Conservation
Scientific Classification
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Mephitidae |
| Genus | Mephitis |
| Binomial name | Mephitis mephitis |
Range Map
Description
The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal mammal found in the central part of North America. Their color can be black, gray, or brown, and it always has a white stripe on its back running from its head to its tail.
The striped skunk measures from 52 to 77 cm and weighs from 1.8 to 4.5 kg. This omnivore eats crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, mice, voles, eggs, and small birds.
The striped skunk lives in open areas, such as grasslands or thin forests in southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. Their lifespan is seven years.