Mammals · Carnivora · Mephitidae

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Not Evaluated

It has not yet been assessed against the IUCN criteria. See full glossary

Its iconic defence — an extremely foul-smelling spray from glands near the base of the tail — can carry as far as 14 metres.

Weight

700 g – 6.3 kg

Size

46.5 cm – 81.5 cm

Lifespan

4 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Unknown

Temperate forestGrasslandOmnivore Nocturnal Solitary Temperate forest Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

People can smell it from as far as 1.6 km downwind, and it is used only as a last resort, after an elaborate warning display.
It eats insects, small vertebrates, fruit and carrion.
It lives in woodland, grassland and towns across much of North America.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Woodland, grassland and towns across much of North America
Birth weight: 32-35 g at birth, its markings already visible before birth
Size at birth: 32-35 g at birth
Sexual maturity: 10 months
Gestation / incubation: 59-77 days, with up to 19 days of delayed implantation
Litter / clutch size: 2 to 10 young per litter (average 6-7)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 10 years

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department; BioKIDS; Smithsonian National Zoo; Squam Lakes Natural Science Center; Animalia.bio