Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis
Animals in our sanctuary
Charlotte (female)
Charlotte, along with other animals, was illegally held by an individual. The animals were voluntary transferred to De Zonnegloed after an inspection by Animal Welfare Flanders, Belgium.
Phoenix (female)
Phoenix, along with other animals, was illegally held by an individual. The animals were voluntary transferred to De Zonnegloed after an inspection by Animal Welfare Flanders, Belgium.
Pepita (female)
Pepita, along with another skunk, was voluntarily handed over to Stichting AAP by a private owner in the Netherlands.
Ivory (female)
Ivory, along with another skunk, was voluntarily handed over to Stichting AAP by a private owner in the Netherlands.
Appearance:
The striped skunk is easily recognizable by its distinctive black fur with white stripes. A broad, V-shaped white marking starts at the neck and extends down the back to the tail, which is also black with white hairs. They have strong legs and sharp claws, which they use for digging.
Behavior:
Skunks are primarily nocturnal and lead a solitary lifestyle. Their most well-known defense mechanism is the ability to spray a strong, oily liquid up to six meters when they feel threatened. Before spraying, they display warning behaviors such as arching their back and stomping their front paws. However, they use this defense sparingly, as it takes weeks to replenish their supply.
Diet:
These animals are opportunistic feeders and adjust their diet based on food availability. Their diet mainly consists of insects, small mammals, eggs, carrion, and plant material such as berries and corn. During winter, they rely more on hunting small mammals.
Habitat:
Striped skunks inhabit a variety of environments, ranging from forests and grasslands to urban areas. They use abandoned burrows of other animals or dig their own shelters. In colder climates, they do not hibernate but enter a state of winter dormancy, retreating to underground dens.
Reproduction:
The breeding season occurs between February and April. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, litters of 2 to 10 young are born. Newborn skunks are blind and hairless, but their characteristic fur pattern is already visible. They stay with their mother for several months before becoming independent.
Predation:
Due to their strong defense mechanism, skunks are rarely attacked by other mammals. However, predatory birds such as the great horned owl are an exception, as they have a poor sense of smell and are less deterred by the skunk’s odor.
Threats:
Striped skunks are classified as "Not Threatened" by the IUCN and exist in large numbers across their range.
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