James L. Cummins

Striped Skunk by James L. Cummins 

The striped skunk ranges as far north as mid-Canada and as far south as the northern part of Mexico. 

It is easily identified by its pattern and the color of its fur. While much of its fur is black, the striped skunk has a thin, white strip running along the top of its snout and over its forehead. Two distinct stripes run down the body of the striped skunk and usually come together again at the tail to form one stripe at the base of its tail. Interestingly, each striped skunk has a unique stripe pattern but always has two stripes along the body. Apart from its distinctive colors, the striped skunk is about the same size as a small cat and has a small, triangular-shaped head, short ears, and black eyes. 

Striped skunks can be found in a mixture of habitats and are becoming more commonly found in farming areas and suburban areas. Typically, the striped skunk dwells within close range of a body of water or other constant water sources. Breeding occurs between February and April, and gestation lasts from 59 to 77 days. A litter of young can number between 2 and 10 with each weighing a mere pound on average. Around week 8, the little ones learn to forage and hunt by following the mother in a single file during outings. 

During this time, the mother skunk is fiercely defensive of her young. The striped skunk is a very meek animal that often ignores other skunks, except during the breeding season. Primarily nocturnal, skunks are most active around dusk and remain so until daybreak. During the day, the skunk seeks shelter in abandoned dens of other animals or hollowed logs, under rocks, or under buildings. They are less active in the winter but do not actually hibernate. 

Opportunistic feeders, striped skunks will adapt their diet to what can be found in their environment. However, they are most often found feeding on bees, worms, crayfish, and other arthropods. Striped skunks are also known to feast on the occasional reptile, fish, amphibian, and carrion. The striped skunk will also dine on corn, nuts, fruit, and other plant foods if favored foods are hard to come by. 

While many people can easily identify a skunk by sight, the telltale sign of a nearby skunk is often its odiferous spray. When a skunk feels threatened, it will first attempt to warn the intruder by arching its back, raising its tail, and stomping the ground. If these warnings go unheeded, the skunk will then bend its hindquarters around and spray an overpowering, yellowish musk from its anal glands. This musk can travel up to 15 feet and unfortunately, the scent can linger for days. 

The striped skunk plays an important role in the ecosystem but is also known to carry parasites and diseases. Preferably, they are best observed from afar.

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