Striped skunk

"Birds of prey and owls cannot smell. The skunk’s stench is therefore no defence against these predators."

Discover in real life
Striped skunkMephitis mephitis

  • Food

    mice and sometimes fruit or seeds

  • Lifetime

    8 years on average

  • Weight

    0.7 to 6.3 kilograms

  • Number of youngsters

    2 to 10 youngsters

  • Wear time

    2.5 months

  • IUCN Status

    safe

  • EEP?

    no

Not a good idea

Lots of people like to have an animal at home. But not all animals are suitable for this. There are still a lot of animals kept as pets that really belong in the wild. They often have problems with their health or behaviour, because they do not get the care they need. The striped skunk is a good example. Fortunately, skunks are not allowed as pets in the Netherlands since 2024.

Theme area: Social or Solitary

You can see the Striped skunk in the ‘Social or Solitary’ theme area. Here, you’ll discover how animals live alone or in groups, and what the benefits of each are.

Explore theme area

You have been warned

Skunks are known for being able to spray a foul-smelling fluid. They do this as a defence. Before they start spraying, they give a warning. They stamp their feet, arch their back and raise their tail. If the enemy doesn’t back off, they can spray their scent up to six metres away.

Ontmoet ook de anderen dieren uit themagebied Samen of alleen