The striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Found over most of the North American continent north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States.

The striped skunk has a black body with a white stripe along each side of its body; the two stripes join into a broader white area at the nape. Its forehead has a narrow white stripe. About the size of a house cat, it weighs 2.5 to 14 pounds (1.2–6.3 kg) (Note that the average weight is 6–8 pounds (2.73 kg-3.64 kg)) with a body length (excluding the tail) of 13 to 18 inches (33–46 cm). Males may be 10% larger than females. The bushy tail is 7 to 10 inches long (18–25 cm), and sometimes has a white tip. The presence of a striped skunk is often first made apparent by its odor. It has well-developed anal scent glands (characteristic of all skunks) that can emit a highly unpleasant odor when the skunk feels threatened by another animal.

The striped skunk is widespread throughout North America. Its range includes south Canada from Nova Scotia to British Columbia as well as most of the continental United States and parts of northern Mexico. It can be found in elevations up to 1800 meter but rarely above 4000 m. Skunks can be found in a number of habitats, include woodlands, grasslands and agricultural lands. The skunk has increased its range with the cutting of forests throughout North America.