The striped skunk is easy to recognize, either by its putrid odor or by its characteristic markings.  Contrasting with black fur, a large white spot on top of the skunk’s head splits into two lines at the shoulders. Those lines continue along the sides and toward the tail.
About the size of a house cat, the striped skunk is strictly nocturnal, hunting shortly after sunset and returning to its burrow at sunrise.
Common foods include insects, grubs, mice, eggs, berries, grains and nuts. This omnivore also eats carrion (dead animals, often on roadsides), which may explain why skunks frequently become road kill.
WILD Facts is a regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.