GeneralInforma,on:Stripedskunks(Mephi0smephi0s)aretheskunkspeciescommonlyfoundaroundhomes.Thesemammalsarewellknownforthepungentliquidthattheyproducedanduseitasaself-defensemechanismfrompredators.Theliquidisanoily,yellowsulfur-alcoholcompoundthatcontainssulfuricacidthatisstoredintwoseparatescentglandslocatedoneachsideoftheanusandcanbesprayedaccuratelyattargetsasfaras6to10feetaway.

Habitat:ThestripedskunkcanbefoundfromthesouthernhalfofCanadatothenorthernpartsofMexico,coveringmostofthecon0nentalUnitedStates.Skunksareextremelyadaptableandthriveinmanydifferenthabitats.Theyliveinburrowsthattheyfindortheydigtheirown.Inurbanizedareas,theyliveunderporchesorbuildings.SkunkswilltypicallyseLledownwithin2milesofawatersource..

Iden,fica,on:Allskunkshaveatriangularshapedheadswithanelongatedbodythathasshortlegsandsharpnon-retractableclaws.Whatdifferen0atesstripedskunksfromotherskunkspeciesistheuniquestripingonitsback.Theirfurismostlyblackwithawhitestripethatstartsnarrowfromtheforehead,thenwidensstar0ngfromtheneckandsplitsintoaforktowardsthetail.

FunFacts:•  Favoritefoods:beetles,grasshoppers,

birdeggs,grubs,earthworms,smallrodents,fruitsandberries,frogs,andmushrooms.

•  Lifespan:Averagelife=2-3years.7yearsinthewild.

•  Size:aboutsizeofanadultcat•  Skills:Excellentsenseofsmelland

goodhearingbutverypoorvision.•  Primarycarriersofrabiesinthe

Midwest.

Gotsprayed?Here’showtogetridofthesmell.•  1quartof3-percenthydrogenperoxide

(availableatanypharmacy)•  1/4cupbakingsoda•  1teaspoonliquiddishwashingsoap•  Mixthesetogetherandbathe

("shampoo"inorrubdown)thesprayvic0mthoroughly.

References:UniversityofCaliforniaAgricultureandNaturalResourceshBp://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74118.html