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Skunk Facts & Worksheets

A common name for any omnivorous mammal in the family Mephitidae, a skunk is described for its distinct patterns of black and white stripes and spots and well-developed anal scent glands.

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A common name for any omnivorous mammal in the family Mephitidae, a skunk is described for its distinct patterns of black and white stripes and spots and well-developed anal scent glands. Sometimes referred to as polecats, skunks play an integral role in food chains and affect several plant and animal life.

See the fact file below for more information on the skunk or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Skunk worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

OVERVIEW AND DESCRIPTION

  • Skunks were initially viewed as a subfamily, Mephitinae, of the Mustelidae family of weasels. Some taxonomies still group them within Mustelidae; however, generally they are now housed in their own family of Mephitidae. Genetic evidence showing that they are not as closely related to the Mustelidae supports this placement.
  • There are 13 species of skunks, which are grouped into four genera: Mephitis, or the hooded and striped skunks, Spilogale, or the spotted skunk, Mydaus. or the stink badgers, and Conepatus. or the hog-nosed skunks. The two skunk species under the genus Mydaus are found in Indonesia and Philippines; all other skunks live in the Americas from Canada to central South America.
  • Skunks possess a broad, squat body, a slender rostra, short, well-muscled limbs, long and sturdy claws, and a thick, fluffy tail. Species differ in size from about 15.6 to 37 inches and even vary in weight from 1.1 pounds to 18 pounds, the lightest of which are the spotted skunks and the heaviest are the hog-nosed skunks.
  • They are distinguished for their conspicuous color patterns, usually with a black or brown fur and a noticeable, contrasting pattern of white fur on their backs, faces, or tails. Some skunk species have a white stripe stretching from the head, down the back to the tail, while others are covered in white spots. Although the most well-known fur color is black and white, some species are brown or gray, and a few are cream-colored. All skunks have contrasting stripes or spots, and can already be noticed even at birth. They may have one thick stripe across their back and tail, two thinner stripes, or a number of white spots and broken stripes, a feature of the spotted skunk. Some species also have stripes on their legs.
  • Skunks are best known for their ability to secrete a strong, foul-smelling odor due to their well-developed scent glands that produce pungent odors to scare away predators. They have two glands, one on either side of the anus, that excrete a fusion of sulfur-containing chemicals, methyl and butyl thiols, that contain a highly offensive odor, similar to the combination of smells of rotten eggs, garlic, and burnt rubber. Muscles found next to the scent glands let them spray with high accuracy as far as seven to 17 feet.
  • Due to the musk-spraying ability of the skunk, the names of the family and the generally known genus, Mephitis, suggests “stench”, and Spilogale putorious implies “stinking spotted weasel.” The term skunk originated from an Abenaki name for them, segongw or segonku, which means “one who squirts” in the Algonquian dialect.

BEHAVIOR AND DIET

  • Skunks are either crepuscular or nocturnal, and are solitary mammals when not breeding, though in the colder regions of their distribution they may gather in communal dens for warmth.
  • During the day, they hide in burrows that they dig with robust front claws, or in other man-made or natural hollows. Adults shelter in overlapping home ranges through the greater part of the year; females usually occupy two to four square kilometers, while males may reach up to 20 square kilometers.
  • Their diet consists of both plant and animal material, making them omnivorous; however the food they consume changes according to season. They feed on insects and larvae, earthworms, small rodents, lizards, salamanders, frogs, snakes, birds, moles, and eggs. Among plants, they commonly eat berries, roots, leaves, grasses, fungi, and nuts.
  • There are instances when skunks may be seen scavenging bird and rodent carcasses left by cats or other animals. In suburbans, skunks also find food in human garbage. Pet owners, especially those of cats, may encounter a skunk finding its way into a garage or basement where pet food is stored.
  • Skunks are among the primary predators of honeybee, depending on their thick fur to protect them from stings. They scratch at the front of the beehive and prey on the guard bees that come out. This behavior is taught by mother skunks to her young. A skunk family can consume a healthy hive in just a couple of days.
  • Skunks appear to be gluttonous feeders; their weight increases quickly if the food they eat contains too much fats.
  • They do not hibernate in the winter; however, they stay inactive and feed rarely. Sometimes, they overwinter in a group of one male and a number of females. This winter den is often repeatedly used.
  • Despite having outstanding auditory and olfactory organs, which are vital features in a crepuscular omnivore, skunks have weak vision. They are unable to see objects more than three meters away, making them susceptible to road traffic. Half of all skunk deaths are caused by humans.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFE CYCLE

  • Skunks usually mate in early spring and are polygynous species, so males have one or more female mates. Prior to giving birth, females will dig a den to house her litter. The gestation period differs within species. In members of the Mephitis and Conepatus genus, this spans for about two to three months. The Spilogale gracilis displays delayed implantation, with the fertilized egg not attaching into the uterine wall for a prolonged period, reaching a total gestation time of about 250 days or more. The Spilogale putorius also exhibits this reproduction behavior in the northern part of its range.
  • A single litter contains two to 10 young born annually. After birth, skunk kits are altricial; they are born blind, deaf, and covered in a soft layer of fur. After seven days, they start to use their stink glands for defense, but most of the time they still rely on their mother. After three weeks, their eyes start to open. The kits are weaned for two months, and begin looking for food on their own, but generally remain with their mother until they are sexually mature, at about one year of age.
  • Skunks are plagued with diseases and predation, causing their high mortality rate. Five to six years is their average lifespan in the wild, although they can survive up to seven years in their natural habitats and up to ten years in captivity.

SKUNKS AND HUMANS

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1494 cases of rabies in skunks in the United States in 2006. Skunks trail raccoons as vectors of rabies, although this differs across regions.
  • In the United Kingdom, skunks kept as pets are legal. However, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 has made it illegal to get rid of their scent glands, thus it’s an unwise decision to keep them as pets.
  • The keeping of skunks as pets is allowed only in some parts of the United States. Mephitis mephitis, or the striped skunk species, is the most social and commonly domesticated skunk. When kept as a pet, their scent gland is removed.
  • Some skunks species were kept as pets by certain Native Americans, as reported by European settlers. The pilgrims are said to have kept them as pets.

Skunk Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the skunk across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Skunk worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the skunk which is described for its distinct patterns of black and white stripes and spots and well-developed anal scent glands. Sometimes referred to as polecats, skunks play an integral role in food chains and affect several plant and animal life.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Skunk Facts
  • Creature Feature
  • Striped Skunk Anatomy
  • Pungent Puzzle
  • Growing Up Stinky
  • Family of Skunks
  • Family of Skunks 2.0
  • Jar of Facts
  • Smelly Spray
  • Humans and Skunks
  • A Skunk Poem

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Link will appear as Skunk Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 1, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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