Salutations Sisters!
The National Aviary’s two newest, furry Animal Ambassadors are Striped Skunk sisters! Born at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden this past spring (April 20, 2026), these ‘kits’ enjoyed spending the first few months with their siblings, learning how to engage with trainers and guests alike! Earlier this summer, National Aviary Senior Education Trainer Jake drove to pick them up, ‘rolling out the red carpet’ in their honor!
Their mom, Lily, is an Animal Ambassador at the Cincinnati Zoo. Born in 2023, Lily has been meeting zoo guests since she was five weeks old. Surely, the ease with which her offspring have been taking to their Aviary Animal Ambassador roles could be seen as a genetic trait!
Striped Skunk Sister Fun Facts
While the sisters are from the same litter, each has their own unique personality, as well as shared interests! Both favor insects like crickets, mealworms, and superworms. They also enjoy hard-boiled eggs and will begrudgingly eat their vegetables. Both spend time interacting with educational, engaging items, particularly foraging activities that allow them to dig, which is a very natural skunk behavior. They also both enjoy interacting with humans.
How to Tell These Striped Skunk Sisters Apart
It’s not easy to tell them apart at first glance, but these sisters do have their physical differences! The simplest way to identify one from the other is the white stripes atop their heads:
- One sister’s curves slightly and points towards her left nostril!
- The other has a narrow stripe that tapers inward on both sides, reaching a narrow peak.
Striped Skunks in the wild generally weigh between 1.5 and 13 pounds (and yes, that IS a large range!). Their mother is on the smaller side, at 3.5 pounds (1,600 grams), which is about what we expect these two to eventually weigh.
Why Skunks?
Having other animals (besides birds!) at the National Aviary helps to educate about biodiversity in habitats. Striped Skunks are a great local species, while our sloths, bats, reptiles, and armadillos represent species from around the world.
They currently live in a home behind the scenes, but can be seen during our NEW Forests season during our Forest Friends: Expert Talk, included with General Admission, as well as in the add-on opportunity Skunk Painting Encounter – both available on days when we are open!
How To Name Them!
The National Aviary received more than 1,800 entries in TWO WEEKS! They included shout-outs to late celebrities like Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, as well as Pittsburgh icons like Nellie Bly, Rachel Carson, and Rosie the Riveter!
The MOST POPULAR name suggestion by far was Petunia, with 107 unique entries. Based on the popularity of names during the public submissions portion of Round One, final considerations were made by our Animal Care Team with the following details:
- Feta and Ricotta: Not to be cheesy, but Feta and Ricotta are known to spice up a pizza or stand out on a charcuterie board!
- Petunia and Daisy: These florals have a distinctive scent you’re sure to remember (*wink wink*), and skunks tend to frolic through flower patches in gardens and fields.
- Poppy and Pepper: The black and white hues of poppy seeds and pepper grinds are reminiscent of a skunk’s iconic fur! Plus, they smell good too! *wink wink*
BUT WHICH WILL IT BE? It’s time for YINZ to vote for your favorite duo. To vote, donate $5 (credit/debit cards only) and select your preferred name. Each $5 donation is worth FIVE votes, and you can donate as often as you want (with a $5 minimum)!
Please review the official contest rules below before voting.
Ways to Meet Them!
Beginning September 9: Meet ONE of the sisters in our Forest Friends: Expert Talk at 1 pm in the Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone™ Theater; included with General Admission! Add-on Skunk Painting Encounter at 10:30 am in the Igloo (expected to sell out; book in advance!) to meet the other skunk sister! Both offerings available on days the National Aviary is open.