Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Adult striped skunks live in forests, fields, suburbs, and farm edges across much of North America, resting by day in dens and foraging mostly at night. They are omnivores that eat insects, worms, small vertebrates, eggs, fruit, seeds, and carrion. When threatened, an adult usually stamps, arches its back, raises its tail, and gives warnings before spraying its pungent musk with remarkable aim. Their bold black-and-white pattern works as a warning signal, advertising a defense most predators learn to avoid.
- Type
- Venom
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- Striped Skunk Kit
- Striped Skunk