I have photographed a lot of striped skunks over the years. This large striped skunk near Black Mesa State Park in Oklahoma may be the biggest I have seen. I wish my photo could show how big it looked in person.
How Big Is a Large Striped Skunk?
Striped skunks are about the size of a house cat. Oklahoma’s wildlife department lists an average length of 20–28 inches, including a 7–10-inch tail, and weight around eight pounds.
Some striped skunks exceed that weight. Size varies by region and season, and males tend to be larger than females. Skunks also use stored fat through winter and can weigh much less by spring.
I can’t put a weight on this one from a photograph. Its thick fur and oversized-looking tail had a lot to do with my impression of its size.
Photographing That Thick Coat and Bushy Tail
In the photo, the skunk has its tail raised over its back. Long black and white hairs spread out above its body. Against the dry grass, I can see how much of its outline comes from that fur.
The tail is the first thing I notice when I look at this photograph. It looks enormous beside the skunk’s small head and short legs.
Even with the whole animal in the frame, I don’t get the same sense of size I had while watching it. Grass offers little help as a familiar scale reference. I can show the coat and tail, but I can’t give readers a reliable measurement.
Another Skunk I Will Remember
I have photographed other skunks that stood out for different reasons. One example is the Unusually Colored Striped Skunk at Sequoyah Refuge.
With this Black Mesa skunk, I will remember that full coat and huge tail. After all the skunks I have photographed, I still wish I could have shown its apparent size better.