Overview of the Skunk

Skunks are mammals best known for their iconic black and white striping, and their ability to secrete a liquid with a foul odor. The scientific name of the striped skunk, Mephitis Mephitis is derived from a Latin word that means “poisonous vapor”. Skunks live in Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Americas. There are 10 subspecies of skunks, divided into 4 genera: hooded and striped skunks, spotted skunks, stink badgers and hog-nosed skunks. They vary in length from 1 to 3 feet, and in weight from 1 to 18 pounds.

Skunks are omnivorous, eating insects, small mammals, small amphibians, small reptiles, berries, fungi, grasses, leaves, nuts and roots. They also frequently seek human garbage. They cannot see clearly any objects more than 10 feet away, making them particularly vulnerable to traffic. A baby skunk is called a kit. Fewer than 10% of skunks survive for longer than 3 years, although captive skunks live much longer.

Famous for their ability to secrete a highly offensive odor, described as a combination of smells between rotten eggs and burnt rubber, they are actually reluctant to use their weapon - they only carry enough of it for 5 to 6 uses, and require 10 days to resupply their store. Many animals don’t attack skunks, out of fear of being sprayed. However, the great horned owl has a nearly non-existent sense of smell, and has no issue attacking a skunk.

About the Author
Jacob Maddox manages content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com an educational wildlife and animal website. Jacob also guest writes for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net