Striped Skunk

Mephitus mephitus

Striped skunks are timid animals. Despite its docile nature it is will known for its defensive behavior. They come equipped with enlarged anal scent glands which contains an overpowering, yellow musk, which can be discharged in a fluid spray reach up to nearly 10 feet. The musk acts as an irritant to the senses and has been documented to cause nausea, intense pain and temporary blindness.

This animal is largely solitary and primarily nocturnal. During the daytime they will take refuge in abandoned dens of other mammals or use hollowed logs or trees. They can also be found in brush piles and the undersides of buildings. While they do not hibernate, during the winter they become quite inactive and rely on fat storage for energy. They can lose up to 50 percent of their weight during this time.

Family:

Mephitida (skunks and stink badgers)

Description:

Striped skunks as their common name implies are identified by two thick white stripes along their back and tails. They also have a thin white strip running from the forehead to the snout. This coloration is in sharp contrast with the otherwise black coat. Their sizes vary greatly depending upon time of year and geographic location, with weights that range between 1.5 and 13 pounds and total length between 18 and 32 inches. Their legs are stout, with five-toed plantigrade feet and long foreclaws for digging.

Habitat:

The striped skunks are found in a large range of habitats including woodland, forest, wood ravines and grassy plains. In current times, however, they can be found in some suburban neighborhoods.

Range:

This animal can be found throughout the continental United States. They can also be found in southern regions of Canada and also northern Mexico.

Diet:

They are opportunistic feeders and will eat a wide variety of food depending on the environment and their needs. This diet can range from insectivores, small mammals, eggs and even ground nesting birds. While the largest part of their diet is made up from animals, they have also been known to eat plants.

Breeding:

Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. Young, called kits or kittens, are born helpless, with eyes opening at about 3 weeks and weaning occurring at 6 to 7 weeks. Once they are weaned, the young skunks will follow their mother in a single file line and learn to forage and hunt. There is a high mortality rate among skunks; many do not survive beyond their first year. Young striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months.

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