Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis) have a range spanning most of North America. Like all skunks, Striped Skunks are nocturnal and eat a variable diet, mostly of insects, but also including small mammals, carrion, and some vegetation.Ĭlick here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account Skunks attempt to give a warning before they spray: both Hooded and Striped skunks stamp their front feet before turning around and spraying. Skunk kittens can spray when they are only eight days old, long before they can aim, a skill they exhibit only after their eyes open at about 24 days. If sprayed in the eyes, it causes intense pain and temporary blindness. Skunk musk is oily and difficult to remove. ![]() Like all skunks, it has a superb defense system, the ability to spray a foul-smelling fluid from two glands near the base of its tail. The Striped Skunk is the most common skunk in North America, yet most of what we know about it comes from studies of captive individuals. May be dormant during extended periods of cold snowy weather males more likely to be active in winter. Given the ecological and economic importance of this species, there is a need to better understand microhabitat factors that are associated with occurrence of the taxon (Baldwin et al., 2004).Ĭomments: Mostly crepuscular or nocturnal, sometimes active during daytime. They are mostly silent, but do make a variety of sounds such as churring, hisses, and screams. Skunks have a good sense of hearing, but their vision is poor. They also communicate visually, by raising their fur and changing posture. ![]() Striped skunks use scent marking to communicate presence and reproductive state to other skunks. Perception Channels: visual tactile acoustic chemical Deprivation in visual, acoustic and even olfactory sensation has been considered a potential result of their defensive capabilities in additional to their passivity.Ĭommunication Channels: visual tactile acoustic chemical Little is known about their perception however, an individual may react to auditory or visual cues at close range. Although they are usually silent, an individual can produce a wide variety of sounds from low growls to birdlike chirps. Mephitis mephitis relies primarily on visual displays to ward off predators or unwanted visitors and may resort to a chemical discharge if not left alone. Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. ![]() The striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae.
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