitats formerly occupied. These movements are just a part of population dynamics.
By the way, the reason the skunk crossed the road was, of course, to get to the other side.
The Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program provides publications on a variety of topics related to woodland management for private landowners. For a list of free publications, call 1-800-235-9473 (toll-free), send e-mail to , or write to: Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Resources Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, 320 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and USDA Forest Service, in partnership with the Penn State's Forest Resources Extension, sponsor the Forest Stewardship Program in Pennsylvania.
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