Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
About
Skunks mate in February-April. They give birth to a litter of 4-7 young in mid-May. Kits are born blind and have very fine hair with the tell-tale black and white markings. They are weaned between 2 and 3 months of age and stay with their mother and siblings through the end of summer and sometimes into fall. Skunks are mainly nocturnal and they are nomadic. They can be found in woodlands, fields, meadows, and in both suburban and urban areas.
Skunk mothers tend to stay very close to their young until the kits are independent. If you see a baby skunk without an adult nearby, chances are likely that it is an orphan. Observe the skunk and wait for the mother, but if she doesn't appear, the baby needs to go to a wildlife rehabilitator.
Found a baby skunk?
Young skunks that do not have a mother nearby are often orphaned. Reuniting is generally not successful if the mother is not seen within a day of discovering the baby.
Do any of the following apply?
the baby has an obvious injury
the baby has been in the mouth of a dog or cat (even if it does not appear to be injured)
flies are swarming around the baby and/or it is covered in fly eggs, which look like tiny grains of white rice. Flystrike is most often seen around the face and under the tail.
the baby is cold, wet, and/or lethargic
the mother is confirmed dead or has been illegally relocated
the baby is very small with eyes closed and has been seen outside of a den with no adult present
the baby is mobile, but an adult skunk has not been seen for a day
If you answered YES to any of these prompts, call a licensed rehabilitator for advice.
If the answer to all prompts is NO, attempts should be made to reunite the baby with its mother.
Never handle skunks with bare hands. If you must handle a skunk, use heavy gloves or a thick barrier to transfer the animal into a box or carrier.
If you see a skunk that appears to be sick, disoriented, or overly friendly or aggressive, reach out to a licensed rehabilitator. Some towns may have Animal Control that are willing to respond or assess the situation. Keep pets and children away from the animal.
In addition to rabies, skunks are also susceptible to distemper. Distemper is not transmissible to humans, but the symptoms can look similar to rabies.
