| Classification | Diet |
| Description | Breeding & Reproduction |
| Tracks | Musk |
| Range | Economic Status |
| Lifestyle | Links |
Classification:Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia (mammals)
Order Carnivora
Family Mustelidae (weasels, ferrets, minks, skunks, otters, badgers)
Genus Mephitis
Species Mephitis
Description: At 20 1/2" - 31 1/2" (52.2 - 80 cm) long and weighing from around 2 1/2 pounds to well over 10 pounds, the Striped Skunk is a fairly small animal. Despite the fact that mammals' coloration usually depends on their environment, the Striped Skunk is boldly colored, which advertises to enemies that it is not to be bothered. Black with two broad white stripes on its back, meeting on top of the head and shoulders with a thin white stripe down center of its face. It has a bushy black tail, often with white tip or fringe. It has short legs and clawed feet and has 34 teeth. Coloration varies from mostly black to mostly white. Males are normally larger than females.Next Go to Top
Tracks: Shows 5 toes when clear, sometimes claws. Hind prints 1 1/4 - 2" long, less wide, broadest at front, more flat-footed; fore prints 1 1 3/4" long, slightly wider; stride 4 - 6" (because skunk shuffles and waddles, tracks are closer than in other mustelids, and fore- and hind prints usually do not overlap); when running, stride is longer and hind feet print are ahead of forefeet. Trail undulates slightly because of waddling walkGo to Top Next
Range: From central Mexico to the Northwest Territories and from the Maritimes to west-central British Columbia.
Lifestyle: They are chiefly nocturnal, which means, they start hunting shortly
after sundown and retire at about sunrise. They den in ground burrows, beneath abandoned buildings, boulders, or wood or rock piles. Several females may den together in winter; but males tend to be solitary. The Striped Skunk does not hibernate and has been seen out on warm nights in middle of winter in North and are active all winter in South. One of the few natural predators of the Striped Skunk is the Great Horned Owl, in which the skunk is a regular in its diet.Next Go to Top
Diet: The striped skunk is an omnivore; it eats a variety of animal and plant products like: insects, rodents, reptiles, small mammals, worms, eggs, fish, fruit, and plants.
Breeding and Reproduction:
The Striped Skunk mates in late winter (Feb. - March). Four to seven young are born in mid-May after a 63 day gestation period. They are born blind with very fine hair that is clearly marked with black and white pattern. The young skunks follow their mother in a single file and are weaned at 6-7 weeks of age (June-July).
Musk: Skunks produce a smelly spray that is designed to repel most predators. This oily, yellow liquid is produced in two glands located under the tail. These glands hold up to a tablespoon of spray, enough for about 5 - 6 sprays. They can spray up to 10 ft (3 m) away. To get rid of the odor of skunk spray, it is necessary to change the thiols (smelly chemical compounds in spray), into compounds that have little or no odor. This can easily be done by oxidizing the thiols to sulfonic acids. Many oxidizing agents can effect this change. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) are mild enough to be used on pets although it may change their hair color. For inanimate objects sodium hypochlorite solutions (liquid laundry bleach) are cheap and effective.
Economic Status: One of our most valuable fur animals, although a single pelt is not very valuable, tremendous numbers are taken. The rarely eat poultry but do destroy many small rodents and insects. They can carry rabies, so care has to be taken if handling.
Links:Info on Striped Skunk James Firmiss' Skunk and Opossum Page
For more information, contact Small Carnivore TAG Education Liaison
Page created by Cissy Gooch, Pensacola Junior College ZooTech Student, Fall 2000
