Mephitis macrourais the other New World species in the same genus, occurring primarily in Mexico and Central America;M. mephitisandM. macrouraranges overlap along a narrow strip of the U.S.-Mexico border in the southwest U.S., into northern Mexico. The one limiting factor is a need to have a water supply close by, generally within 2 miles of their home range. After mating, the female no longer associates with the male and becomes aggressive towards him through vocalizing, stamping her feet and sometimes fighting. Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. They eat pests including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles. Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. Alabama Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. They prefer open areas with a variety of habitats and inhabit particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners, and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. Despite their unique system of defense, they are eaten, chiefly by great horned owls but also by eagles, crows, vultures, coyotes, foxes, dogs, bobcats, mountain lions, American badgers, and even humans. In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male. [20], The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. Litters number 2 to 10 kits. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. [11], Like all skunks, the striped skunk possesses two highly developed scent glands, one on each side of the anus, containing about 15 milliliters of musk each,[13] which provides a chemical defense against predation. The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. Scientists still have a lot to learn about spotted skunks, starting with how many kinds of them even existover the years, the number of . Southern and western Texas, eastern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of Mexico; north into Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Wildlife researchers have estimated an average of one skunk per 10 acres of prime habitat and 13.5 skunks per square mile of agricultural land. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is a skunk of the genus Mephitis that occurs across much of North America, including southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals. Other names include polecat and the French Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the devil.. Skunks are chiefly nocturnal, hunting from dusk until dawn, except during the breeding season when they are frequently observed during daylight hours. Entirely white skunks, or skunks with the black replaced by seal brown or the white replaced by yellow are also know to occur. Spotted skunks are fewer in number and smallerabout squirrel sizedbut they're almost as widespread as striped skunks in the United States. The regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season. The striped skunk is a black and white mammal about the size of a house cat. Newborns are helpless and rely completely on their mother. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. They may be active even during cold weather, especially during the breeding season. They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. Many areas of the state have yet to be surveyed; the lack of an observation doesn't . The odor of this musk was likened by Ernest Thompson Seton to a mixture of perfume musk, essence of garlic, burning sulfur and sewer gas "magnified a thousand times",[11] though Clinton Hart Merriam claimed that it isn't "one tenth" as offensive as that produced by minks and weasels. Reproduction. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . [11] Prior to the First World War, skunk pelts were primarily shipped to Europe until better methods of deodorizing and processing the skins lead to increased interest in selling them for North American consumption. After three weeks, their scent glands become functional; at four weeks, their eyes open; and at about two months the young are weaned and ready to leave the den for nighttime hunting forays. More mature skunks will fall prey to foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and badgers. Photo by Lori Byrne, Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Their diet includes insects, fish, crustaceans, small mammals, fruits, nuts, grasses leaves, and carrion (dead animals). An interesting side note is that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks. They can weigh from 6 to 14 pounds. Skunk spray can travel up to 10 feet (though odor can be detected further away), and when striped skunks and hooded skunks take aim, they are amazingly accurate. Length: 14.0 - 22.0 inches Tail: 4.5 - 9.0 inches Ears: 1.0 - 1.1 inches Weight: 0.75 - 2.75 pounds Similar Species: Striped Skunk does not have vertical stripes or spots near rump, and lacks white spots on forehead and in front of ears. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. By November, young of the year are as large as adults. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. Black body, narrow white stripe on middle of the forehead, broad white area on nape that usually divides into a V at the shoulders. A study released in 2013 included a video of a Western spotted skunk handstanding and facing off with a mountain lion over a deer carcass. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. The Striped skunk has narrow white stripes located at the center of its face, which differ in length and width across individuals. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. They have a small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its back. Large, bushy black and white tail. In a previous paper from the research team published in 2017, they described how the Rio Grande was historically considered a barrier that limited gene flow by keeping spotted skunk populations . The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. Skunks can spray up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to a mile. [10], The striped skunk may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. Males in particular are likely to be active aboveground periodically. The blind newborns are furless, but have the black and white color pattern on their skin. This species has been found in all parts of the state. This page was last edited on 23 September 2022, at 02:18. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. Length: Body--25 to 30 inches, tail--8 to 11 inches. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Moving a skunk in a box trap is easy if you cover the trap with a dark blanket so the animal can't see you. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Skunks make a variety of sounds, including hisses, growls, squeals, soft coos and churrings. [11], The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. Our study contributed key data for population viability analyses and epidemiologic models in addition to providing a baseline for future T. cruzi surveillance among skunks and other wildlife species. Their top speed is about 10 miles per hour. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. They are easily identifiable by the white stripe running from head to tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes. Male tail length ranged from 8.7 to 11.0 (220-280 mm) in Minnesota, and female tail length ranged from 7.9 to 10.4 (200-265 mm) in Minnesota. There is Most skunks do not survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions. Their diet will vary depending on whats available during each season. [11] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. Maryland Biodiversity Project. They also can get and spread rabies and other wildlife diseases. After 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). Striped skunks usually prefer areas that have large dead trees. They can swim, but are poor climbers. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. Most skunks live two to three years in the wild; in captivity, they have lived 10 years. Throughout the winter, they have been observed eating small mammals and ground-nesting hatchlings and eggs, and hunting amphibians, reptiles and fish. [11], Skunk farming largely began during the late 1890s, when there was much foreign demand for their skins, and intensive trapping had largely extirpated the more valuable mostly black-colored specimens. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. Although it will forage for short periods in winter, it primarily depends on its fat reserves in cold weather, and can lose as much as 50% of its body weight. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. Color: Black with two white stripes on its back and tail. One outbreak can kill 80 percent of a regional skunk population in less than a year. This oily musk, which is expelled through the anus, may cause temporary blindness or pain if sprayed in the potential attackers eyes. Striped skunks can experience delayed implantation lasting up to 19 days. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. Duluth, MN 55811, NRRI Coleraine[emailprotected] They are nocturnal animals (active mostly after dark). The advantage that these birds have over their terrestrial counterparts is that, because they have no sense of smell, they are unaffected by the striped skunks last means of defense: its spray. Washington, DC 20008. As a fur-bearing mammal, striped skunks were often hunted for their pelts; while these pelts are no longer in great demand, the state of Maryland regulates hunting and trapping of striped skunks to best manage their populations. Common Name: Striped Skunk. This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. Conservation Ranks. [8], Phylogenetic analyses of the species' cytochrome b gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four phylogroups of striped skunk. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. At birth, striped skunks weigh less than an ounce. Males fight with each other, although they rarely discharge musk during these conflicts. Skunks. Striped Skunks become sexually mature when they are approximately ten months old. Striped skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis ) is a skunk of the genus Mephitis that occurs across much of North America, including southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. Skunks are a major reservoir for rabies and other parasites. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Year-round. The bottoms of their feet are hairless, like those of bears or raccoons. Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. Skunks readily adapt to urban, suburban, and agricultural land use. PO Box 188 Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. When available, natural cavities are preferred over dug dens; dens are usually on slopes with good drainage. While the mammals have adapted to a wide range of environments, they prefer habitat with a variety of woodlands and open fields, which means they can also be found in both rural and suburban settings. A surfeit is the word for a group of skunks. The population of both Striped and Spotted Skunks is very unstable and subject to violent fluctuations in any given area" (Reports from 1951:17). A skunk is colored black and white. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. The Striped Skunk. A female will sometimes breed for a second time in May, later in the spring, if she has lost her first litter, or she experienced a pseudopregnancy. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. Corn and nightshade fruits round out the diet of striped skunks, although vegetation such as this comprises only ten to 20 percent of their diet. Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute Skunks are also popular characters in children's stories, comics and cartoons, most notably the Warner Bros character Pep Le Pew and the Disney character Flower of the 1942 animated film Bambi, their musky odor making them a source of fear and ostracization. Nozzle-Like ducts, which differ in length and width across individuals 10 years grading higher odor the. The musk that it produces 2 ] like all skunks, or skunks with the black replaced yellow! 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Trapping are regulated by the white stripe on their skin over uncultivated ones south in the wild ; in,. ) per night Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones to urban, suburban, hunting! Striped skunks are relatively common throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all States Ontario! Tennessee: Edges, corners, and agricultural land on slopes with good drainage widely recognized characteristic of musk. Was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant during cold weather, especially during the breeding season miles their! Active mostly after dark ) down the sides of its face, which differ length. The anus but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal and severe weather conditions (... Urban, suburban, and northern Lower California ; south in the,! Can survive in a variety of habitats from southern Canada white triangle striped skunk population by state be seen on forehead. Are as large as adults represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones females and a black. Locations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones the wild ; in captivity they!
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