Here are some fun facts on skunks that you may have wanted to know.

* Skunks are a member of the weasel family.

* There are 4 types of skunk in the United States; striped, spotted, hooded and hog-nosed.

* Skunks measure about 20 to 30 inches long and weigh 6 to 10 pounds.

*  Skunks are primarily nocturnal and solitary animals.

* The average litter of young is 5, born late April to early June.

* An individual skunk can have a territory of 30 to 40 acres.

* 70 percent of a skunks diet consists of insects considered harmful to humans.

* Their largest enemies are automobiles and great horned owls.

* The skunk’s main defense is a complex chemical substance that includes sulfuric acid.

* When skunks feel threatened they usually fluff their fur, shake its tail, stomp the ground with its front feet, growl, and stand on its hind legs, and turn its head and spit to scare the potential attacker. If that doesn’t work, it will lift its tail up and spray.

* The glands that hold the spray can produce enough chemical to hold 5 or 6 full-powered sprays.

* Skunks can have rabies. Only if an adult skunks is seen in the daytime and showing abnormal behaviors such as paralysis, unprovoked aggression, moving in circles, self-mutilation and you should call your local animal control.

I hope that you have learned some fun facts about skunks. Have a great week guys!!

In the next issue of Upland Tales magazine, we are featuring a story on the SCA (Student Conservation Association) and green jobs. In honor of Earth Day this week, we’d like to tell you about a contest that the SCA is currently holding. It’s called Green Your School, and it is a national competition to stimulate and/or identify conservation service projects designed by high school students that improve or restore or beautify or conserve their high school environment. To be eligible, projects must have been started after August 1, 2008. The Contest submission phase began on April 1, 2009, and will end at 11:59 pm ET October 9, 2009. Winners will be announced on or around November 15, 2009. To find out how you can enter your school in the project, visit the SCA website.

Six new youth have been appointed to Pheasants Forever’s (PF) and Quail Forever’s (QF) National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC). The NYLC is made up of 20 young people from around the country that were nominated by their PF/QF chapter for their community involvement and conservation interests. They are the spokespersons for their age group on hunting and conservation issues and advise PF/QF on youth programs. The new members were nominated by a PF/QF chapter with a history of emphasis and demonstrated success with youth programs. more…

Summer 2009 Upland Tales will be coming to your mailbox soon. Here’s a sneak peak of what’s to come:

Outdoor Photo Tips: And summer photo contest

Ground Water: Now you see it, now you don’t!

All For One & One For All: Big game herding behavior

Green Jobs: The SCA offers a start

Summer Fun Reading

The Importance of Pack Leadership: Using it to train your dog

Nature’s Mysteries: More brain twisters

Puzzle-mania

Hey guys. So guess what? Earth Day is approaching fast and I would like everyone of you to contribute in your own way. We need the earth around for years to come so we have to do our part NOW!!!! So I have a favor for each and everyone of you. Earth day is April 22nd and it will be the 39th year anniversery. What I would like is for you to go out and:

1.) Plant a tree

2.) Make a nature craft such as (make a bird feeder out of a milk jug, egg carton bugs, laundry bottle pet food scoopers, and tin can pots).

3.) Learn more about your environment.

4.) Reduce, Reuse and Recycle EVERYDAY!!

5.) Recycle your old games and toys.

6.) Pick up litter.

7.) Ride your bike or walk to school instead of riding in a car.

Any of these things will help make the earth a better place, and you can make a difference!!!

GO GREEN!!!!