Striped Skunk Photos by Bruce Dayton - Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

ORDER: Carnivora (Carnivores)
FAMILY: Mephitidae (Skunks)
SPECIES: Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
The Striped Skunk is the most common skunk in North America. Found over most of the North American continent, it is one of the most well-known mammals. - The Striped Skunk is beneficial as a consumer of rodent and insect populations. - This species can be domesticated as a pet in the United States. - The Great Horned Owl is the only animal that regularly eats skunks. - Also known as Skunk or Polecat. -
SIZE	The Striped Skunk weighs 6 to 14 pounds (2.7-6.3 kg) with a body length (excluding the tail) of 13 to 18 inches (33-46 cm). The bushy tail is 7 to 10 inches long (18-25 cm), and sometimes has a white tip.
DESCRIPTION	The Striped Skunk has a black body with a white stripe along each side of its body; the two stripes join into a broader white area at the nape. Its forehead has a narrow white stripe. They are about the size of a house cat. Sexual Dimorphism: Males are 15% larger than females, but females have longer tails.
DEN	They dig a den, which may be in a ground burrow, or beneath a building, boulder, or rock pile. While the male dens by itself, several females may live together.
MATING	In February or March, mating occurs, and by May, after a 50- 65 day gestation period, a litter of about five or six young is born. The young are born blind, and follow their mother until late June or July. Males are typically polygamous and solitary. Males and females do not associate beyond the few days required for fertilization.
BEHAVIOR	The Striped Skunk does not hibernate. The presence of a Striped Skunk is often first made apparent by its odor. It has the ability to spray a foul-smelling fluid from two glands near the base of its tail. Skunk musk is oily and difficult to remove. Skunk kittens can spray when they are only eight days old. Skunks attempt to give a warning before they spray by stamping their front feet before turning around to spray.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE	They are found throughout much of North America, ranging from central Canada, throughout the United States, and south into northern Mexico.
HABITAT	They prefer somewhat open areas with a mixture of habitats such as woods, grasslands, and agricultural clearings. They are usually are never found further than two miles from a water source. They are also often found in suburban areas because of the abundance of buildings that provide them with cover.
DIET	The Striped Skunk is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. The skunk is crepuscular, beginning its search for food at dawn and dusk. They eat a variable diet of mice, eggs, carrion, insects, grubs, and berries.

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The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.


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Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Tier Township Wayne County, New York


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