STRIPED SKUNK

(Mephitis mephitis)

Our striped skunk is a victim of the pet trade.  He was descented and sold as a pet.  His owner went off to college and donated the skunk to us.  Skunks do not make a good pet due to their wild nature, long sharp claws, and sharp teeth.

IDENTIFICATION: The distinct black and white pattern of the striped skunk sets it apart from all other North American mammals.  Similar in size to a house cat, the striped skunk is around 13 – 18 inches (33 – 46cm) in length.  Its tail measures around 7 – 10 inches (18 – 25cm) in length.  To identify the striped skunk from similar species, look for a narrow white stripe up the middle of the forehead, and a pronounced white area on the neck which divides into two white stripes down the back to the tail.  The tail may or may not have a white tip.

RANGE AND HABITAT:  Striped skunks are found throughout the United States and most of Canada.  They occur throughout all of Florida.  They prefer semi-open land, mixed woods, brushland, and open prairie.

DIET:  Striped skunks are omnivorous, and feed on an assortment of vegetation, insects, grubs, small mammals, eggs, and amphibians.

HABITS:  Before spraying an intruder with their infamous musky odor, striped skunks perform a number of other protests.  They begin by snarling, stomping, hissing, raising the hind legs, and clicking their teeth, giving you time to back up before resorting to their final act of defense.  When they are compelled to spray, they will make a U-shape with their bodies so they can still see the intruder.  The spray emerges from a gland below their tail, and can shoot a distance of 6 – 10 feet (1.8m – 3m).