Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Striped skunks are solitary and elusive. They thrive in areas with dead trees and lots of places to hide, making Jewel Cave National Monument the perfect place for them.

NPS/ Jim Peaco

 

Striped skunks are rarely seen at Jewel Cave National Monument because they are more active at night.

NPS/SNP

Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis

• The name Mephitis comes from Latin meaning “pestilent” or “bad odor”, referring to the strong scent emitted when the animal is provoked.
• Its common name describes the white stripes running along its back, another common name is polecat.

Size and Description

• The striped skunk is roughly the same size as a domestic cat, with a small triangular shaped head tapering into a rounded nose.
• Best known for its black and white fur pattern. A large white patch behind its head and divides into two long broad white stripes leading to the base of the tail, the rest of the animal is black.
• Adults are 20-28 inches in length and weight ranges from 6-14 lbs.
  
  
  

Behavior

• Striped skunks can adapt to a variety of habitats but are unlikely to live in heavily forested areas. Typical habitat includes fencerows, rockpiles, brushy areas, and drainage ditches.
• Males often spend much of their time above ground while females will spend most of their time below ground except to forage.
• Skunks breed once a year and can bear 2-10 kits a breeding season. At two weeks of age, kits can already discharge musk from their scent glands.
• Skunks have a highly developed anal musk gland that can be expelled my muscle contraction and do so when threatened. If an animal is hit by the musk, it is extremely foul smelling and extremely difficult to get off.

 

Diet

• Skunks are omnivorous and opportunistic foragers. Important food items for skunks are insects and other invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds and their eggs, small mammals, berries, grasses, agricultural crops, carrion and garbage.

Interactions with other animals

• Although skunks have a very efficient deterrent for predators, they are not totally safe. Skunks are hunted by raptors ad a variety of mammal predators like bobcats, coyotes and sometimes mountain lions.
• The primary source of skunk mortality is being hit by cars.