General Information
Striped skunks are abundant throughout the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. Found in both rural and urban areas, they can make their homes under buildings or in hollowed-out logs. Sometimes they occupy the dens of other animals.
Striped skunks are nocturnal and less active during the winter. They are not true hibernators, but they store up extra fat during the fall to make up for their decreased activity during colder months. Starting in February, they look for mates and start breeding. Litters are born during May and June. By 8 days old, young skunks can emit odor. Male skunks are promiscuous and will mate with many females, while females raise the litter and teach the youngsters to hunt and find food.
Meet Our Striped Skunks
Three striped skunks, Stanley, Marvin, and Iris, live in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Stanley, Marvin & Iris
Striped skunk Stanley arrived at the Museum in June 2019 from Wild Things Rehab. He was orphaned with his entire litter and unable to be released due to a cleft palate.
Marvin was born in captivity. After being hand-raised as a youngster, he became too tame to be released. He came to live at the Museum in July 2019.
Iris arrived a few years later, in October 2022. After being caught in a trap, Iris had to have her eye removed and was unable to be released in the wild. All three skunks now educate visitors daily on the natural history of their species through the Museum’s classes and educational programs.
Lifespan
Wild: 2–4 years
Captivity: ~10 years
Fun Facts