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