Skunks live in a variety of habitats. Habitat: Occurs around rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and farmland. Surprisingly, a skunk seldom sprays when caught in a foothold or box trap. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Often, a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although if none are available it will dig its own. 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. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. Eastern spotted skunk The striped skunk is a black and white mammal about the size of a house cat. Tail is usually black, but sometimes has a white tip and sides. 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. Pioneers found the striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) when they came to Ohio, although skunk numbers are far greater now. 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. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. 0 inches when the Island Spotted Skunk had a small population and was not well-studied, the skunk that time was designated as a species of concern. Other summer foods include spiders, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, chipmunks and the eggs of turtles and ground-nesting birds. Although skunks in New York retreat to winter dens and remain inactive for extended periods, they do not hibernate. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. Southern and western Texas, eastern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of Mexico; north into Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. The bottoms of their feet are hairless, like those of bears or raccoons. Its tail is black, fluffy, and long. . Striped skunks reach reproductive maturity when they are 10 months old. According to IUCN, the Striped skunk is common and widely distributed throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Description. . After 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). About the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Two New Striped Skunks Make Debut At Small Mammal House, A Quack-filled Roll Call: Meet the Ducks of the Bird House, #CheetahCubdate 7: How to Enrich and Train Cheetahs, New at the Zoo: Meet Our Gray Seal, Jo-Jo. Litters number 2 to 10 kits. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. While not truly hibernating, striped skunks experience extended periods of inactivity during winter. [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). Its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested. The eyes are small and the ears are short. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. Striped skunks weigh up to 8 pounds. and was listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state of California. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. Skunk musk is generally harmless. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 4256 days. The eastern spotted skunk, also known as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the northcentral United States. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. They typically inhabit areas with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas. This species has been found in all parts of the state. [8], Phylogenetic analyses of the species' cytochrome b gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four phylogroups of striped skunk. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. Measurements from Minnesota are from Hazard (1982), from Wisconsin are from Jackson (1961), and from the Eastern United States are from Hamilton and Whitaker (1998). Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. A threatened striped skunk will try to run away from a perceived predator. Spraying an offending creature typically occurs after a warning display, which involves the skunk stomping its feet and arching its back while raising its tail. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] Its fur is intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. 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. 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. More mature skunks will fall prey to foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and badgers. New Hanover. Striped Skunk. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. Nevertheless, raising skunks was considered good practice for amateur fur farmers wishing to later move on to more valuable furbearers like martens, sable, mink and silver foxes. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. Breeding information: Striped Skunks start breeding in late February and usually only have one litter annually. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. Photo by Smithsonian Wild. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. It persists in much of its original range and populations are healthy. 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. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. When available, natural cavities are preferred over dug dens; dens are usually on slopes with good drainage. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care.". Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. It is found all across the state. Striped skunks at the Smithsonian's National Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. 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. I. J. You may have heard that pelts of the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are in the current fur market. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. This striped skunk caught a vole. Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. Large, bushy black and white tail. However, roadside and lawn mowing, or any maintenance practice which prevents the development of a forest canopy, favors the continued existence of skunks. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. [10], The striped skunk is polygamous, and normally breeds once a year, though yearling females who have failed to mate may enter a second estrous cycle a month after the first. [10], The striped skunk may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. A Striped Skunk in Wicomico County, Maryland, 2011. As the Maryland winter approaches, striped skunks begin looking for a den to spend the winter. Duluth, MN 55811, NRRI Coleraine[emailprotected] Population. Conservation Ranks. Where To Find They den in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings. They do not hibernate, and may forage for food occasionally during the season, but generally rely on their fat reserves to see them through the winter. They can weigh from 6 to 14 pounds. Community dens have been found containing 12 or more skunks, mostly females and young. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. 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. Skunks are nocturnal solitary animals and forage and hunt in the evening. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Present. Population Trends To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods . [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. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. Their diet includes insects, fish, crustaceans, small mammals, fruits, nuts, grasses leaves, and carrion (dead animals). Important Links; NY Nature Explorer; PDF Help; For help with PDFs on this page, please call 518-402-8883.; Contact for this Page; Bureau of Wildlife 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233-4754 518-402-8883 Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. Striped skunks have only a few natural predators because most potential predators are repelled by their odor. Spotted skunks are fewer in number and smallerabout squirrel sizedbut they're almost as widespread as striped skunks in the United States. Weight: six to 14 pounds. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. 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. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW It typically has a broad patch on the back of its head, and a V-shaped mark over its shoulders, which forms stripes that continue along the animals back and often unite at the base of its tail. A medium-sized subspecies, with a longer tail than that of. Dogs, foxes, coyotes and bobcats take an occasional skunk, but the skunks potent musk warns off most predators. 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). Throughout the winter, they have been observed eating small mammals and ground-nesting hatchlings and eggs, and hunting amphibians, reptiles and fish. The striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. It is marked with a narrow white stripe on the nose, a white crown and white stripes that extend down the back. This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. [13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes. [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. The long and sharp claws of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging. [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. Most striped skunks do not survive their first year, succumbing to the weather or disease. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. 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. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. The Striped Skunk. [20], The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant. Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. 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. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. A free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. Striped skunks are omnivores and eat both plants and meat. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. This is a raster map of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) distribution in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. [11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months. Hooded and hog-nosed skunks occupy ranges from the U.S. Southwest to southernmost Argentina and Peru. Striped skunks can experience delayed implantation lasting up to 19 days. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. Due to their diet, Striped skunks may affect insect populations in their range. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. Prior to spraying, skunks usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and holding the tail high in the air. A skunks smelly spray can reach up to ten feet, and be detected for up to 2.4 km (1.5 mi). The Striped skunk seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. Choose recycling over trash when possible. [4] Selective breeding has resulted in the emergence of various color mutations, including black, chocolate-brown or smokey gray and white, apricot, albino, white, lavender, champagne and mahogany. The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. 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 can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Maryland Biodiversity Project. Winter home ranges tend to be smaller than summer home ranges since skunks typically stay close to their dens.
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