Editor’s Note: The striped skunk kit is part of the CROW CAW (Case A Week) series, which tells the stories of patients at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island, the dangers they face, and how we can help protect our wildlife. Read previous cases here.
A striped skunk kit (Mephitis mephitis) recently arrived at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) after his mother was struck and killed by a vehicle. CROW staff found the skunk healthy, aside from moderate dehydration. The rehabilitation team began supportive care and closely monitored the kit’s hydration and feeding.
Over the weekend, staff saw encouraging progress. The kit (patient 26-4486) began suckling and became noticeably more active; staff spotted him climbing around his enclosure. These are all positive signs for a growing animal preparing for life back in the wild.
For now, the rehabilitation team will continue to closely monitor food intake, hydration, growth, and overall development. Once the skunk can survive independently, he will be cleared for release. Striped skunks are native to Florida and occur throughout most of the state, except the Florida Keys. Primarily nocturnal, they can inhabit forests, fields, wetlands, agricultural areas, and residential neighborhoods.
Striped skunks are omnivores with a varied diet that includes insects and other invertebrates, small vertebrates, fruits, and plant material. Females typically give birth in spring, and kits stay with their mother for several months while developing the skills they need to survive independently.
Perhaps their best-known adaptation is their defensive spray. When threatened, skunks can release a powerful musk from specialized scent glands. Spraying is primarily a defensive response, so minimizing stress and handling helps reduce the likelihood of this behavior while patients are in care.
CROW regularly admits patients that were struck by cars. CROW encourages motorists to use extra caution around dawn and dusk, in areas with limited visibility, and near wildlife crossing signs
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