Striped Skunks
De-scented ambassadors you can meet up close
Our skunks are de-scented, and you can meet them on the Ambassador Animals Experience or by choosing Skunks Up Close on Pick Your Ambassador. Interactions are staff-guided, with feeding or enrichment opportunities when appropriate. What each skunk is comfortable with varies from day to day.
About Our Striped Skunks
Striped skunks are the most common skunk species in North America, instantly recognizable by their bold black and white warning coloration. Our skunks are de-scented, and guests meet them during staff-guided interactions on the Ambassador Animals Experience or Pick Your Ambassador.
Despite their notorious reputation, striped skunks are gentle, intelligent creatures that play a vital role in controlling insect and rodent populations. A single skunk can eat thousands of insects per season!
Watch our skunks waddle around their enclosure, dig for treats, and display their naturally curious behavior. Their distinctive markings and adorable faces make them wonderful animals to observe, even from a distance!
Fun Striped Skunk Facts
Spray can reach 10-15 feet
Striped skunks can accurately spray their defensive musk up to 15 feet - and you can smell it a mile away!
They give plenty of warning
Before spraying, striped skunks stomp their feet, hiss, and raise their tail - they really don't want to use it!
Only 6 sprays in reserve
Skunks can only spray 5-6 times before running out and needing 10 days to produce more!
Immune to snake venom
Striped skunks are one of the few animals resistant to rattlesnake and copperhead venom!
Poor eyesight
Striped skunks can only see about 10 feet clearly - that's why they sometimes spray things they shouldn't!
Great Horned Owls: Their main predator
Owls have almost no sense of smell, so they're one of the only animals that regularly hunt skunks!
Photo Gallery
Come See Our Striped Skunks!
Meet our de-scented skunks on the Ambassador Animals Experience, or choose Skunks Up Close on Pick Your Ambassador. Staff-guided interactions let you get up close with these fascinating creatures.