Skunks are mammals from the same family as badgers and weasels and are common in most parts of the United States in backyards, wooded areas, and any places with soft earth for easy insect food sources. Skunks are characterized by their black furry appearance, usually with a white stripe that runs from their face, down their back to their tail. They are usually roughly the size of a house cat.
Skunks are notoriously known for a stinky spray that is defensively emitted from under their tails whenever a skunk feels threatened. A skunk's spray can reach as far as 10 feet awayhttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/skunk.html, and can be smelled much farther away than that. Although the odoriferous spray does not contain any harmful materials to hurt the sprayed victims, the unique spray is very pungent and very difficult to remove, causing predators of all kinds to avoid skunks unless absolutely necessary. This misting spray that skunks so effectively emit is an oily liquid that come from glands under the skunk's bushy tail.http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/skunk.html
Skunks tend to live in hollows, used animal burrows, or other sheltered areas where skunks can hide during the day and avoid bright lights (which skunks are afraid of). These critters are nocturnal, emerging at night to hunt for berries, plants, and insects to eat. Some skunks have even been known to eat eggs, fish, or even reptiles!
Keeping skunks out of your yard and garden can be a real nuisance, just as it can be to try and remove skunk smells. Keep reading to learn more about these fascinating creatures, how to deter them, and how to manage once they've moved in to your yard or neighborhood.
Species
- Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)Animal Diversity Web: Striped Skunk
- Hooded Skunk (Mephitis macroura)Animal Diversity Web:
- Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius)Animal Diversity Web:Eastern Spotted Skunk
- Palawan Stink Badger (Mydaus marchei)Animal Diversity Web:Palawan Stink Badger
- Eastern Hog-Nosed Skunk (Conepatus leuconotus)National Science Research Laboratory: Eastern Hog-Nosed Skunk
- Western Hog-Nosed Skunk (Conepatus leuconotus)University of Texas El Paso:Western Hog-Nosed Skunk
Breeding
Male and female skunks are usually not seen together except for breeding purposes.Animal Diversity Web: Striped Skunk Breeding for adult skunks takes place in February and in March. Litter size varies from three to ten pups on average, with babies being born in May and June.North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Skunks (443 KB) The litter will stay close to the mother until the fall.North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Skunks (443 KB) By the following spring, both sexes are mature enough to reproduce.
Self Defense
Skunks use a spray made from sulfuric acid as a defense mechanism. When they feel threatened, they will warn their assailant by stomping their feet.The Humane Society of the United States: Skunks If the warning is not heeded, they contort their bodies, lift their tails and spray their assailant. Two scent glands produce the spray, which is emitted through the anus. This spray burns the eyes and nasal passages upon contact.Animal Diversity Web: Striped Skunk The odor from the skunk's spray is difficult to remove and may last for several days.
Here is a typical representation of a striped skunk, which is covered in black fur with white stripes down its face, back, and tail. Most skunks are roughly the size of house cats. If you approach one of these skunks and it begins to hiss or growl that is your warning to move away as quickly as possible. If you stay in the vicinity, the skunk will likely lift his/her tail and begin spraying a strong-smelling oily substance. Striped skunks such as this one can be found across the United Stateshttp://www.huntington.edu/thornhill/checklist/commonmammals.htm
About Skunks in the Wild
These animal rescue workers describe in the video what skunks are like in the wild: What they prefer to eat, why they spray, where they live, reproductive habits, and some general hazards that skunks face. The rescue workers point out that although skunks are usually hated in suburban areas, skunks can really help keep lawn insects under control and are a natural alternative to pesticides. If you don't want skunks in your yard, the ladies in this video also describe the pest way to discourage them from living around your house and how to try to remove them.
References
Fast Facts
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Habitat
Pastures, prairies, open land surrounding forests.North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Skunks (443 KB)
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Diet
Omnivores; Eat mostly insects, some plants and berries
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Size
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Tail length
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Weight
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Lifespan
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Endangered
No
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Predators
Great horned owls, coyotes, dogs and humansEduScapes:Skunks
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Mating Season
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Litter Size
3-10 pups who stay in the nest for about 8 weeks after birth
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Temperment
Docile, non-aggressive
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Spray
Not usually harmful; Contains sulfur and is emitted from oil glands under tail (anal glands)
