Striped Skunkスカンク

Mephitis mephitisLC— Least Concern

The striped skunk is a North American mammal easily recognized by its black coat with two broad white stripes running down the back. Mostly nocturnal and solitary, it feeds on insects, small rodents, eggs, and fruit, and defends itself with a powerful, foul-smelling spray from glands near its tail. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains common across its wide range.

Striped Skunk (reference photo)
Photo: Dan & Lin Dzurisin / CC BY 2.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Carnivora / Mephitidae Source
Distribution
The striped skunk is found across much of North America, including southern Canada, the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. Source

Did You Know?

  • It can spray a powerful musk—largely composed of butyl mercaptan—from its anal glands, accurately hitting targets several meters away. Source
  • Before spraying, it typically gives warning signals such as stamping its front feet and raising its tail to display the anal region. Source
  • It often holes up in dens during winter but does not undergo true hibernation, and in the United States it is a leading rabies carrier second only to raccoons. Source

Where to See This Species

1 facilities · 0 individuals

ノースサファリサッポロ (Nosusafarisapporo)Hokkaido

ノースサファリサッポロのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNではLC。防御行動を含む生態の理解が展示の価値になります。

Habitat

北アメリカの草地、農地、森林縁、都市近郊。

Threats

  • 交通事故
  • 地域的な生息地改変

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

  • 野生動物との共存啓発
  • 生態に配慮した飼育展示

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

How far can a striped skunk spray its musk?
It can accurately spray its scent glands' musk at targets several meters away as a defense against predators. Source
What do striped skunks eat?
They are omnivorous, favoring insects such as grasshoppers and beetles, but also eating small mammals, bird eggs, and fruit depending on the season. Source
Do striped skunks hibernate in winter?
No, they often stay in dens during cold weather but do not undergo true hibernation. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org