How to identify it
Cat-sized with a stout body, small head, short legs and a long-haired bushy tail; 20-30 in long. [1][2]
Black fur with a thin white stripe down the face and a broad white stripe from the head that forks at the shoulders into two back stripes. [1][2]
Stripe pattern varies individually, from nearly absent to covering the whole back. [1][2]
Long, straight claws for digging. [1][2]
Compared with the spotted skunks: Spotted skunks are much smaller and marked with several broken white stripes and spots, including a white forehead spot. [1][2]
Where it lives
Mixed farmland, forest edges, brushy field corners, fencerows and grassy fields broken by wooded ravines, near permanent water; adapts well to people. [1][2]
How it behaves
Mostly nocturnal forager; omnivorous, favouring insects (including bee and wasp larvae) in spring and summer, plus mice, other small mammals and carrion. [1][2]
Where it is listed for legal take
These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.
Where legal take is listed
- Alberta — hunting, trapping · 2026 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations
- British Columbia — hunting, trapping · 2026-2028 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis
- New Brunswick — hunting, trapping · Hunt & Trap Regulations Summary 2026–2027
- Nova Scotia — hunting, trapping · 2026 Hunting and Fur Harvesting Summary of Regulations
- Ontario — hunting, trapping · Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary — Small game and furbearing mammals
- Prince Edward Island — trapping · Wildlife Conservation Act — Hunting and Trapping Seasons Regulations (consolidated to 2022-09-03)
- Québec — trapping · Périodes de piégeage
- Saskatchewan — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Trappers Guide
- Alabama — trapping · Furbearer Trapping Season 2026-2027 (ADCNR)
- Arizona — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 Arizona Hunting Regulations
- Arkansas — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook (PDF)
- California — hunting, nuisance or unprotected take · 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations (updated July 1, 2026)
- Colorado — hunting, trapping · 2 CCR 406-3 Chapter W-3 Furbearers and Small Game, Except Migratory Birds (07/16/2026; eff. 2026-09-01)
- Connecticut — trapping · 2026 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide
- Florida — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 Florida Resident Game and Furbearer Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits (FWC)
- Georgia — trapping · 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations and Seasons (official WRD guide, publuu-hosted PDF, p.16)
- Idaho — hunting, trapping · Upland Game, Turkey & Furbearer 2026 & 2027 Seasons & Rules
- Illinois — hunting, trapping · Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-2027 (PDF read from cached copy of the digest linked on this page)
- Indiana — hunting, trapping · Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide 2026-2027: Furbearer Hunting
- Iowa — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Iowa Hunting, Trapping & Migratory Game Bird Regulations (DNR PDF; page numbers cited)
- Kansas — hunting, trapping · Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, Fall 2025-Spring 2026
- Kentucky — hunting, trapping · Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, August 2026-March 2027
- Louisiana — trapping · 2026-2027 Louisiana Trapping Regulations
- Maine — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Maine Hunting Seasons (Summary of Laws & Rules)
- Maryland — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping (official guide, linked from dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide)
- Massachusetts — hunting, other regulated take · M.G.L. c.131 s.5 Open seasons; rules and regulations
- Minnesota — hunting, nuisance or unprotected take, trapping · Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations (effective July 2026 - June 30, 2027)
- Mississippi — hunting, nuisance or unprotected take, trapping · Nuisance Species Regulations (MDWFP)
- Missouri — hunting, trapping · A Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026
- Montana — hunting, trapping · Predator Shooting (FWP web page)
- Nebraska — hunting, trapping · Small Game & Waterfowl Guide 2025-2026
- Nevada — hunting, trapping · Nevada 2026-2027 Small Game Hunting Regulations & Seasons (NDOW official guide, eRegulations-hosted)
- New Hampshire — hunting, trapping · Fis 300 Wildlife Seasons and Rules
- New Mexico — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 New Mexico Hunting Rules & Information (v08.11.26)
- North Dakota — hunting · Hunting - Other Species
- Ohio — hunting, trapping · Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27 (effective 1 Sep 2026-31 Aug 2027); PDF read from cached copy
- Oklahoma — hunting, trapping · Furbearer/Coyote Regulations
- Oregon — hunting, trapping · Oregon Furbearer Trapping & Hunting Regulations, July 1 2026 - June 30 2028
- Pennsylvania — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits
- Rhode Island — trapping · Hunting and Trapping Regulations (250-RICR-60-00-9)
- South Carolina — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide
- South Dakota — hunting, trapping · 2026 South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook
- Tennessee — hunting, trapping · Summary of Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Seasons Dates | TWRA
- Texas — hunting, trapping · Outdoor Annual: Seasons & Bag Limits: Fur-bearing Animals
- Utah — hunting, trapping · 2026 Black Bear, Cougar and Furbearer Guidebook
- Vermont — hunting, trapping · 2026 Vermont Guide to Hunting & Trapping Laws (official lawbook, publisher-hosted)
- Virginia — hunting, trapping · Furbearer Hunting Regulations and Seasons | Virginia DWR
- West Virginia — hunting, trapping · West Virginia 2026-2027 Hunting Season Dates | WVDNR
- Wisconsin — hunting, nuisance or unprotected take, trapping · 2026 Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Seasons PUB-CS-076-2026 (updated 06/08/2026)
- Wyoming — hunting, trapping · Wyoming Statutes Title 23 (W.S. 23-1-101 definitions)
Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.
Where it is found
From central Mexico north to the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and from the Maritimes to west-central British Columbia, across the United States.
Sources
Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.
- BIOLOGICALStriped Skunk - Hinterland Who's Who
Canadian Wildlife Federation / Environment and Climate Change Canada · reviewed 2026-09-30
Canadian Wildlife Federation / Environment and Climate Change Canada
- BIOLOGICALStriped Skunk
Missouri Department of Conservation · reviewed 2026-09-30
Missouri Department of Conservation