Skunk

The skunk is a carnivorous, cat-sized mammal. Skunks were previously considered as part of the weasel family (Mustelidae) but DNA research has placed them in their own family, Mephitidae. This animal is black in colour with conspicuous white stripes or spots. Adults average 54 centimetres long and weigh 1.6 kilograms. Two genera occur in Canada.

Three baby skunks in eastern Ontario looking for food. From YouTube.

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Mercaptan
Skunks are notorious for a foul-smelling secretion (mercaptan) produced in a pair of anal glands. Used in self-defence, it can be projected a distance of 3 to 4 metres. The horned OWL is one of the skunk's few natural predators.

Distribution and Habitat

The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) occurs in every province and territory except Nunavut and Newfoundland and Labrador. The smaller western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis) occurs in southwestern British Columbia, and ranges south to the western United States and Mexico. Both species prefer open areas of mixed forests and grasslands.

Habits

Skunks are nocturnal, passing the day in burrows. They sleep through the coldest months, frequently several animals together. INSECTS, vegetation, fruit, BIRDS' eggs and small MAMMALS are the major foods of these omnivores. As opportunistic scavengers, skunks have adapted easily to urban environments. While considered a pest in residential areas, the skunk's food preferences help farmers. They are susceptible to rabies and are an important carrier of the disease.

Reproduction and Development

Males are polygamous and the female alone cares for young. Litters, averaging 4 - 6 young, are born after a 60- to 62-day gestation. Young grow rapidly and at 2 months are fully weaned and have operational scent glands. They usually stay with the mother through the winter.

Author IAN MCTAGGART-COWAN

Links to Other Sites
Striped Skunk
See a description of the natural history and typical habitat of the Striped Skunk in Canada. From the "Hinterland Who's Who" website. Also includes video clips, summaries of related conservation issues, and educational resources.

Natural History Notebooks
View illustrated descriptions of a huge variety of Canadian animal species, prehistoric creatures, and endangered/extinct animals. A Canadian Museum of Nature website.

Canadian Biodiversity Website
A great information source for all budding biologists. Learn about biodiversity theory, natural history, and conservation issues. From McGill’s Redpath Museum.