They can live in a wide range of habitats, including carrasco, arboreal caatinga, mango orchard, and dry forest scrub and occasionally, in rainforest.

[5] The striped hog-nosed skunk inhabits mainly the foothills, and partly timbered or brushy, sections of their general range.

They usually avoid hot desert areas and heavy stands of timber.

It is a nocturnal solitary animal, feeding mainly on invertebrates, small vertebrates and fruits.

Although C. semistriatus are predominantly nocturnal, studies show there is no significant correlation between brightness and activity.