Observation ID: 54209

Submitted by tigereyes6868 on
Condition
Dead
Animal
Western Spotted Skunk
Identification Confidence
100% certain
Observation Date / Time

Crushed, head and neck twisted so that the chin was facing the sky while the body was laying on the left side. The carcass was 14.25 inches long with a tail length of 7.0 inches. It was not possible to straighten the head and neck for a more accurate measurement. Full rigor was evident. There was no smell from the glands, just rotting flesh. There were 9, 3/8 inch maggots feeding on the open abdominal cavity. Not visible in the images. Juvenille. Moderate vegetative coverage dominated by Atriplex hymenelytra (Desert holly), Larrea tridentata (Creosote), and Erigonum inflatum (Desert trumpet). Weather: clear, 5-10 mph winds, 76 degrees Fahrenheit. This animal was not present at 5 pm on 9/24/2011 based on reports from other park employeesf.

Observer
S Holt
Travel Frequency
weekly
Estimated Time Since Impact
definitely less than 12 hours
Roadway Speed Limit
65 mph
Road Type
state / rural highway
Location Description
CA HWY 190Westbound lane; 0.3 miles after Mile Marker 136.50, heading west; on the white lane marking

Observation Map