Striped Skunk walking on Sally Jones Causeway – Canon R7, handheld, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 2500, +0.3 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 472mm, natural light
It was early morning on the last day of August when I found a Striped Skunk walking towards me on the Sally Jones Causeway at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. Since it was just after daybreak, the light was still low. I had my ISO high so I could hopefully get a few photos of the skunk before jumping back into my Jeep to avoid getting sprayed.
Because I don’t see skunks all that often at the refuge, I was excited. I have to admit my hands trembled a bit because of that. It is probably a good thing my ISO was high enough to give me a decent shutter speed.
Even then, I only took two photos that I felt were sharp enough to share. This is one of them, and very shortly after I took it, I quickly climbed into my vehicle because it looked like the skunk was coming straight at me.
I sure didn’t want to startle the skunk!
Striped Skunks don’t have great eyesight, and I wasn’t sure if this skunk ever realized I was standing in the road too.
Before the skunk got close to where I was parked, it walked off the gravel road and explored the edge of the causeway on the bank of the Sally Jones Lake.
I was happy to have seen this Striped Skunk and happier still that I was able to get photos of them. They make for fun subjects when bird photography is slow.
I see four to five more days in the long-range forecast when temps will be over 100°F, I sure hope it cools down here soon.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view my Striped Skunk photo gallery plus facts and information about this species.
Hi Mia! I found your blog through a search for “Western Tanagers, perched, from below.” Your excellent pics helped me confirm that I saw an adult male this morning, here in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California. Thanks for the ID help! I was having a hard time getting started today but this bird perked me up. 🙂 And it introduced me to you! Looking forward to seeing you in my In Box.
Definitely don’t want to tail-gate this little guy. Nice shot. Thanks Mia.
Adorable!
Cute little stinker! And no mange, seems like every time I see one in Utah it has mange on it’s face. Hope you get some cooler temps soon, hot is not fun!