Skunks breed once or twice a year, depending on the species. The breeding season typically begins in late winter or early spring and lasts for several weeks. Males will travel in search of females, and they will often fight with other males for the right to mate.
When a male skunk finds a female that is ready to mate, he will approach her and begin to nuzzle her neck. If she is receptive, she will raise her tail and allow him to mount her. The male skunk will then insert his penis into the female's vagina and ejaculate.
The gestation period for skunks is about 63 days. During this time, the female will build a nest in a burrow or other sheltered location. She will line the nest with leaves, grass, and other soft materials.
When the female skunk is ready to give birth, she will stay in the nest and give birth to a litter of 2 to 10 kits. The kits are born blind and helpless, and they weigh only about 1 ounce each. The female skunk will nurse the kits for several weeks until they are able to fend for themselves.
Kitten Development
Skunk kits are born with a full coat of fur, but their eyes are closed and their ears are folded down. They are also helpless and rely on their mother for food and protection. The kits will nurse for about six weeks, and they will begin to eat solid food at about two months old. They will stay with their mother until they are about six months old, when they will leave to find their own territory.