Skunks, Moose Appearing For First Time In Canadian Arctic Villages [View All]

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The distinctively unpleasant odor of skunk is about the last thing you might expect to smell in the Eastern Hudson Bay community of Kuujjuaraapik. Yet Lucassie Inukpuk, the mayor of Kuujjuaraapik, has spotted several black and white skunks lurking around the town. “We’ve never seen these before,” Inukpuk said.

Skunks aren’t the only unfamiliar animals making their way up the tree line along the Great Whale River. Moose, who favour swampy, treed areas with lots of vegetation to eat, have also been seen around Kuujjuaraapik. Quebec’s department of the environment says it’s not out of the question for moose or skunks to roam as far north as Kuujjuraapik.

But multiple observations of these unfamiliar animals this past summer may be another sign of rising temperatures along the 55th parallel – similar to sightings of unfamiliar birds and insects further north.

Jerry Dragoo, a noted expert on skunks at the Univ. of New Mexico, said the skunks could have been expanding their range due to the impact of global warming on their habitat. That’s because skunks don’t like to be cold, although Dragoo said they can tolerate it. When the temperatures drop, skunks go into a deep sleep or torpor, although they will come out occasionally to feed.

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http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/climate/60929_01.html