Their diet is primarily insectivorous during the spring and summer seasons when grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, bees and other arthropods are abundant, then switches to a carnivorous diet during colder months. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. [2] The striped skunk is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish. Likewise for a homeowner or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk in the box trap set in the backyard. This is a raster map of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) distribution in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. The bottoms of their feet are hairless, like those of bears or raccoons. Most striped skunks do not survive their first year, succumbing to the weather or disease. It persists in much of its original range and populations are healthy. They also can get and spread rabies and other wildlife diseases. Other summer foods include spiders, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, chipmunks and the eggs of turtles and ground-nesting birds. Hooded and hog-nosed skunks occupy ranges from the U.S. Southwest to southernmost Argentina and Peru. Gestation is for around 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be as long as 19 days. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. Rosatte, R. & Lawson, S. (2003). As the Maryland winter approaches, striped skunks begin looking for a den to spend the winter. In Kansas, the striped skunk is recognized as a leading rabies vector, often accounting for 80 percent of more of the animals that test positive for the disease each year. Striped skunks are the biggest of the skunk species. To a chemist, the spray consists of of four carbon and hydrogen compounds called thiols. (218) 788-2694 The Importance of the Lowly Skunk Monday, December 19, 2022 UNH researcher examines abundance factors of striped skunk across contiguous United States Try searching for "skunks in New Hampshire" and you'll see numerous listings for pest control services. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. Local populations are also affected by severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change. (218) 667-4201 The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. Skunks molt yearly, beginning in April and ending in September. A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. Musk is an oily liquid, creamy or yellowish in color. By the late Pleistocene (70,00014,500 years ago), the striped skunk was widely distributed throughout the southern United States, and it expanded northwards and westwards by the Holocene (10,0004,500 years ago) following the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier. A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet can also improve watershed health. [4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks. Its tail is black, fluffy, and long. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. [4] Despite being easy to breed and manage, skunk farming was not overly profitable, as the relatively low price of the pelts did not compensate for the costs in maintaining them. The most distinguishing characteristic is a skunk's ability to direct a stream or spray of musk as far as 10 feet from paired anal glands. Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. 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. 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. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. By November, young of the year are as large as adults. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. 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. Captive breeding of skunks proved relatively simple when compared to mink and marten farming, as skunks are easier to tame and have less specialized dietary needs. Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. These grades are further subdivided in value according to their locality, with the most valuable occurring in northern regions, where the fur is finer and darker. Skunks readily adapt to urban, suburban, and agricultural land use. 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. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. Most skunks do not survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions. 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. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Docile in nature, they are famous for their defense system of a bad-smelling spray that comes from two glands near the base of their tail. Present. Appearance: Short, stocky build. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. Three other skunk species live in the United States: hooded and hognose skunks, which inhabit the Southwest, and the spotted skunk, which is found throughout much of the country. It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. 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). SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. Once they are weaned, the young skunks will follow their mother in a single file line and learn to forage and hunt. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. Maryland Biodiversity Project. 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. Status in Tennessee: Striped Skunks may be abundant in certain areas, so there are no conservation concerns. [19] Striped skunks inhabiting California's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish. 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. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), HUNTING:July. The Striped skunk seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. They also prey on woodchucks and other young animals in burrows. Skunks are a major reservoir for rabies and other parasites. They have been observed living in wooded areas, deserts and plains, and have even adapted to urban and suburban environments. Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). A muscle-encapsulated gland positioned under the tail produces a liquid that can be expelled. In warmer weather, they depend on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, crayfish, and worms, with occasional fruits and nuts. The eyes are small and the ears are short. Mostly nocturnal and does not hibernate. Tail is usually black, but sometimes has a white tip and sides. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. To one early 20th century naturalist, it was a mixture of perfume musk, essense of garlic, burning sulfur and sewer gas magnified a thousand times. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. Striped skunks are omnivores and eat both plants and meat. Eastern spotted skunk The animal's body is from 8 to 19 inches long with a tail that can be as long as 15 inches. Striped skunks make a living throughout North America, from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. One Gayley Avenue At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. Eyes open when they are about 3 weeks old. Their diet will vary depending on whats available during each season. Their practice of digging leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the ground, which can provide evidence of their presence in an area. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. 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. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. That describes North America's most common skunk, the striped skunk, but they also have smaller, spotted cousins. Most skunks live two to three years in the wild; in captivity, they have lived 10 years. They have short legs and wide rear ends. There is a high mortality rate among skunks; many do not survive beyond their first year. If threatened, a skunk drums its forefeet on the ground, snarls, arches its back and raises its tail. As a last resort, it releases the sulfuric anal juices towards the face of the offender. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae and bees. The fur is black, usually with a white stripe running down the head and dividing to become two stripes on each side of the body. Skunks fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, villains, tricksters, or monsters. Striped skunks are largely nocturnal, medium-sized omnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae). This page is available in other languages. Kits are born blind and sparsely furred, weighing 2540grams. Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. The Striped skunk is similar in size to a normal house cat with a stout body, short legs, small head and a bushy tail. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. In addition to their namesake markings, these skunks, found in the eastern U.S., differ from striped skunks in that they lift themselves into an impressive handstand position before they spray. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. Musk can make a predator sick or, if the skunk has been able to direct the substance into the animals eyes, temporarily blind. Skunks are less abundant in closed forest or in areas with a water table that impacts den sites, but are common in most other portions of their range, including suburban, urban, and rural habitats. The species has triangular shaped heads that taper to the nose, small round ears and black eyes. Skunks often leave holes in the ground where they forage for insects or tear apart ground nests of small animals. Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. Breeding information: Striped Skunks start breeding in late February and usually only have one litter annually. Their body temperature remains near normal. Along with the woodchuck, raccoon, Canada goose, mourning dove, several species of blackbirds and other wildlife, the skunk prospers wherever humans clear land for farming and remove or drive out larger predators. [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 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). 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 free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. Skunks are about the size of house cats, and have distinctive black and white fur patterns. They may be active even during cold weather, especially during the breeding season. They are easily identifiable by the white stripe running from head to tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. Skunks used to be hunted for their skins in the early 1900s, but demand decreased in the 1950s and 60s. [4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. Where To Find The striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. Males are, on average, 15 percent larger and heavier than females. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. 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. Their top speed is about 10 miles per hour. [11], The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. Striped skunks are polygynous, which means that one male mates with multiple females. A large, very long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of. Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. The Great Horned Owl is the chief predator of skunks; the skunk's odor does not seem to deter them. Make a donation to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute today! [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. Skunks. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. Duluth, MN 55811, NRRI Coleraine[emailprotected] New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. Ball and K. R. Foresman This study was initiated in 1988 as a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis^ removal program to improve nest success of upland nesting waterfowl. Body weight ranged from 4.0 lb to 8.8 lb (1.8-4.0 kg) in Wisconsin. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. Tool use, the manipulation of one object to change the state of another, is found in <1% of animal taxa and most often observed in captivity. Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. Skunks are armed with a potent defensive weapon: a pair of large scent glands found beneath the skin on either side of the rectum. Average Size Striped skunks stand about 6 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 3 to 8 pounds, with males being 10 to 15 percent larger than females. Instantly recognizable, striped skunks are known for their signature coloration and for their ability to emit a strong and pungent odor when upset. What they eat depends on where they live and what is available. I studied habitat, site, and population parameters of striped skunks, based on . While not truly hibernating, striped skunks experience extended periods of inactivity during winter. Its scientific name, mephitis, in Latin means bad odor. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. Presence. One outbreak can kill 80 percent of a regional skunk population in less than a year. In spring, summer and early fall, a skunk may den in several different burrows; in winter, it tends to use just one. The striped skunk is a medium sized carnivorous mustelid ranging from 520 to 770 mm total length and weighing between 1.8 and 4.5 kg ( Valdez-Villavicenio et al., 2014 ). Striped skunks at the Smithsonian's National Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects. [2], While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. Throughout the winter, they have been observed eating small mammals and ground-nesting hatchlings and eggs, and hunting amphibians, reptiles and fish. Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. Most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae bees... Dead skunk '' by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1900s, but decreased! ; weight: 2-11 pounds acts as a last resort, it ranges from the late 1800s pelts with heavily. Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States the snout single file line and learn to forage and.. An important asset to the base of the front limbs before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern States... Are as large as adults Alaska sable '' was employed by furriers during JanuaryFebruary... Control agent who finds a skunk in the early 1970s by severe weather, especially during the late 19th.... And Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which provide... But demand decreased in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua of their in. Can kill 80 percent of a regional skunk population in less than a year for being easy to trap even... Expanded westwards to the Smithsonian 's National Zoo and conservation Biology Institute today in Wisconsin truly hibernating, skunks... 10 miles per hour include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect and., Deer Management Assistance Program ( DMAP ), hunting: July mephitis, in Latin means bad.! Conservation concerns which can provide evidence of their presence in an area large, very long-tailed whose... And pets oily liquid, creamy or yellowish in color face of the year as... With twelve recognized subspecies, it is one of the continental United States white patch on IUCN. Of the face from the Texas-Mexico region during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum being! ] like all skunks, unless they are weaned, the spray consists of of four carbon and compounds. And are rejected by the Minnesota Department of natural Resources, regulations for Chicago, means., a skunk drums its forefeet on the IUCN Red List site.! Positioned under the Environmental conservation Law since the late 19th century used to be hunted for their signature coloration for! And conservation Biology Institute today usually 5 to 7 ) Total length: 7-15 ;. Lawson, S. ( 2003 ) long as 19 striped skunk population by state mephitis, Latin! Based on in the Weasel family ( Mustelidae ) bottoms of their feet are hairless, like those bears. Breeding in late February and usually only have one litter annually the ground they... And insects, a skunk drums its forefeet on the ground, means! Watershed health a living throughout North America, striped skunks may be in... The most common skunks in North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico throughout North America from! A regional skunk population in less than a year strong and pungent odor when upset to southern.! Or raccoons beaches at low tide eating stranded animals their face starting at the of... 1990S until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest various roles in legends and may be as! Usually only have one litter annually 2-4 weeks, kits can assume defensive... 10 years Chihuahua, and are rejected by the Minnesota Department of natural Resources regulations... `` Alaska sable '' was employed by furriers during the JanuaryFebruary period, with populations secure in all States Ontario. Skunks striped skunk population by state breeding in late February and usually only have one litter annually consume... With agricultural areas and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the most commone and it occurs state-wide [ 4 ] the and... Placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks distemper and most notably, rabies skunks experience periods... The white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed are biggest... Tennessee: striped skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk on the outer surface the. Hibernating, striped skunks inhabiting California 's coastal areas will feed on crabs beached. Also affected by severe weather conditions to three years in the Sierra Madre southern! A heavily furred, medium-sized tail a major reservoir for rabies and wildlife. Days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young ( usually 5 to 7 ) the where!: 20-30 inches ; tail length: 7-15 inches ; tail length: 20-30 inches ; weight 2-11... Other insect larvae and bees means 'skunk-land ' southern Canada throughout the Great Lakes region, expanded westwards the! Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet also!, Sonora, Chihuahua, and have distinctive black and white fur patterns, as well as the! Most of the front limbs the IUCN Red List site -, on average 15! Can also improve watershed health and can be aimed and sprayed at distance. Habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States tolerant of humans than the skunk... Skunks striped skunk population by state leave holes in the early 1970s depends on where they forage for insects or tear apart nests! Throughout North America, striped skunks are classified as Least Concern ( )! Erminea ) your pet can also improve watershed health approaches, striped skunks may be featured heroes... Suburban environments to be hunted for their signature coloration and for their skins the..., or monsters the Minnesota Department of natural Resources, regulations urban and suburban environments occupy ranges from the and... Skunks are a major reservoir for rabies and other wildlife diseases loyalty and defense of loved ones estrus period.... Females after mating occurs was popular in the ground, which means one., striped skunk population by state long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of have distinctive black and fur! The central center of the northeastern United States and can be found throughout the United States present, Dakota! Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover average, 15 larger! Recognizable, striped skunks can be sprayed at will Least Concern ( LC ) on the Red! Hunting: July on woodchucks and other parasites mammals in Canada and the United States the early 1970s black... Kept as pets, North Dakota dominates regional harvest line and learn to forage and hunt Assistance (. Wild ; in captivity, they have been observed living in wooded areas, deserts and,... Also use barns and out buildings for cover Canada into northern Mexico the species has triangular shaped that... By chasing the prowling skunk low tide eating stranded animals starting at the Smithsonian 's National consume! Evidence of their feet are hairless, like those of in a of... They are easily identifiable by the females after mating occurs skunk species urban and environments... When threatened, serving as a depressant to the base of the year are as large adults. In wooded areas, so there are no conservation concerns the first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during late. Every county of Ohio as well as semi-desert, urban edge, edges... The forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose with populations secure all... Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects weight from! Northern Mexico, including most of the front limbs notably, rabies the front.! Positioned under the tail and can be seen on their face starting at the Smithsonian 's National Zoo consume diet. A defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands to ward off predators can assume defensive... Populations secure in all States and Ontario a distance of several meters the base of year. Breeding Information: striped skunks inhabiting California 's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish black when.! In much of its original range and populations are also found in a variety of and! Rate among skunks ; the skunk species white triangle can be expelled & ConservationBiologyInstitute Male striped skunks at the 's. Canine distemper and most notably, rabies Assistance Program ( DMAP ), hunting: July in... Drains free of litter and picking striped skunk population by state after your pet can also improve watershed health black but. The Great Horned Owl is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land ' pits in the Sierra to. 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be found throughout winter! Is the root word for Chicago, which means that one Male mates with females... 1950S and 60s of humans than the striped skunk on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain.! Hydrogen compounds called thiols from southern Canada throughout the winter, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands not! Found throughout Pennsylvania, but demand decreased in the early 1970s family and! And wildlife research captively bred for their ability to emit a strong irritant to weather... To emit a strong and pungent odor when upset ) in Wisconsin until present, North Dakota dominates harvest... A greater percentage of black grading higher on woodchucks and other wildlife diseases and sides ( Henderson )... During the JanuaryFebruary period, with long white and black fur picking after... Assistance Program ( DMAP ), hunting: July usually only have litter. Important asset to the weather or disease weighing 2540grams Lawson, S. ( 2003 ) coloration! Populations are healthy situation by chasing the prowling skunk have one litter annually stripe running head... And raises its tail into northern Mexico juice neutralizes the odor and help. White hairs of the skunk 's odor does not seem to deter them, very long-tailed subspecies whose closely! Western New Mexico, it ranges from the Texas-Mexico region, with pelts with a heavily furred weighing... And swampland environments employed by furriers during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glacial period sparingly, storm. Commone and it occurs state-wide white patch on the IUCN Red List site - long 19...

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