![]() Spotted skunks have been observed doing handstands. Prior to using their spray, skunks that feel threatened may hiss, growl or stamp their feet. Their den system may consist of a series of tunnels and chambers with more than one entrance. Skunks rarely dig their own burrows, preferring to use abandoned dens of other animals, or by finding crevices and gaps under porches or buildings. While solitary for the rest of the year, skunks may den in groups of up to twenty individuals. Skunks spend the winter months in deep underground dens in a state of inactivity. Skunks are crepuscular which means they are most active at dawn and dusk and spend the daytime hours in underground burrows. Skunks have few predators except for hawks, owls and occasionally coyotes, foxes, wolves or wild felines that are desperate for a meal. Skunks reserve this effective defense mechanism as a last resort as it takes over a week for the musk to be replenished once discharged. Skunks are unique in that they can spray this musk when threatened to a distance of up to 6 m. Skunks have musk glands near the anus for marking their territory. Striped skunks are not adept climbers and their eyesight is poor. They have long, sharp claws on their front feet which serve as effective tools for digging for mice, grubs and other underground prey. Skunks are opportunistic omnivores that will feed on a varied diet of insects and their larvae, frogs, small mammals, eggs, plants, berries and carrion. Typically skunks are short-lived animals, managing only two to three years in the wild but up to 10 years in captivity. Young skunks will disperse and leave the family unit in the fall and become sexually mature at one year of age. After three weeks they will gain sight and after another five weeks, they may begin to leave the den. The kits are born blind and nearly hairless. Once thought to be part of the weasel family, they are now classified under Mephitidae.Īfter breeding in the late winter or early spring months, females give birth to litters of four to seven young called kits in early May. The spotted skunk is about half the size of a striped skunk with a combination of vertical stripes and spots as well as a bushy white-tipped tail. Females tend to be 10 percent smaller than males. They measure 50 to 72 cm from nose to tail and weigh between 2 to 3.5 kg. Striped skunks are house-cat sized mammals that are easily identified by their two white stripes that run along their black body. Because of their voracious appetite for insects and rodents, they can provide an effective form of pest control in agricultural areas.While skunks can be vectors for rabies, there are currently no confirmed records in BC.Skunks are short-lived, managing only two to three years in the wild spotted skunks even less.Spotted skunks may perform a handstand as a form of intimidation but they do not spray in this position.Striped skunks are not skilled climbers but spotted skunks are.Skunks are omnivores and will eat a varied diet.Skunks are most active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular). ![]() As many as 20 skunks have been reported sharing the same den.While skunks are not true hibernators, they will retreat to dens over the winter.Skunks are well known for their strong musk that they can spray up to 6 m.There are two types of skunks in BC: striped skunks and spotted skunks.If removal is necessary, consider contacting a qualified and reputable pest management contractor. WildSafeBC recommends exploring other options under “Conflict Reduction” that may have longer lasting results. While trapping and relocating skunks without a permit is allowed if they are causing damage on a person’s property, it can be challenging to do so humanely and safely. Skunks are native to BC and are protected under the BC Wildlife Act. Human-skunk conflicts can occur when they damage lawns digging for grubs, interact with pets or when they seek shelter under buildings. The spray from a skunk, while foul smelling, is not a vector for transmitting disease. Infamous for their distinctive smell, skunks spray a pungent liquid into the face of potential predators as an effective defense mechanism. These small omnivorous mammals are highly adaptive and easily habituated to living near humans, enabling them to thrive in urban and suburban areas. There are two species of skunk in British Columbia: the Striped Skunk ( Mephitis mephitis), which can be found throughout much of the province and the less common Western Spotted Skunk ( Spilogale gracilis) which is found in the Lower Mainland.
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