These days, you see them wandering around at 2 in the afternoon. Several lawmakers agree. This spring, Golombek said about 40 constituents have reported seeing or smelling skunks. Frank L. Poincelot, the city's chief animal-control officer, acknowledged that the skunk problem in some parts of Black Rock and Riverside is more severe this year. But on a citywide basis, Poincelot said, skunk problems are no worse than usual.
Males fight amongst each other - anything to attract attention from the females.
It's not a pretty sight. Last year's demolition of an old grain elevator off Military Road in the Town of Tonawanda likely contributed to the skunk problem in the city's northwest quadrant. Poincelot said other demolitions and local road construction projects didn't help, either. Kelly Coldy, an Evelyn Street resident in Riverside, said her residence became home to a male skunk for more than a year and a half when contractors dug up the side of her house to put in new plumbing. She vividly remembers when the critter kept her up all night squeaking in the crawl space under her house.