Breeding - Skunks begin breeding in late February. Yearling females will mate in late March through early April.
Gestation - Varies between7 to 10 weeks but usually 9 weeks.
Birth - Young born in May through early June, naked and blind (3 weeks), and nurses for 6 to 7 weeks.
Litter - Only one litter a year averaging 4 to 6 young.
Young - The young stay with the mother until fall. Both sexes mature by the following spring.
Longevity - Skunks have the potential to live to about 10 years, but few live longer than 3 years in the wild.
Foods - Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, eating plant and animal foods in about equal amounts during fall and winter. They eat more protein (animal matter) during spring and summer, when they feed heavily on available insects. During spring and summer grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, grubs, cutworms, and other insect larvae are heavily consumed. Additionally they eat bees, wasps and their hives, larvae and honey. Many of the insect larvae they eat are injurious to agricultural crops and other plants in the yard and garden. Mice are also a very important part of their diet, especially in winter. Skunks will also take rats, cottontail rabbits, bird eggs, and other small mammals. Food analysis of 414 skunk stomachs showed 41.3% insects, 22.1% fruits and berries, 14.1% mammals (mostly mice), 12.9% grains, 5.4% carrion, 2% birds, and 2.2% unidentified.
Home - Their home is customarily a den in the ground, but they can occasionally be found in a stump, refuse dump, woodpile, cave, rock pile, crevice in a cliff, or under a building. A skunk may dig its own den, particularly for its young, but more often it takes over an abandoned den of another animal.
Habits - Skunks may be out at any time of day, but most generally they start foraging in the evening and stay out most of the night. Skunks locate their food or prey more by sense of smell than by sight. Skunks do not hibernate but they do put on a layer of fat for winter. When the weather is colder skunks spend more time in their dens. The amount of time skunks spend out foraging in winter is more dependent on temperature than anything else. Skunks do not normally climb so keeping them out can be easier than for climbing species
Damage & Conflict - Skunks become a nuisance when they move or burrow under buildings and foundations. Skunks will get into garbage and refuse when not secured. Additionally they will forage under bird feeders and in compost piles digging as they go. Skunks also dig holes in lawns, golf courses, and gardens to search for insects, grubs, and worms. Skunks have been known to occasionally kill poultry and eat eggs. They also prey on upland game bird, waterfowl and other ground nesting bird eggs. Young children or pets, who may not understand skunk defense, may get sprayed when harassing or alarming a skunk. However, skunks are generally very amiable if left alone and will not spray unless they feel threatened. The spray does not cause blindness.
Habitat Modification - Practice good sanitation by properly disposing and securing garbage or other food sources that attract skunks. Skunks will often enter sheds, barns, garages, and crawl spaces in search of mice and rats or to establish dens. Mouse and rat control programs and covering entrances will remove these attractants.
Importance - Valuable as a destroyer of vermin such as mice, and harmful insects and their larvae. Skunks are furbearers, with a market for its fur. Fur is considered to be 70% as durable as otter.
