A free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. Skunks are a significant asset in controlling the populations of crop-destroying rodents and insects. Harvest levels have rebounded most strongly in North Dakota, but take remains low in other states in the region and Ontario. [8], Phylogenetic analyses of the species' cytochrome b gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four phylogroups of striped skunk. Presence. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. They are quite at home in a variety of landscapes, from wooded areas to grasslands and agriculture fields, and even in urban areas, among humans. Other names include polecat and the French Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the devil.. Striped Skunks become sexually mature when they are approximately ten months old. Photo by Smithsonian Wild. 5013 Miller Trunk Hwy Striped skunks have only a few natural predators because most potential predators are repelled by their odor. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. Striped skunks are found throughout Florida, except the Keys, and can be found in both natural and residential areas. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. (1982). Skunks fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, villains, tricksters, or monsters. Names . Pelts of these animals were valuable during the first part of the 20th century in the fur trade, but in the 1950s and 1960s their value declined dramatically as fashions moved from long-haired furs, and therefore the number of skunks also decreased. I studied habitat, site, and population parameters of striped skunks, based on . If threatened, a skunk drums its forefeet on the ground, snarls, arches its back and raises its tail. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. Confident. Tail length averaged 8.7 (221 mm), ranging from 6.3 to 11.4 (159-290 mm) in the Eastern United States, and ranged from 7.9 to 11.0 (200-280 mm) in Wisconsin. Habitat: Occurs around rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and farmland. Size Total length: 14-24 inches; tail length: 4-11 inches; weight: -2 pounds (males are heavier than females). Choose recycling over trash when possible. The gestation period lasts 62-66 days, but sometimes up to 75 days. [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. Skunks make a variety of sounds, including hisses, growls, squeals, soft coos and churrings. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. [13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes. The striped skunk occurs throughout most lowland areas in Washington, preferring open fields, pastures, and croplands near brushy fencerows, rock outcroppings, and brushy draws. Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. In G. Feldhamer, B. Thompson, & J. Chapman (Eds., 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41635A45211301.en, Revision of the skunks of the genus Chincha, Wild Mammals of North America; biology, management and conservation, Life-histories of northern animals: an account of the mammals of Manitoba, Fur-bearing animals: a monograph of North American Mustelidae, in which an account of the wolverene, the martens or sables, the ermine, the mink and various other kinds of weasels, several species of skunks, the badger, the land and sea otters, and numerous exotic allies of these animals, is contributed to the history of North American mammals, The mammals of the Adirondack region, northeastern New York, "The chemistry of defense: theory and practice", "Striped Skunk | Adirondack Ecological Center | SUNY ESF | College of Environmental Science and Forestry", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Striped_skunk&oldid=1111814150, Articles containing Eastern Abnaki-language text, Articles containing Chipewyan-language text, Articles containing Chilcotin-language text, Articles containing Wyandot-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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 a high mortality rate among skunks; many do not survive beyond their first year. Length: Body--25 to 30 inches, tail--8 to 11 inches. 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. The striped skunk is one of the major carriers of the rabies virus, second only to raccoons in the US where skunks are 25% of annual cases. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. One of the most common skunk complaints, a strong odor of skunk essence during the nights of early fall, often is the result of inadequate home maintenance and of allowing dogs to roam free at night. Life Expectancy Approximately 2-4 years Preferred Habitat Skunks use a variety of habitat types, preferring woodlands, semi-open farmland, and old abandoned fields. The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments. [11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. A skunks smelly spray can reach up to ten feet, and be detected for up to 2.4 km (1.5 mi). [20], The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. Throughout the winter, they have been observed eating small mammals and ground-nesting hatchlings and eggs, and hunting amphibians, reptiles and fish. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. The Striped skunk is threatened by predation, disease, environmental conditions (such as a severe winter or a drought), chemicals, human activities, diseases like rabies and the associated control programs. Entirely white skunks, or skunks with the black replaced by seal brown or the white replaced by yellow are also know to occur. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. Preferred foods are insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles; also eats bees, wasps, mice, lizards, snakes, crayfish, bird eggs, and mushrooms. Western Canada, from Manitoba to British Columbia; south in the United States to Colorado, Nebraska, and Minnesota. 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. During the day, they nest in the abandoned dens that other animals have lived in, or in brush piles or hollowed logs, or underneath buildings. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. The striped skunk can be a difficult neighbor because of its fearlessness and effective weaponry. They typically use underground dens which can be in grassy banks, rocky crevices, or along fencerows, although sometimes they use aboveground dens including barns, woodpiles, haystacks, or rock or brush piles. Habitat: Notice that spotted skunks are smaller, about the size of a large fox squirrel (0.5 to 4 pounds), while striped skunks are about the size of a house cat (5 to 10 pounds). Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. [4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. Go to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. 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. The species has triangular shaped heads that taper to the nose, small round ears and black eyes. Newborns are helpless and rely completely on their mother. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. Total length averaged 23.1 (586 mm), ranging from 17.6 to 25 (447-635 mm) in the Eastern United States, and ranged from 21.3 to 29.5 (540-750 mm) in Wisconsin. Body weight ranged from 4.0 lb to 8.8 lb (1.8-4.0 kg) in Wisconsin. Striped skunks usually prefer areas that have large dead trees. Male body weight ranged from 5.5 lb to 9.9 lb (2.5-4.5 kg) in Minnesota and female body weight ranged from 4 to 9 lb (1.8-4.1 kg) in Minnesota. It is about the size of a house cat and has a potent musk that often overshadows the beauty of its glossy and durable fur. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. Appearance: Short, stocky build. Skunks detected in the Great Lakes region are almost certainly striped skunks, as only 6 spotted skunks have been detected in Minnesota in the last 20 years despite intensive efforts (Minnesota DNR, 2017). Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the most common skunk in Texas and North America. (Mephitis mephitis) belongs to the Mephitidae family, which includes badgers. They also can get and spread rabies and other wildlife diseases. This striped skunk caught a vole. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. During the breeding season, males may travel as far as 8 km (4.9 mi) at night. [11] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. [18] In the winter and spring months, the striped skunk will supplement its diet with vertebrates such as white-footed mice, voles, eggs and the chicks of ground nesting birds. The great horned owl, which lacks a well-developed sense of smell and apparently is not bothered by the skunks musk, is a predator. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. They den in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings. Kits are born blind and sparsely furred, weighing 2540grams. Since 1996, spotted skunks have been classified as threatened in Minnesota, and any sightings should be reported to Minnesota DNR. Spraying typically takes place after a warning display, where the skunk stomps its feet and arches its back, at the same time raising its tail. Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. They also prey on woodchucks and other young animals in burrows. . Skunks. SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute Sexes are colored and marked alike. 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. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. It is not unusual to see a female skunk with a line of little black and white copies following her across a damp pasture or lawn on an early July morning. They have a small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its back. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. Litters number 2 to 10 kits. 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. This association likely resulted in the striped skunk's subsequent unfavorable reputation as a poultry thief, despite it being a much less destructive animal than the true polecat. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. This is a raster map of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) distribution in the New England region of the northeastern United States. They typically breed in the later winter or early spring, giving birth to a single litter of 1 - 6 young born in May or June. The striped skunk is one of the most recognizable of North America's animals, and is a popular figure in cartoons and children's books. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Occurrence estimates were calculated from species-specific distribution models fit using expert-opinion data and generalized linear mixed modeling. Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). It is not unusual to see a female skunk with a line of little black and white copies following her across a damp pasture or lawn on an early July morning. It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. Litters of 2-16 (usually 4-6) young are born in May or June. The subclade that colonized the Great Basin later expanded eastwards across the northern Rocky Mountains during the Holocene, recolonising the Great Plains and making contact with the southern phylogroup. Pioneers found the striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) when they came to Ohio, although skunk numbers are far greater now. 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. Striped skunks make a living throughout North America, from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Weight: six to 14 pounds. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. The striped skunk is abundant in New York and its populations are secure. The specific pattern of the stripes on the head, body and tail can vary among individuals, and is accompanied by a thin, white stripe running from the snout to forehead. Such predators include cougars, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and red and gray foxes. However, that could change. One outbreak can kill 80 percent of a regional skunk population in less than a year. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. In warmer weather, they depend on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, crayfish, and worms, with occasional fruits and nuts. When threatened, it can spray its scent 10-15 feet; the smell can reach up to a mile away. The skunk lives in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas. 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