The striped skunk , Mephitis mephitis , is the most common of four skunk species found in North America and the only one present in Washington State. The striped skunk can be found across the province but is most common in the settled central and southern parts. It is characterized by a black body with a narrow white stripe on the forehead and wider stripes that extend from the neck along each side of the back. Some white may also be present on the top of the black bushy tail. The body size is comparable to a house cat, with most adult skunks measuring about 74 cm long and weighing about 2 to 4 kilograms.
Skunks have sharp claws on the front feet used for digging insects and worms.
Their footprint and moving pattern distinguishes them from other similar-sized animals. Biology, Behavior and Reproduction Skunks are members of the weasel family, all of which possess scent glands near the anus. However, the skunk has the most advanced scent gland development. The glands contain approximately 15 cc of a yellowish, oily liquid. This fluid is a sulphur compound, n-butyl mercaptan .