Striped skunks are typically docile mammals that tolerate humans in close proximity without showing aggression. Maryland Biodiversity Project. The Striped skunk is similar in size to a normal house cat with a stout body, short legs, small head and a bushy tail. 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 short legs and wide rear ends. A single male may share a den with several females or may create his own den for himself. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. They have a small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its back. 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 ). 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). Please enable scripts and reload this page. Habitat: The striped skunk occurs throughout most lowland areas in Washington, preferring open fields, pastures, and croplands near brushy fencerows, rock outcroppings, and brushy draws. With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. Pioneers found the striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) when they came to Ohio, although skunk numbers are far greater now. Some farmers welcome their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents. 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. Habitat: They occur in a variety of habitats in both rural and urban areas, but tend to prefer forest borders, brushy field corners, fencerows, open grassy fields, rocky outcrops, and agricultural fields. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. (Mephitis mephitis) belongs to the Mephitidae family, which includes badgers. May stretch the length of the back. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. Striped skunks have black fur with a wide, white stripe from the head all the way down the back on the body. 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. . The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. A large, very long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of. 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. Residential areas that have both lawns and large, mast producing shade trees often provide optimal habitat for skunks. [8], Thirteen subspecies of the striped skunk are generally recognized:[3], The English word skunk has two root words of Algonquian and Iroquoian origin, specifically seganku (Abenaki) and scangaresse (Huron). 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. 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. Presence. 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. 1-Nov. 12; Sunday Nov. 13; Nov.14-Nov.19; Sunday Nov. 20; Nov. 21-Nov. 26; Sunday Nov. 27; Nov. 28-. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. The newborns are blind and deaf, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks. Spotted skunks have a more complicated pattern of spots and broken lines, while striped skunks have two white stripes running from head to tail. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. Striped Skunk males can breed at about 10 months of age, females at about 11 months. They can swim, but are poor climbers. Of the 3 skunks that underwent necropsy on 3 dpi, 2 had infectious virus in the turbinates but not in other tissues tested. In general, adults range more widely than juveniles, males more widely than females. They move at a deliberate walk, slow trot or clumsy gallop. Skunks are placid and sluggish. Striped skunks can experience delayed implantation lasting up to 19 days. This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. 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. 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. As one of the most recognizable mammals anywhere, striped skunks are known for their black fur and characteristic white stripes on their head and down their back. Weight: six to 14 pounds. They are hunted and trapped for their pelts in Tennessee. A skunk is colored black and white. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. This page was last edited on 23 September 2022, at 02:18. 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. It has sharp claws on its front webbed feet that it will use to dig for grubs, worms, and reptiles or amphibians, and that can aid them climbing trees in search of food. Other summer foods include spiders, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, chipmunks and the eggs of turtles and ground-nesting birds. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. . Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. [10], The color patterns of the fur vary greatly, but generally consist of a black base with a white stripe extending from the head which divides along the shoulders, continuing along the flanks to the rump and tail. West side of Mississippi Valley from southern Louisiana to Missouri; westward along the coast of Texas to Matagorda Island; and up the Red River Valley as far at least as Wichita Falls. The Striped skunk seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. Striped skunks may be . Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. Although skunks in New York retreat to winter dens and remain inactive for extended periods, they do not hibernate. Southern and western Texas, eastern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of Mexico; north into Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. If threatened, a skunk drums its forefeet on the ground, snarls, arches its back and raises its tail. This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders. They typically inhabit areas with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas. Many a farmer arrived to pour the dregs of the milk strainer into the cat dish and found that one of the cats had a broad tail and a characteristic white "V" across its back. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). Their diet will vary depending on whats available during each season. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. The breeding season is from February to April, and females typically give birth once a year. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. PO Box 188 I studied habitat, site, and population parameters of striped skunks, based on . [16], The striped skunk inhabits a wide variety of habitats, particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. 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. Choose recycling over trash when possible. Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. The Striped skunk has narrow white stripes located at the center of its face, which differ in length and width across individuals. Fun Facts: Other names include polecat and the French Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the devil.. The animal's body is from 8 to 19 inches long with a tail that can be as long as 15 inches. A Striped Skunk in Queen Annes County, Maryland, 2020. [15], Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. [10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks. (females slightly smaller). Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), HUNTING:July. Skunk musk is generally harmless. Now more than ever, we need your support. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. They favor mixed woods and brushland, rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas. Because skunks are difficult to kill without having them discharge their musk (and thus ruin their fur) they were typically dispatched with a paralyzing blow to the lower back or drowned if caught in a box trap. And, like these two other mammals, skunks walk in a plantigrade manneron the soles of their feet with heels touching the ground. 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. Conservation Ranks. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . Perhaps the value of skunk musk to the perfume industry, combined with the commercial use of their pelts, caused early legislators to give skunks special consideration. Dogs, foxes, coyotes and bobcats take an occasional skunk, but the skunks potent musk warns off most predators. In the days of small dairy farms, several dozen barn cats often ate from the same pan of milk after each milking. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. Eyes open when they are about 3 weeks old. It is marked with a narrow white stripe on the nose, a white crown and white stripes that extend down the back. 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. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. Most skunks do not survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. Most striped skunks do not survive their first year, succumbing to the weather or disease. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods. & Verts, B. J. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Skunks are a major reservoir for rabies and other parasites. After spraying, the striped skunk will take the opportunity to run away from the intruder, which will be more interested in dealing with the spray than with the skunk. The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. [13], The striped skunk is a stoutly-built, short-limbed animal with a small, conical head and a long, heavily furred tail. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. Skunks can spray up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to a mile. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. The type locality is in eastern Canada. [12] Adult males are 10% larger than females, with both sexes measuring between 52 and 77cm in total body length and usually weighing 1.84.5kg (4.09.9lb), though some may weigh 5.5kg (12lb). One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . A surfeit is the word for a group of skunks. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. If that does not deter the intruder, the striped skunk will bend around while still facing the threat, stand on its front legs, and spray. 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. [10] Although their musk is still undeveloped, kits of this age will instinctively assume the defensive stand position when threatened. [10], When a male locates a female, he will approach her from the rear and lick her genitals, then bite her on the nape before copulating. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. 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. Male total length ranged from 24.8 to 29.9 (630-760 mm) in Minnesota, and female total length ranged from 21.2 to 25.6 (540-650 mm) in Minnesota. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. Other mortality factors are diseases such as pneumonia, distemper, pulmonary aspergillosis, tularemia, brucellosis and rabies; highway kills, starvation and trapping. Striped Skunk Commonly referred to as polecats, striped skunk are about the size of domestic house cats, measuring 21-28 inches in total length and weighing from 3-11 pounds. [5] 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. 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. During the breeding season, males may travel as far as 8 km (4.9 mi) at night. Young, called kits or kittens, are born helpless, with eyes opening at about 3 weeks and weaning occurring at 6 to 7 weeks. Rosatte, R. & Lawson, S. (2003). The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. Throughout the winter, they have been observed eating small mammals and ground-nesting hatchlings and eggs, and hunting amphibians, reptiles and fish. While the species plays an important role in insect control through its diet, the striped skunks reputation among humans is often based on its digging behavior, in search of food in lawns and gardens, and on its odoriferous interaction with curious dogs. It can spray in any direction by twisting its rump toward the target. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. Skunks are solitary and typically nonaggressive, and they have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife. Often, a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although if none are available it will dig its own. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. [22], The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. Most skunks live two to three years in the wild; in captivity, they have lived 10 years. 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. Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover. . The Striped Skunk is found in lowlands throughout Washington, preferring relatively open country such as logged lands, old fields, open woods, brushy grassland, forest edges, riparian corridors, and agricultural areas. While not truly hibernating, striped skunks experience extended periods of inactivity during winter. Common Name: Striped Skunk. Regularly occurring. Skunks fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, villains, tricksters, or monsters. The striped skunk can be a difficult neighbor because of its fearlessness and effective weaponry. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. [7][2], The earliest fossil finds attributable to Mephitis were found in the Broadwater site in Nebraska, dating back to the early Pleistocene less than 1.8million years ago. They develop quickly. Surprisingly, a skunk seldom sprays when caught in a foothold or box trap. Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. Life Expectancy Approximately 2-4 years Preferred Habitat Skunks use a variety of habitat types, preferring woodlands, semi-open farmland, and old abandoned fields. Dens are usually short and shallow, a few yards long, and a yard underground. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. Length: 20.0 - 30.0 inches Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis. This striped skunk caught a vole. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. Although these animals are usually silent, they can make a wide range of sounds, including hissing, screeching, churring, growling, twittering, and cooing sounds during social interactions or when alarmed. Although the eyesight of skunks is very poor, they have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. 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