Wild Things: Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
The striped skunk is a North American native and occurs throughout the U.S. and most of Canada, and extending into northern Mexico. The earliest fossils date back some 1.8 million years and were found in Nebraska. It is distinguished by the black body and white stripes extending down the back, branching from a single stripe on the back of the head and neck. The head is small in relation to the body. As do all members of the family Mustelidae, striped skunks produce rather strongsmelling fluids from two anal glands, which they spray in defensive behavior, up to a distance of several yards. As well as being repellent, these secretions can be painful and temporarily blinding to a predator if taken in the eyes.
Adults range in size from 18 to 32 inches long and may weigh up to 13 pounds. The long tail may be raised and flared to create an impressive display. Striped skunks live in a variety of habitats, including forests, plains, deserts, and agricultural lands. They also readily exploit food sources they find in residential areas. Being omnivores, skunks will take a variety of food items, such as insects and other invertebrates, bird eggs, small mammals, and other small vertebrates, as well as nuts, fruits, and leafy greens.
Skunks are nocturnal and solitary, only pairing to mate. Males will breed with multiple females in a polygynous mating system. The female produces a litter of from 2 to 10 kits, which are altricial, or helpless when born. Their eyes open at about three weeks of age and they are weaned at just under two months. Young follow the mother for a time while they learn to forage on their own. Skunks den in brushy thickets, in hollows of trees or logs, under buildings, or in abandoned underground burrows of other mammals. They have front claws adapted for digging and they may also dig their own burrows. They do not hibernate but may become inactive for extended periods in their winter dens. Average life span in the wild is about seven years.
Skunks have few natural predators and forage about rather casually in the presence of other carnivores. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists the striped skunk as a species of least concern, with populations abundant. My trail camera videos often show skunks around gray foxes, seeming to pay the foxes no attention at all, whereas the foxes avoid and seem quite wary of the skunk. However, particularly when immature, skunks may be taken by coyotes, bobcats and other mammal predators, as well as eagles and large owls. In the wild striped skunks are common carriers of rabies.
James Taulman is a retired wildlife ecologist who enjoys exploring New Mexico's natural areas and observing the state's diverse wildlife. His research publications can be accessed at researchgate.net, searching for James F. Taulman; and wildlife videos are on Youtube, under James Taulman.