National Aviary holds naming contest for skunk sisters

National Aviary holds naming contest for skunk sisters

 
By Julia Burdelski
1 Min Read • Sept. 2, 2026 | 4 minutes ago
 

The National Aviary is hosting a naming contest for a new pair of striped skunk sisters.

Anyone can submit name suggestions for free by noon Sept. 14 using an online form.

The aviary’s animal care team will review the names and choose six finalists — in three pairs of two. People will then be able to pay to vote on the skunks’ names, with five votes costing $5. The donations will support the aviary’s work.

People who suggest the winning names in round one will have a chance to win a private painting encounter and meet-and-greet with the skunks.

Names must be child-friendly and not violate copyrights or trademarks.

The skunks were born at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden on April 20.

In The News

See All News

Musical Parking Chairs featuring the National Aviary’s Own Cathy Schlott! | The YaJagoff Podcast

Musical Parking Chairs? Yep! And a skunk and Blue Zone Food! Now THAT’s a show description!

Read More »

For $5, you can help name National Aviary’s skunk sisters. How to vote | USA Today

Pittsburgh's two new skunk sisters are one step closer to getting their names, thanks to the internet.

Read More »

National Aviary close to naming sister skunks. See the finalist names. | USA Today Pets

Two skunk sisters at Pittsburgh's National Aviary are close to getting names after more than 18,000 public suggestions.

Read More »

National Aviary selects sets of names for skunk sister public vote | WPXI

The aviary’s animal care team has selected six names (three pairs) for the public to vote on in round two of the competition.

Read More »

Striped skunk sisters make their debut at National Aviary | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

When you think of animal ambassadors, giant pandas and bald eagles come to mind, but a skunk? The latest animal ambassador at the National Aviary is a sister pair of 4-month-old striped skunks from the Cincinnati Zoo.

Read More »