EASTERN STRIPED SKUNK

Mephitis mephitis

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Mephitinae
Genus: Mephitis
Species: Mephitis mephitis

Habitat: Fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. May also be found under buildings, in culverts and near garbage dumps

Nutrition: Insects (especially grubs), small mammals, earthworms, snails, grains, nuts, fruits, reptiles, vegetation, amphibians, birds, eggs, carrion and garbage.

Reproduction: Mating takes place during late February and early March. After a gestation period of 62 to 68 days, an average of six blind and helpless young are born between late April and early June. At three weeks of age, young skunks open their eyes and begin crawling. At seven weeks, they begin to venture out with the female and are able to spray musk; they usually disperse during the fall of their first year. Adult males are generally solitary except during the mating season.

Adaptions to habitat: Mephitis mephitis, the skunk's latin name, translates appropriately into "bad odor." All mustelids produce a strong smelling liquid from scent glands. However, the skunk is the only member which can spray its scent as a defense mechanism. The scent glands that provide this unique method of defense are deeply embedded in muscles located on either side of the rectum. These glands secrete a sticky, yellow fluid, the main component of which is butylmercaptan. The skunk is a good marksman and can spray accurately up to 10 feet or more. Skunks are mild tempered by nature and will not defend themselves by spraying unless they are provoked. They will usually stamp their front feet and arch their tail up over their back as a warning before spraying. Skunks are primarily nocturnal, although they are occasionally active during the day. They usually spend the daylight hours sleeping in their underground burrows. Skunks may dig their own burrows, but they prefer to use natural cavities among rocks, or under stone walls, logs or buildings.

Wilke, C. 2001. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 25, 2005 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html.