Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219380
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitisAlso known as Common Skunk, North American Skunk
Striped skunks are highly adaptable omnivores easily recognized by their bold black-and-white warning coloration and bushy tails. They lead mostly solitary, nocturnal lives, using their powerful foreclaws to dig for insects, grubs, and small rodents in fields and suburban lawns. When threatened, they perform a series of warning displays, including stomping their front feet, before deploying a highly potent, sulfurous spray from their anal glands.
NocturnalMammalAdaptable
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beetles
- Earthworms
- Field Mice
Predators
- Great Horned Owl
- Coyote
- Domestic Dog
ThreatsVehicle collisions, domestic dog attacks, and rodenticides
HabitatsForests, grasslands, agricultural fields, and suburban areas
Life span2 to 3 years in the wild, up to 10 years in captivity
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- SpeciesMephitis mephitis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Can carry rabies and spray a foul-smelling liquid; observe from a safe distance and never corner them.
Responsible observation
- Watch for Warnings: If a skunk stomps its feet or raises its tail, back away slowly and quietly.
- Secure Your Trash: Keep garbage cans tightly sealed to avoid attracting them to your yard.
- Leash Your Pets: Keep dogs on a leash during dawn and dusk to prevent smelly encounters.
Predator "Great Horned Owl, the first I've seen in decent light this year. Didn't want to disturb it for too long so we continued along the trail" by island deborah- is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Dmitrij Rodionov, DR / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative A National Park Service employee / Public domain · cc0
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