Skunk causes stir at Grand Canyon
2013-01-15 17:33
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Flagstaff - Desert bighorn sheep, river otters and
mountain lions, yes. But a hog-nosed skunk at the Grand Canyon? Hardly.
A recent sighting of the striped creature north of the
Colorado River has biologists wondering whether there are more of them in the
national park.
Hog-nosed skunks are primarily found in south-eastern
Arizona, Texas and Mexico.
They're just as smelly as other skunks but distinguished
in appearance by an entirely white back and tail, turned-up snout and long
claws.
In August, a group of rafters noticed it in the bushes
and sent pictures to the National Park Service. Grand Canyon wildlife program
manager Greg Holm says biologists confirmed it was a hog-nosed skunk.
Holm guesses it could have swum across the river or come
from Lake Mead.
He says the park likely will add the skunk to its list of
about 90 mammals.
- AP
