The striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, is one of North America’s most recognizable mammals, known for its distinctive black and white coloration. Found across various habitats, this creature has a reputation that precedes it, thanks to a potent defensive tool. Understanding the skunk’s early life reveals a rapid progression from a helpless newborn to a young animal capable of deploying its famous deterrent.
The Official Term for a Baby Skunk
The proper name for a baby skunk is a “kit,” which is a term shared with the young of several other small mammals. Sometimes, they are also referred to as “kittens,” drawing a parallel to the young of domestic cats.
A collection of skunks may be called a “surfeit” or sometimes a “stench.” Since skunks are generally solitary animals, a group is most often seen when a mother is accompanied by her litter of kits.
Milestones of Early Skunk Life
Skunk kits are born after a gestation period of approximately two months, typically arriving in litters of four to seven young. At birth, they are tiny, weighing only about an ounce, and are completely blind and deaf. Although their skin is pink and mostly hairless, the telltale black-and-white pattern is already visible on their skin.
Their development proceeds quickly, with a full coat of fur growing in within about two weeks. The kits’ eyes and ears open around the three-week mark, allowing them to perceive their surroundings. This newfound sensory awareness coincides with their first attempts at walking and gaining mobility within the den.
The transition to independence begins around six to eight weeks of age, when the kits start to venture outside the den with their mother. This is also the period when they are weaned from milk, beginning to supplement their diet with solid foods. The mother spends the following weeks teaching them how to forage for insects and other food, preparing them for their eventual dispersal in the fall.
When Kits Learn to Defend Themselves
The skunk’s famous defensive mechanism is present from birth, as the scent glands are developed even in newborns. However, a brand-new kit lacks the muscular control and reservoir capacity for an effective spray. Kits are capable of producing a small, less potent mist of musk around three weeks of age, about the time their eyes open.
Around one month old, the young skunks begin practicing the defensive behavior, which includes foot-stomping and a characteristic U-shaped posture that precedes the release of musk. This practice is initially inaccurate and involves a smaller volume of the odorous compound compared to an adult’s discharge. The full, accurate aiming ability and a more powerful spray typically develop when the kits are closer to three or four months old.
Kits learn this warning sequence through observation and play, which helps conserve the limited supply of musk that takes time to replenish. This learned restraint is important, as the animal is vulnerable for several days after fully discharging its reserves.