Wildlife Control Supplies Blog

Let’s start by learning a little about the Striped Skunks biology and behavior. Striped Skunks scientific name means double foul odor, and to most this is certainly a very good description. Skunks are normally very passive and give some warnings before letting lose with their obnoxious musk. Skunks can spray up to 5-6 times through two nipples located on each of the anal glands. These discharges can be aimed up to 10 feet and the intended target is the face and eyes of the perceived enemy. Skunks want to see their perceived enemy making it a wise choice to covering you cage traps in advance of making any captures. Juvenile males seem to be the quickest to fire, while older mature females seem to be the most passive.

Skunks are omnivorous but usually eat much more animal matter than vegetation. Insects of many species comprise the largest portion of their diet with the larva of moths, crickets, grasshoppers, grubs, and earthworms being favorites and are consumed in large quantities. Small mammals like voles, mice, the eggs of ground nesting birds, human garbage, reptiles and amphibians are also consumed but in much smaller quantities. Skunks will eat some fruits and vegetables such as cherries, blueberries, corn, and some seeds and nuts. Those that keep bees, (Apiaries), often have serious issues with skunks attacking their hives. The skunk attacks the hives by scratching at the opening of the hive until the bees become agitated and begin to exit. Next, the skunk beats the bees with their front feet until dead and them consumes them. Although these skunks receive numerous stings, they will repeat this behavior if they know were to find the apiaries.

In most of the country, striped skunks breed from February- mid-April. Male skunks will travel many miles looking for females that are in estrous. Males are highly competitive and often fight over receptive females, sometimes resulting in one spraying. Female skunks will spray unwanted visiting males if she is not feeling receptive. There is a “pecking order” in the skunk world, with dominant males ruling the “roost” so subordinate males will not approach dominant males and rarely try to make contact. Males will breed with multiple females, but females reject all males after mating occurs. If the female loses her litter, there can be a second breeding event, usually in May. The female gives birth to 3-10 young after a 62–75-day gestation period. At birth the young are mainly hairless but you can see the well-known black and white pattern on their skin. Juvenile skunks are born with their scent glands but cannot effectively aim it until there eyes are open and they gain some muscle memory. Juvenile skunks are weaned at about 6-7 weeks and are then taught by the adult female how, when, and where to forage and hunt. Juvenile males become independent at about 2.5 months of age but females sometimes stay with the adult female until the following spring. Striped skunks can live up to 10 years in captivity but few make it to 6 years in the wild (automobiles and disease are hard on them). Adult skunks, mainly the females, will create winter communal den sites in colder climates with up to twelve adults being at one site. These communal winter den sites will usually be comprised of females, and sometimes one lucky male.

Check out our Skunk reference materials on our website shopwcs.com!

• Innovative Skunk Control by Rob Erickson
• The Problem with Skunks!! by Edward D. Kellems