Love is in the air, and boy does it smell stinky! I’m not trying to be a party pooper; I mean it literally stinks!
Skunks actually only mate once a year, and it occurs between February and April. Skunks are known to be polygamous, meaning they have a tendency to mate with more than just one partner. As such, it is normal to see skunks grouped up inside 1 den. Skunks also stay close to their dens and rarely go far from it, unless prompted to. During the breeding season, however, the males usually travel long distances in search of female skunks to mate with. The dens they make are made with their strong front claws, and the entrances to these dens are a medium-sized hole you can find in the ground.
The young skunks are born within 61-69 days after breeding, and a mother skunk gives birth to 4-10 kits (the term for a baby skunk). Speaking of mother skunks, female skunks are quite ferocious when it comes to rejecting unwanted advances from male skunks. The males start by stirring and wooing the females. If the female dislikes the male courting them they retaliate by spraying the male skunk.
Do Skunks Spray?
It is a blessing that the skunk mating season is only a short window within the year. The reason why is because during mating season skunks spray more often. Due to their increase in activity during this time most local wildlife control experts are called into action. Due to the constant spraying of the skunks during mating season, the smell can be smelled through the air, making the fresh air quite nasty. Not to mention there is a higher chance of skunks invading homes during this season. The reason for all this is because of the skunks’ endless search for more mating partners. It is important to note that even if two male skunks are in the same location, it is not safe to say they won’t spray, because males compete for females and territory, as such they would spray at their competitors.
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