The Striped Skunk

Description

The striped skunk is a small animal about the size of an average house cat. Its distinctive white stripe that extends from its forehead, down its back, to the tip of its bushy tail serves as a warning to predators. Its scent glands are well developed and the skunk may emit a strong spray of musk if feet stomping or tail arching does not scare off an attacker. They can spray with amazing accuracy (up to 13 ft).

Habitat

The striped skunk lives in a variety of semi-open country: mixed woods, brushland, and open prairie; especially in the vicinity of rivers and ponds. Skunks sometimes use abandoned burrows of other animals as a den, dig its own, or it might den in woodpiles or abandoned buildings. It may also seek shelter or temporary living quarters in the spaces under a house or deck. Rarely does a skunk family that has denned under someone’s house stay for very long.

Habits

Skunks are nocturnal animals, meaning they are active mainly at night, although they are sometimes seen during the day. Young skunks are more often seen foraging or playing during the day than are the adults, except during late winter when it is breeding time. They do not hibernate although they may be inactive for weeks during the winter. The males are solitary while the females may den together in the winter.

Diet

Skunks eat a variety of foods. They are very helpful animals in that they feed abundantly on insects. Their diets also include berries, mice, frogs, eggs and assorted vegetable matter. They are also known to eat yellow jackets and their nests, leaving large holes in the ground. The skunk itself is food for great horned owls and golden eagles.

Common Misconceptions

It is not true that all skunks have rabies. Skunks are no more likely to contract rabies than other animals, wild or domestic. A healthy skunk cannot “carry” rabies and pass it on. Only sick, rabid animals can transmit rabies and the transmission is through saliva, it is not an airborne virus.

How to Keep Skunks Away

Like any wild animal, the skunk is attracted to an area because of a food source. Cat/dog food left outside is a meal. If you have a skunk living under your house the first thing you can do is take away the food that drew them there to begin with. Scatter mothballs under the house and half way bury a bottle filled with bleach and a rag in the dirt. Skunks have very sensitive noses and the fumes from both of these should make it leave. Put flour around the entrance, check the direction of the paw prints and close up when the skunk is gone.