If there is one white stripe, and it’s long and wide hooded skunk), this may be retained in a garment, while pelts with two stripes (striped skunk) are normally dyed a uniform black. They may appear mostly black or mostly white. Skunks are notorious for their anal scent glands, which they can use as a defensive weapon. Skunks are a member of the weasel family. Skunk Colours and Patterns. Are there all black skunks? Striped skunks are generally the same size as a house cat, weighing up to 10 pounds. Skunks are a member of the weasel family. Skunk, black-and-white mammal, found primarily in the Western Hemisphere, that uses extremely well-developed scent glands to release a noxious odor in defense. Their average lifespan in the wild is 3 years. The other two senses let them escape many dangers. On its small head, another stripe extends from the top of its face down to the tip of its nose. The two skunk species in the Mydaus genus inhabit Indonesia and the Philippines; all other skunks inhabit the Americas from Canada to central South America. If there is one white stripe, and it’s long and wide hooded skunk), this may be retained in a garment, while pelts with two stripes (striped skunk) are normally dyed a uniform black. Read on how to get rid of skunks and find out the best methods of their removal. When skunks are scared they spray an unpleasant liquid. In North America, there are 4 types of skunks, most common is the striped skunk, which is black and identified by the white stripes running the length of it's back. The striped skunk has thick, sleek black fur and a white stripe that splits into two at the shoulders and continues along each side of the back to the base of the tail. (No fur is blacker than northern skunk.) The English word skunk has two root words of Algonquian and Iroquoian origin, specifically seganku and scangaresse (). We need you to answer this question! Don’t know how to remove skunks of your property? Skunks can project their trademark scent spray much farther than you think, so skunk identification is a hobby best performed at a distance. Both skunk species are about the size of a house … The skunk family includes 10 species of skunks found in North and South America and 2 species of stink badgers found in southeast Asia. Other Types of Skunks Striped skunks are by no means the only type of skunk; however, they are definitely the most prevalent species within North America, according to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. These smelly creatures are really not pleasant to deal with. Skunks have two glands, one on each side of the anus. (No fur is blacker than northern skunk.) That is why you’ll only be able to catch a skunk if you set up a trap properly. In North America, there are 4 types of skunks, most common is the striped skunk, which is black and identified by the white stripes running the length of it's back. They are similar to, though much more developed than, the glands found in species of the family Mustelidae. The most prized pelts have solid black backs with a blue sheen, and come from colder regions where pelts are thicker, hairs are finer, and the black is blackest. While most people are more familiar with the black and white classic Pepe LePew style of skunks, skunks actually come in a wide array of colours and patterns. Most skunks sport the almost universally recognized pattern of a black body with white stripes. Skunks are mammals, usually black with a white stripe on their back and a fluffy tail. By contrast the coloration of Eastern spotted skunks is less variable. The story behind a charming piece of Fender guitar anatomy. The striped skunk has broad stripes that may run the length of the body, but its coloration can vary. It might have been a stripeless striped skunk but that color pattern is quite rare and it is unlikely that a skunk would have been out in the daytime, unless it were rabid. They can vary in size from the Spotted Skunk that can be the size of a squirrel all the way up to the Hog-nosed Skunk, which can be the size of a small lap dog. Another vote for a cat. Spotted skunks are not native to PA. There is no one size for skunks. Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) The most common type of skunk in North America, striped skunks are probably what you envision when you hear or read the word skunk: small black creatures with a white stripe or stripes down their backs. Most of those colours and patterns are listed below: How to Get Rid Of Skunks in the Yard & Under the House Naming. The most prized pelts have solid black backs with a blue sheen, and come from colder regions where pelts are thicker, hairs are finer, and the black is blackest. Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk, Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. Skunks have poor eyesight and excellent hearing and sense of smell. Skunk litters generally consist of between 5 and 6 young ones, all of which can have totally different patterns of stripes. Their average length is about 24 inches. While the tail is mostly black, the stripe may extend down, with a patch of white at the tip. Primarily nocturnal, skunks are diverse carnivores that live in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, forests, and mountains.