Identification Pointers
The striped skunk has a black body with two white stripes along the sides of its body which meet at the nape of the neck to become one. On a striped skunks forehead, there is a single narrow white stripe. This is the heaviest species of skunk which can weigh between 2.5 – 15 lbs., but typically weighs around 6 – 8 lbs. Males tend to be 10% larger than females.
Behavior Tips
Striped skunks are omnivores that mainly eat insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets. They also eat earthworms, snails, crayfish, wasps, ants, raspberries, black cherries, grains, corn, and nuts. This animal is crepuscular. Male skunks do not den with other skunks, but female skunks tend to live with several other females. The striped skunk breeds only once a year between February and mid-April.