Striped Skunks

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Striped Skunks - Habitat and Range

Photo source:
Chris's Pet Skunk Page

Striped Skunks are found in the most of USA and Canada. They inhabit deserts, grassy plains, cultivated copies, forests edges, pastures and suburbs.

Striped Skunks - Taxonomy

Order: Fissipedia
Family: Mustelidae
Sub Family: Mephitidae
Genus: Mephitis
Species: Mephitis mephitis

Striped Skunks - Description

Striped Skunks (Mephitis Mephitis) are considered to be the most primitive of the living carnivores. They are furry animals with a stocky body and a small, elongated head. The Skunk's legs are short with powerful claws. The ears are small and round. Skunks cannot see too well, but their sense of hearing is good. The coat of a Skunk is black with two broad white stripes, which form a cap on his head and shoulders, and a thing white stripe down center of his muzzle. Skunks have a bushy black tail with a white tip. Skunk's coloration isn't protective at all - it's bold and advertising to enemies that this animal shouldn't be bothered.

Photo source:
Chris's Pet Skunk Page

Length: Body length is up to 18 inches (45 cm) plus tail 7-16 inches (18-40 cm).
Weight: 2.6-11.7 pounds (1.2-5.3 kg).

Striped Skunks - Economic Importance

The Striped Skunk fluid contains musk and is used as a base for perfumes. Also Skunks are trapped for their fur and pelt, though they are low-valued. Striped Skunks are the easiest of furbearers to catch, falling prey to dirt-holes, bait-stakes and burrow sets.

Sometimes Skunks kill poultry and spoil lawns, digging them up for insects. A year-round hunting season allows people who have problems with Striped Skunks to remove them without a permit.

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