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A skunk in a hollow tree

Striped Skunk

Striped skunks are one of the most distinctive animals of North America. Faced with grave danger the skunk will turn around, raise its tail and squirt a fluid from two scent glands. Travelling as far as two to three metres, this foul smelling fluid can cause nausea and burning of the eyes and nose - no wonder they have few natural predators.

Scientific name: Mephitis mephitis

Rank: Species

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Distribution

Map showing the distribution of the Striped Skunk taxa

Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.

The Striped Skunk can be found in a number of locations including: North America. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Striped Skunk distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

Conservation Status

Least Concern

  1. EX - Extinct
  2. EW
  3. CR - Threatened
  4. EN - Threatened
  5. VU - Threatened
  6. NT
  7. LC - Least concern

Population trend: Stable

Year assessed: 2008

Classified by: IUCN 3.1

About

The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Found over most of the North American continent north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States.

Read more at Wikipedia

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Classification

  1. Life
  2. Animals
  3. Vertebrates
  4. Mammals
  5. Carnivora
  6. Mephitidae
  7. Mephitis
  8. Striped Skunk

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