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No federal permit to keep In-depth sheet

Striped skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Mammals › Cats, dogs and other carnivores (Carnivora) › Mephitidae (Skunks)

Striped skunks are nocturnal omnivores that eat mostly animal foods in the wild. Their musk spray reaches about 20 feet.

Pet trade

Experience: Advanced

Striped skunk — Photo: Dan & Lin Dzurisin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Dan & Lin Dzurisin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Weight1.5–14 lb

Lifespan8–10 years in care (record 14)

ActiveNight

SocialSolitary

Care guide

Diet

In the wild, 80–90% animal foods (insects, larvae, small animals, eggs) plus fruit and seeds.

Sources 69

Health

A rabies vector species; can carry fleas, ticks and parasites.

Sources 69

Show the group care guide for skunks

Group care guide

Skunks

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Woodland and suburbs. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Indoor living with escape-proofing, or secure enclosures with dens; descenting is a veterinary procedure regulated by some states.

Sources 69

Diet

Balanced omnivore diet with vegetables and lean protein; avoid obesity.

Sources 69

Health watch

Obesity and metabolic bone disease; rabies vector species.

Sources 69

Understanding the animal

In the wild

Researched for this exact species, not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹

Where it lives	Woodlands, grassy plains, ravines, farms and suburban areas across southern Canada, the United States and northern Mexico. Uses underground dens, hollow logs and brush or rock piles.
Ground it lives on	Soil, grass and leaf litter; digs or occupies existing burrows.
Climate	Temperate climates with cold winters in northern populations; underground winter dens buffer exposure. Measured temperature and relative-humidity ranges were not found.
Active	Primarily nocturnal or crepuscular; prolonged winter inactivity in cold regions, without true hibernation.
Social life	Usually solitary; females, sometimes with one male, may share winter dens.
Wild diet	Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and larvae, bees, worms, crayfish, small vertebrates, eggs and seasonally available plant foods.
Behavior to plan for	Digs for prey and shelter. Tail raising and foot stamping warn of defensive musk spraying, which can irritate eyes.

What this means for care

Provide diggable ground and a secluded den.
Allow undisturbed daytime sleep and evening foraging.
Respect warning displays and avoid startling or cornering animals.

Animal Diversity Web: Mephitis mephitis

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 86°F (up to 95°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 34°F (down to 14°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	47–66°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	60–71% on average (driest month about 59%)
Rainfall	about 836 mm a year, spread fairly evenly
Winters	Cool to cold winters (lows around 34°F) in much of its native range. Seasonal slowdown may be relevant, but species-specific biology determines whether brumation or hibernation occurs.

Measured at 110 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

Profile

Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.

History

striped skunks is native Nearctic mammals that now occur not only in natural habitats but also prominently in cultivated, suburban, and urban landscapes.

Keeper tips

Provide opportunities and substrate suitable for digging.
Include terrestrial environmental complexity rather than treating the species as specialized for a single narrow habitat type.
Account for their stout, plantigrade build and five-toed feet when designing ground surfaces.

Behaviors reported

Digging with long foreclaws.

Unique adaptations

Long foreclaws suited for digging.
Stout legs with five-toed plantigrade feet.
Conspicuous black-and-white coloration with a variable dorsal stripe pattern.

Remarkable facts

Striped skunks range from the Atlantic to the Pacific across most of the continental United States, southern Canada, and part of northern Mexico.
They have become prominent in highly cultivated areas and suburban neighborhoods.
They have been documented as high as 4,200 m elevation.
Their feet are plantigrade and have five toes.
Males are slightly larger than females.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is a skunk of the genus Mephitis that occurs across much of North America, including southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Striped skunks are mostly nocturnal. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Mephitis mephitis is commonly found in a variety of habitats including woodlands, forests, wooded ravines and grassy plains. — Animal Diversity Web
Wild diet	While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae and bees. Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Behavior	Mephitis mephitis is a docile creature and often ignores other animals, except during the breeding season. — Animal Diversity Web
Reproduction	Under normal circumstances, female striped skunks only reproduce once a year, although males will reproduce with multiple females. — Animal Diversity Web
Lifespan	Mephitis mephitis has a high mortality rate and usually does not survive its first year due to severe weather conditions and infectious disease. — Animal Diversity Web
Appearance and size	Striped skunks are easily distinguishable by their coloration pattern. — Animal Diversity Web
History and naming	The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. The type locality is in eastern Canada. — Wikipedia (community-edited)

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Lifespan in care

Reported10years

Animal Diversity Web 6910

Maximum recorded lifespan

Highest reported13.9years

AnAge 16213.9

Myhrvold et al. 16313.9

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter. The AnAge record comes from an animal in human care.

Typical adult weight

Average of sources7.1lb

AnAge 1627.7

Myhrvold et al. 1636.5

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Litter size

Average of sources5young

AnAge 1625

Myhrvold et al. 1635.1

Average per litter or clutch.

Gestation

Average of sources63days

AnAge 16263

Myhrvold et al. 16363

Female maturity

Average of sources11.1months

AnAge 16211

Myhrvold et al. 16311.1

Veterinary & husbandry research

Trypanosoma cruzi Transmission Among Captive Nonhuman Primates, Wildlife, and Vectors Hodo CL et al., EcoHealth 2018
Challenges to controlling rabies in skunk populations using oral rabies vaccination: A review Wohlers A et al., Zoonoses and public health 2018
Survey of cardiac pathologies in captive striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) Benato L et al., Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine: official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 2014
Physiological adaptations to prolonged fasting in the overwintering striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Mustonen AM et al., Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology 2013

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 39 on PubMed → 170

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

USDA Animal Welfare Act. Keeping a pet for yourself doesn't need a federal license. Dealers (including many breeders who sell wholesale or sight-unseen) and exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) generally need a USDA license and inspections; some small-scale breeders and retail sellers are exempt. 184
Skunks are a rabies vector species; local health departments handle bites.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Animal Welfare Act standards

Warm-blooded animals not covered elsewhere (Subpart F). Applies to USDA-licensed or registered dealers, exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) and research facilities. Private pet owners are not covered. These are legal minimums, not best care; the species care on this page goes further.

Facilities must be structurally sound and strong enough for the species, with reliable power and water, protected food storage and proper waste disposal. §3.125
Indoors: temperature regulated to protect from extremes, adequate ventilation without drafts, and lighting suited to the species that protects animals from excessive light. §3.126
Outdoors: shade from overheating sun, shelter suited to the local climate, and drainage. Animals must be acclimated before facing climate extremes. §3.127
Outdoor facilities need a perimeter fence at least 8 ft high for potentially dangerous animals (large cats, bears, wolves, rhinoceros, elephants) and 6 ft for others, at least 3 ft from the enclosure, unless USDA approves otherwise. §3.127
Space must allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Poor condition, stress or abnormal behavior can show the space is inadequate. §3.128
Food must be wholesome, palatable and of enough quantity and nutritive value for the species, age and condition, fed at least once a day except during hibernation, normal fasts or veterinary treatment. §3.129
Water must be available as often as needed for health and comfort, in clean receptacles. §3.130
Animals sharing an enclosure must be compatible, and must not be housed near animals that interfere with their health or cause them discomfort. §3.133
There is no general enrichment rule for this subpart; enrichment requirements apply to primates, birds and (exercise) dogs. §3.128

Source: 9 CFR Part 3, current eCFR text (USDA APHIS Animal Care).

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Included in our hand-checked list of animals kept as pets, livestock or in zoos
AnAge has a longevity record from an animal in captivity
Covered by one of our in-depth care sheets
228 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Sources for this sheet

Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan): Mephitis mephitis Zoo, university or veterinaryUniversity-hosted species account, mostly wild biology.
AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
9 CFR 2.1: Animal Welfare Act licensing (USDA) Zoo, university or veterinaryWho needs a USDA license to breed, sell or exhibit animals.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.