Striped Skunk

stripedskunk: COMMON NAME: Striped Skunk

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Mephitis mephitis

DESCRIPTION:

The skunk is a mustelid, related to the mink, badger and otter. Their anal glands are highly developed for defense and spray accurately as far as 15’ away. They have a bad reputation as carriers of rabies, so you should never consider picking up a skunk. They measure 20-30” long, with a tail 8-15” long. They usually weigh 6-14 lbs. The striped skunk’s characteristic coloring is the forked stripe on its back, spanning from nose to tail.

Skunks do not spray unless mortally threatened. They will usually arch their back, raise their tail and stomp their feet to appear threatening. Amonia and tomato juice all work for removing the skunk’s scent out of clothing after a single wash. These nocturnal creatures do not hibernate, but have been known to become temporarily dormant during extremely cold weather.

LIFE HISTORY:

Striped skunks begin mating in late winter and 4-7 young are born in mid-May. Females will only give birth once in their life. The babies are born blind and deaf and nurse for a month and a half. They will break away from the family unit one year after becoming an adult.

ECOLOGY:

Striped skunks live within two miles of water all across the United States. They inhabit woodlands, deserts, grassy plains and even suburbs. They will make their homes out of burrows abandoned by other animals, hollow logs, or crevices.

Skunks are omnivores, eating a variety of plants, insects, eggs, small mammals and amphibians.

animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu, the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology


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