Four species of skunks have been known to live in Colorado: striped, eastern spotted, western spotted and white-backed hog-nosed. The hog-nosed may not currently live here as none have been reported in the past 50 years.
The striped skunk is the largest in size and the most widespread in population.
All skunks in Colorado have the familiar warning colors of white on black. This is the most common coloration, although some skunks are brown or grey and a few are cream colored.
All skunks are striped, even from birth. They may have a single stripe, two thinner stripes, or a series of white spots and broken stripes.
Skunks are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal material and changing their diets as the seasons change.
Skunks are one of the primary predators of the honeybee.
Skunks are notorious for their scent glands and can spray with a high degree of accuracy as far as 10 feet. The smell is sufficiently powerful to be detected by a human nose up to a mile down wind.
Skunks are reluctant to spray their scent as they carry just enough for five or six uses and they require 10 days to produce another supply.
Skunks’ only serious predator is the great horned owl which has a poor-to-nonexistent sense of smell.
Tips for coexisting with skunks:
Eliminate all food sources from your yard. Skunks are creatures of opportunity and will help themselves to anything that’s available such as garbage, berries, dog food and bird seed.
Lock all dog and cat doors into the house as skunks will come inside searching for an easy food source.
Ensure that all trash cans have securely attached lids and are kept covered.
Cover all window wells to keep skunks from falling into them and being unable to get out.
