Striped Skunk - Mephitis mephitis
By Christopher J. Wilke
Animal Diversity Web
University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology
Habitat
Mephitis mephitis prefers somewhat open areas with a mixture of habitats such as woods, grasslands, and agricultural clearings. They are usually never found further than two miles from a water source. They are also often found in suburban areas because of the abundance of buildings that provide them with cover.
Food Habits
Mephitis mephitis is a true omnivore, eating a vast assortment of things including insects, small mammals, birds and their eggs, crustaceans, fruits, grasses, leaves, buds, grains, nuts, and carrion. Insects make up approximately 70% of their diet. Striped skunks often attack the nests of colonial insects, such as bees and ants. When attacking a bee hive, they wait for the angry bees to emerge from the hive, then bat them out of the air and eat them. Striped skunks are opportunistic and diet changes depending on the time of year and available resources.
Please visit the website to learn more; click on a photo to enlarge.
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lightning says: | 2011-04-07 15:42:34 |
| i didn''t know that | ||
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