Striped Skunks - Behavior
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Photo source:
Stinktiere © 2003
Iris und Helmut
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Striped Skunks can be called gregarious animals. The females share territories and even dens. Skunks are crepuscular animals (coming out at dawn and dusk), during late summer and early fall; skunks may be seen during the day because the young explore the new world.
The Striped Skunk doesn't hibernate, but becomes temporarily dormant in severe winter frosts. The Striped Skunk usually finds a den that was abandoned by other animals or digs its own den. Sometimes it lives in a hollow log, crevice, or even the space beneath a building. Skunks drag dried leaves and grass into the den to make a mat. In winter they make a ball of grass and push it into the door to keep the cold wind out.
Striped Skunks - Reproduction
Striped Skunks mate February throughout April. Implantation delay is about 19 days; total gestation time is 62-66 days. In May 4-7 blind, toothless, skinny babies are born. In 3 weeks they open the eyes and acquire the same coloration as the parents. Young Skunks are weaned at 6-7 weeks until they develop the scent. Females take them out to hunt and protect fiercely. By fall the young are ready to live on their own.
Striped Skunks - Diet
Striped Skunks are omnivores. In summer they feed on various insects and grubs (grasshoppers, beetles, bee larvae), small mammals, the eggs of ground-nesting birds and amphibians. Skunks are especially fond of spiders, snails, ants, wasps, and crayfish. In season they eat fruits and berries: cherries, raspberries, strawberries, apples and pears. Also Striped Skunks scavenge on the road-kill.
Striped Skunks - General Info Links
Adventure - Skunks identification by the tracks.
Animal Diversity - Contains physical characteristics and natural history of Striped Skunks.
Calmzoo : Striped Skunk - About Striped Skunk in brief.
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Photo source:
Stinktiere © 2003
Iris und Helmut
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Carnivores: Striped Skunk - Presents general information on the species.
Comparative Mammalian Brain Collections - A research on the Skunk brain.
Coping With Skunks - Contains quick facts on different Skunk species.
Forest Friends: Skunk - Presents basic facts on the Striped Skunks.
FWC - Critter Questions - Skunks in Florida.
Georgia Museum of Natural History - Photo and narrative description of Striped Skunks.
Ladywildlife's Striped Skunk Page - Contains quick facts and photos of Striped Skunks.
Meet the Skunk - A detailed description of Skunks with many photos.
Striped Skunk - Presents species description and natural history.
Nature Snapshots from Minnesota DNR - General description and range of Skunks.
Northwestern Ontario Mammal Species - Striped Skunk - Distinguishing features of the Striped Skunk are presented.
SKUNK - Sometimes the skunk will dig its own den, but it may also move into another mammals den. Skunks also live under old buildings
Striped Skunk - A very informative site, containing information on distribution, food habits and reproduction of Skunks.
Skunk Details - Skunks are very easy to identify by distinctive white stripes on their shiny black fur. Starting from the back of the head, the white stripes continue down both sides of their body and continue to the tip of the tail.
Skunk Spray - Read about some myths connected with Skunks.
Skunks - Striped and Spotted Skunks are presented.
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Photo source:
Stinktiere © 2003
Iris und Helmut
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Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) - Tells about the Skunk distribution in Texas.
Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) - Useful links to Skunk sites.
Striped Skunk Ecology - Contains basic facts about Striped Skunks.
Striped Skunk track information - Presents natural history of Striped Skunks.
The Canadian Wildlife Service - A detailed characteristics of the Striped Skunk.
The Striped Skunk - The Skunk's way of life is described.
WildWNC.org : Animals : STRIPED SKUNK - Habits and habitats of Striped Skunk are presented.
