Although the striped skunk lives throughout Indiana, the most dense populations are in the northwest region of the state, located near Lake Michigan. In Indiana, striped skunks are sometimes one of the most populous mammals, with more than approximately 60 specimens per square mile. However, overpopulation will also cause disease among skunks, which periodically decreases the number of striped skunks in Indiana. In the wild, a striped skunk's habitats are dense forests, wetlands and open grasslands. Some striped skunks also live in urban environments; these skunks live underneath homes and/or abandoned buildings.
Like all skunk species, the striped skunk has black-and-white fur. Most of the striped skunk's fur is black. A long, white stripe runs down the striped skunk's dorsal region from its head to toe. The striped skunk's tail is primarily black, with intermittent white hairs spread throughout the tail. At its largest, striped skunks are 21 to 28 inches long and weigh up to 11 pounds. Striped skunks have two scent glands by their anuses. These glands release a foul odor when skunks feel threatened by predators or humans. In captivity, skunk owners usually have these glands removed.
These mammals are opportunistic eaters and will dine on anything they catch. A striped skunk is omnivorous, and its diet consists of insects, bird eggs, fish, small mammals, berries and vegetation. Skunks are considered important in the agricultural industry since they prey on insects, grubs and other crop pests. However, beekeepers and chicken farmers consider skunks to be pests since they will raid beehives and chicken coops.
The primary mating season for striped skunks occurs during February and March. Newborn striped skunks arrive after a gestation period of two months. Female skunks usually deliver a litter of five to six offspring, which are blind and deaf for the first several days of their lives. Mothers wean off their children after about 40 to 50 days of nursing them. Juvenile skunks stay with their mothers for approximately one year before embarking on their own. During the winter, striped skunks remain inactive and hibernate; hibernation only occurs in harshly cold winters. The average lifespan of a striped skunk is four to 13 years.