Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 30,810
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is a skunk of the genus Mephitis that occurs across much of North America, including southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Striped skunks are mostly nocturnal. Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. The striped skunk is one of the most recognizable of North America's animals, and is a popular figure in cartoons and children's books.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Striped skunk”.