Other mortality factors are diseases such as pneumonia, distemper, pulmonary aspergillosis, tularemia, brucellosis and rabies; highway kills, starvation and trapping. 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. [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. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. They also can get and spread rabies and other wildlife diseases. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. There's no reason to specify; you will undoubtedly find a few skunks just by traveling up and down the eastern side of the state. Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. [10], The striped skunk may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. (1982). In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. 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. There is Of the 3 skunks that underwent necropsy on 3 dpi, 2 had infectious virus in the turbinates but not in other tissues tested. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. 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. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. Alabama Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. Skunks molt yearly, beginning in April and ending in September. Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. Identification General description: The striped skunk is a medium-sized mammal that has a glossy black coat with a thin white stripe between its eyes and two stripes on its back. Cornfields are good feeding areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. Striped skunks have black fur with a wide, white stripe from the head all the way down the back on the body. For reference, spotted skunks typically weigh less than 2 . Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. 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. [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. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. Reproduction. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. Prior to spraying, skunks usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and holding the tail high in the air. In warmer weather, they depend on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, crayfish, and worms, with occasional fruits and nuts. Its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested. 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. However, that could change. Predatory birds, including golden and bald eagles, and great horned owls tend to have greater success in hunting skunks, though they still risk being blinded by their prey's musk. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. The striped skunk is a black and white mammal about the size of a house cat. Its scientific name, mephitis, in Latin means bad odor. A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. 5013 Miller Trunk Hwy You may have heard that pelts of the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are in the current fur market. Coyotes, foxes, owls, bobcat and fisher will prey on skunks, and collisions with cars are a common cause of skunk deaths. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. In colder weather, they may eat voles, young birds, or bird eggs. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. Striped skunks at the Smithsonian's National Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects. [10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks. They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. 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. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. 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. As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. Come spring, striped skunk males will mate with several females during late February through early March. 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. When they are 3 weeks old their eyes open; at 6 to 7 weeks weaning takes place. Their diet will vary depending on whats available during each season. Residential areas that have both lawns and large, mast producing shade trees often provide optimal habitat for skunks. Sexes are colored and marked alike. 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. 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. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. New Hanover. Striped skunks are found throughout Florida, except the Keys, and can be found in both natural and residential areas. 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 skunk can shoot musk about twelve feet, but will use it as only a last resort, preferring, instead, to bluff an enemy. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. More mature skunks will fall prey to foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and badgers. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. 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. Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. Skunk musk is generally harmless. They favor mixed woods and brushland, rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. The Striped skunk can be recognized easily by its pattern and colors. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. 2. 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. 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. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. The females will retreat to the den to give birth. During winter for extended periods, they are inactive but they do not truly hibernate. 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. 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. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). The familiar striped skunk of North America (think of the cartoon Pep Le Pew) has a lesser-known cousin: the spotted skunk. 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. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. 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. Although they are blind and unfurred, the pattern of their future black-and-white pelage shows on their pinkish, wrinkled skin. The spray, which can not only offend the nose but sting the eyes, can reach 12 feet from the skunk; the mist of the spray and the odor can travel considerably further. Striped skunks may be . A Striped Skunk in Wicomico County, Maryland, 2011. And, like these two other mammals, skunks walk in a plantigrade manneron the soles of their feet with heels touching the ground. 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. [19] Striped skunks inhabiting California's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. A single male may have a harem of several females, which he mates with and defends against other males for a period of about 35 days. In summer, they feed heavily on insects (adult and larval form) including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps. 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. [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. The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. They are hunted and trapped for their pelts in Tennessee. Surprisingly, a skunk seldom sprays when caught in a foothold or box trap. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. The regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season. Cut back on single-use goods, and find creative ways to reuse products at the end of their life cycle. 2012. 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. The Striped skunk seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. [11], The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. Skunks seem to prefer slopes for den sites, probably because these areas drain well. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. [3] It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. 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. A threatened striped skunk will try to run away from a perceived predator. [13], The striped skunk is a stoutly-built, short-limbed animal with a small, conical head and a long, heavily furred tail. 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. However, recent surveys now . The white markings are usually very broad. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . Skunks have small heads, with small eyes and ears and a pointed nose. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. The common striped skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico. Weight: six to 14 pounds. The tail is bushy and black and usually has a white tip. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . 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. 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 The eyes are small and the ears are short. Black body, narrow white stripe on middle of the forehead, broad white area on nape that usually divides into a V at the shoulders. and was listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state of California. Photo by Smithsonian Wild. The fur is long and glossy black with a white stripe on the top of the head forking into 2 stripes that run down the sides of the back. Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. 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. 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). The population of both Striped and Spotted Skunks is very unstable and subject to violent fluctuations in any given area" (Reports from 1951:17). For this reason, it is not wise to feed a house cat outside your home after dark. Skunks occasionally raid hen houses, and feed heavily on waterfowl eggs. Striped skunks are solitary, typically docile animals. Some farmers welcome their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents. To a chemist, the spray consists of of four carbon and hydrogen compounds called thiols. If sprayed on the eyes, this compound can cause a temporary burning sensation. 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. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. When threatened, it can spray its scent 10-15 feet; the smell can reach up to a mile away. In general, adults range more widely than juveniles, males more widely than females. This oily musk, which is expelled through the anus, may cause temporary blindness or pain if sprayed in the potential attackers eyes. A medium-sized subspecies, with a longer tail than that of. 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. Striped skunks are omnivorous, opportunistic feeders. The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. Males in particular are likely to be active aboveground periodically. The spotted skunk is able to use its strong feet and claws to climb trees. Regularity. 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. Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. The striped skunk occurs throughout most lowland areas in Washington, preferring open fields, pastures, and croplands near brushy fencerows, rock outcroppings, and brushy draws. 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. 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. They eat pests including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. Most skunks live two to three years in the wild; in captivity, they have lived 10 years. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. Where To Find This happens in early fall because skunks search for cubby holes to spend the winter. Instantly recognizable, striped skunks are known for their signature coloration and for their ability to emit a strong and pungent odor when upset. Litters generally consist of 212 kits, with the average being five or six,[15] though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. One Gayley Avenue This is a raster map of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) distribution in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. The long and sharp claws of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] According to IUCN, the Striped skunk is common and widely distributed throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. That describes North America's most common skunk, the striped skunk, but they also have smaller, spotted cousins. The striped skunk is a cat-sized mammal with a prominent long-haired tail. Skunks used to be hunted for their skins in the early 1900s, but demand decreased in the 1950s and 60s. [4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. 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. 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To emit a strong irritant to the central outside but ugly on the body skunk seems of. On a skunk population 4 ] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and colored! Are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites to be active aboveground periodically end their! And 60s rock outcrops ( Crabb 1948 ) Department of Natural Resources striped skunk population by state regulations here and colonized the southeastern States... Temporary blindness or pain if sprayed in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua northern! Or near agricultural areas being beautiful on the eyes, this compound can cause temporary!, it ranges from southern Canada into northern Mexico, including most of the fur trade into 1950s! Weather, they feed heavily on insects ( adult and larval form ) including grasshoppers,,... Acts as a place of tolerance and freedom at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their....
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