Striped Skunk

		SIZE

		HEIGHT:	To shoulder 8-10 inches
		LENGTH:	Head and body, 22.64 to 31.5 in
		WEIGHT:	2-4 lbs

		BREEDING

		MATURITY:	10 months
		MATING:	February and March
		GESTATION:	77 Days
		# OF YOUNG :	Called a litter: 5-6 young.

		LIFESTYLE

		HABIT:	Family oriented; packs of 7-10. Striped skunks are nocturnal, sleeping during the day in underground burrows and emerging around dusk to search for food.
		DIET:	They often eat vegetation, insects and other small invertebrates, and smaller vertebrates such as snakes, birds and rodents.
		LIFESPAN:	Up to 90% of skunks die in their first winter. In the wild skunks may live to be 2 to 3 years old. In captivity they have been known to survive for up to 15 years

		SCIENTIFIC NAME

		FAMILY:	Classified as " Mephitis mephitis" the striped skunk is in the family mephitidae. The family Mephitidae includes the skunks and stink badgers.

		GENERAL INFORMATION

		Skunks use scent marking to communicate presence and reproductive state to other skunks. They also communicate visually, by raising their fur and changing posture. Skunks have a good sense of hearing, but their vision is poor. They are mostly silent, but do make a variety of sounds such as churring, hisses, and screams. A skunk has perhaps the most widely known defense system of any mammal, the scent-spraying mechanism. Striped skunks usually do not discharge the foul smelling contents of their scent glands unless mortally threatened. When faced with danger they arch the back and erect the tail and hair. When mortally threatened they bend into a U-shape with both head and rump facing the enemy. They then emit two streams of fluid from scent glands located just inside the anus, which meet after travelling about a foot, finally spreading into a fine spray that can travel up to 2 or 3 meters. The spray often causes nausea and burns the eyes and nasal cavities of the unfortunate target. Because of their offensive odor, skunks are rarely preyed on by mammalian predators. Works cited: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html

""Being a native of South Dakota, I love to accentuate the great things to do while visiting the state. This fall, I'm bringing my girlfriend with me, and this is one of the ""must do"" activities. If you love wildlife, and exotic animals, may I make a suggestion? Take a day and visit Bear Country and the Reptile Gardens (they're just a couple miles apart) and you'll be blown away that this area has such world class displays of animals! Don't miss it, skip Mt. Rushmore instead! (just kidding!)""

Wade Honey
Louisville, KY