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Red-Tailed Hawk as Possible Enemy of Skunk

Authors
Albert C. Hawbecker
Journal
Condor
Volume
41
Issue
2 (March-April)
Year
1939
Pages
83
Section
From Field and Study
Online Text

Red-tailed Hawk as Possible Enemy of Skunk

On February 13, 1938, I found dead at the roadside between Castroville and Monterey, California, a Western Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis calurus). The cause of death was not ascertained, but the feathers of the bird’s breast and belly were soaked with the pungent musk (fluid) of skunk. Certainly the two animals had been close together, if not in contact; otherwise the feathers could hardly have been as thoroughly saturated as they were with musk.

Albert C. Hawbecker

340 Jefferson Street, Watsolrville, California, November 23, 1938

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