This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
We’ve all certainly smelled them. We’ve all probably seen them as roadkill. What are they? Skunks! Like it or not, skunks are a part of our urban landscape. Sometimes, they can come into conflict with humans or pets. Anyone who has ever tried to wash the skunk smell out of a dog that has been sprayed knows just how tenacious that odor is. I came home one night to find one in my front yard surrounded by a couple of my cats. I wasn’t lucky enough to get a picture, but I was lucky in that my cats wisely left the critter alone and let it go on its way.
Colorado is home to four different species of skunks: the striped skunk, eastern spotted skunk, western spotted skunk, and the white-backed hog-nosed skunk. The most common skunk, found throughout Colorado is the striped skunk, which is the subject of today’s column. Skunks are closely related to weasels, but sometimes are considered to be in their own family.
The striped skunk is unmistakable. It has black fur with a thin, white stripe on its nose and forehead, as well as a prominent white mark on the nape of the neck. The white mark on the nape of the neck continues to run down the back and usually splits into a V-shape toward the rear of the skunk. They have a bushy tail that is edged with white hairs. Striped skunks have a triangular shaped head and black eyes. The eyes lack the third membrane, known as the nictitating membrane. Their front feet have long claws. Striped skunks weigh about nine pounds and are 24-32 inches long, with the males being slightly larger than the females. They are generally about the size of a domestic cat for comparison.
As nocturnal animals, striped skunks can be found in a variety of habitats ranging from woodlands to grassy fields. However, they have adapted rather well to humans and can now be found near farms and in suburban areas as well. Striped skunks will seek out abandoned burrows of other animals or natural hollows to use as a den for sleeping during the day and for reproduction. One thing that has allowed them to adapt to urban environments so well is that they are opportunistic feeders and can adapt their diet to what is available.
During spring and summer, they primarily eat insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. Striped skunks help to keep the insect populations down, an important role in the ecosystem. They may also eat worms and crayfish. During the winter, striped skunks will eat small mammals such as voles. They have also been known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion, and fish. Striped skunks will eat vegetable matter when it is in season, although it does not make up a very large portion of its diet. They are actually good climbers and therefore can also take advantage of eggs in nests.
Males will mate with more than one female. Once a female becomes pregnant, she becomes aggressive toward the male and will chase him off using a combination of vocalization, foot stomping, and fighting. Females only breed once during the year. Breeding occurs between February and April, although if a litter is lost, skunks may breed as late as May. Females may delay implantation for up to 19 days after breeding which allows them to ensure conditions are amenable to carrying out a pregnancy. Gestation lasts from 59-77 days. Females give birth to 2-10 kits, or baby skunks, with the average being five.
The kits are blind and deaf when they are born. Amazingly, kits can spray at eight days of age, although they cannot aim because their eyes aren’t yet open. Their eyes will open around 24 days after birth. Kits will be weaned around six to seven weeks of age. They learn to forage and hunt by following their mother. The mother is extremely defensive of her young. Male kits will become independent around July or August whereas female kits will stay with their mother until the following spring. Kits become sexually mature at around ten months of age.
Striped skunks have a high mortality rate during their first year of life due to disease and severe weather. After surviving their first year, skunks may live up to seven years in the wild. Because they have such short legs, skunks cannot run very fast and are often victims of roadkill. They are preyed upon by several species, although most mammals will avoid skunks because of their musky spray. Large birds of prey, such as great-horned owls and eagles seem not to be bothered by the musk. Coyotes and foxes will also prey on striped skunks as will mountain lions, bobcats, and badgers.
Striped skunks are relatively docile except for when cornered or during the breeding season. Their main defense is a musky spray. Skunks have enlarged anal scent glands which contain a strong, yellow musky substance. This is discharged in a fluid spray when the animal is threatened and can be sprayed up to 20 feet away! The mist that results from the spray may travel even further.
When threatened, a skunk will arch its back, raise its tail, and stomp the ground with its front legs as a warning. The skunk may even do a handstand if it is backing away at the time. If the intruder doesn’t get the message, the skunk will bend its hindquarters around toward the intruder while still facing the intruder itself and spray. Not only does the musk smell bad, but it can cause nausea, intense pain, and temporary blindness.
Although you are unlikely to see a striped skunk unless it is nighttime, give them plenty of room. As long as they don’t feel threatened you will be safe from the spray. When driving at night and encountering a skunk on the road, remember that they can’t run very fast and give them time to move. If you are lucky enough to see a mother with her young, it can be entertaining. It is a good idea to keep your pets inside at night and monitor them if they go out. If they should tangle with a skunk, I’ve heard a tomato juice or vanilla bath can help!
