STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis) [or possibly Hooded Skunk, Mephitis macroura]:
Larger
than Spotted
Skunks, at 6-14 lbs in weight, these have a black
body with a single broad white stripe extending from between
the ears toward the tail, sometimes dividing toward the rear; tails
are black with some white. Some hooded skunks may also look like this
(though usually they are predominantly black), so we cannot say definitely
to which species the animal at left belongs.
These relatively large-bodied skunks are found in a wide variety of habitats (woods, grasslands, and deserts). They are mainly nocturnal (but are often seen in early morning or late evening), spending days in burrows (or any dry, sheltered spot), and are generally solitary. They eat a variety of rodents and insects as well as vegetation -- are very opportunistic in their feeding. They are active all year round in our area.