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. Tail is usually black, but sometimes has a white tip and sides. "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). [11], Like all skunks, the striped skunk possesses two highly developed scent glands, one on each side of the anus, containing about 15 milliliters of musk each,[13] which provides a chemical defense against predation. [1], Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Entirely white skunks, or skunks with the black replaced by seal brown or the white replaced by yellow are also know to occur. The newborns are blind and deaf, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. 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. Striped skunks are the biggest of the skunk species. Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. The skunk connection in these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. Although a market still exists, it is not as vigorous as it once was. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. If cornered, the striped skunk will turn and confront its opponent, arching its back and displaying its long and bushy tail to make itself appear larger, followed by stamping its feet. The striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) is a distinctive member of Indiana's wildlife community. The striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. They develop quickly. Length: Body--25 to 30 inches, tail--8 to 11 inches. Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. By November, young of the year are as large as adults. Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. Total length: 20 to 28 inches. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. This oily musk, expelled through the anus, can cause temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a potential attacker. The spotted skunk is able to use its strong feet and claws to climb trees. The specific pattern of the stripes on the head, body and tail can vary among individuals, and is accompanied by a thin, white stripe running from the snout to forehead. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. Eastern spotted skunk on the Appalachian Trail. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. This striped skunk caught a vole. Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. Such predators include cougars, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and red and gray foxes. Weight: 3.5 - 10.0 pounds. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . Most striped skunks do not survive their first year, succumbing to the weather or disease. Striped skunks weigh up to 8 pounds. 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. 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. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. Our study contributed key data for population viability analyses and epidemiologic models in addition to providing a baseline for future T. cruzi surveillance among skunks and other wildlife species. The width of this stripe and the amount of white on the tail may vary from one skunk to another. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. Immune to snake venom, these animals will eat poisonous snakes such as rattlesnakes. Males fight with each other, although they rarely discharge musk during these conflicts. For this reason, it is not wise to feed a house cat outside your home after dark. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0. Confidence. 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. A single male may share a den with several females or may create his own den for himself. The long and sharp claws of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging. 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. Striped skunks may be . SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute Cut back on single-use goods, and find creative ways to reuse products at the end of their life cycle. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. A skunk is colored black and white. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. Striped skunk sizes vary greatly depending upon time of year and geographic location,with weights fluctuating between 1.5 and 13 pounds (0.7 to 6.3 kg), and total length varying between18 and 32 inches (46.5 to 81.5 cm). You may have heard that pelts of the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are in the current fur market. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. Woodland Wildlife Spotlight: Striped Skunk, University of Maryland Extension on Facebook, University of Maryland Extension on Instagram, University of Maryland Extension on Twitter, University of Maryland Extension on Youtube, 2018-2023 College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect, instructions for how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. Where To Find Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. 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. Females usually lose 10 to 30 percent of their body weight by spring; males lose only about 10 percent, as they are more inclined to leave their dens and feed during mild spells. A strong market for fur-trimmed cloth coats developed in the late 1930s as our country recovered from the Great Depression. The white markings are usually very broad. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. 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. And, contrary to popular opinion, it can discharge when hoisted by the tail. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . Many areas of the state have yet to be surveyed; the lack of an observation doesn't . 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. Damaged building foundations and spaces underneath porches serve this purpose well. Skunks fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, villains, tricksters, or monsters. As a last resort, it releases the sulfuric anal juices towards the face of the offender. Skunks are host to fleas, lice, mites, ticks and various internal parasites. Striped skunks are typically docile mammals that tolerate humans in close proximity without showing aggression. 3 of 8 The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. 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. 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. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. 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). Newborns are helpless and rely completely on their mother. Skunks are solitary and typically nonaggressive, and they have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife. 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. Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. Its scientific name, mephitis, in Latin means bad odor. 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. 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. Skunks are armed with a potent defensive weapon: a pair of large scent glands found beneath the skin on either side of the rectum. 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. 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. 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. A free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. Striped skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. [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. Spotted skunks have a more complicated pattern of spots and broken lines, while striped skunks have two white stripes running from head to tail. This species has been found in all parts of the state. Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. Dens are usually short and shallow, a few yards long, and a yard underground. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. [2] The striped skunk is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish. Although skunks in New York retreat to winter dens and remain inactive for extended periods, they do not hibernate. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Mephitis macrourais the other New World species in the same genus, occurring primarily in Mexico and Central America;M. mephitisandM. macrouraranges overlap along a narrow strip of the U.S.-Mexico border in the southwest U.S., into northern Mexico. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). . 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. I. J. Maryland Biodiversity Project. Striped Skunks reach the lowest torpid body temperature of all carnivores, dropping from 98.6F to 78.8F (37C to 26C). A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. The skunk lives in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. Eastern Canada; Nova Scotia, Quebec, and northern Ontario. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. Worldwide,Mephitis mephitisis restricted to North America. [5], The striped skunk was regularly eaten by trappers and indigenous peoples, provided the animal was not too old or had not sprayed before being killed. It persists in much of its original range and populations are healthy. Widespread, it is found in suitable habitat from sea level to timberline in all 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. Winter home ranges tend to be smaller than summer home ranges since skunks typically stay close to their dens. They can run as fast as 16km/h (10mph). Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. These dens are normally used only in late fall, winter, and early spring, while females with unweaned kits make use of them in late spring and summer. Skunk spray can travel up to 10 feet (though odor can be detected further away), and when striped skunks and hooded skunks take aim, they are amazingly accurate. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. [21], The striped skunk is commonly featured in the myths and oral traditions of Native Americans. Its tail is black, fluffy, and long. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. One Gayley Avenue Community dens have been found containing 12 or more skunks, mostly females and young. The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. They move at a deliberate walk, slow trot or clumsy gallop. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. This happens in early fall because skunks search for cubby holes to spend the winter. Body weight ranged from 4.0 lb to 8.8 lb (1.8-4.0 kg) in Wisconsin. These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. Density estimates for striped skunk populations ranged from 0.7 to 18.5/km 2 but most were 1.8 to 4.8/km 2 . [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). Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. Striped skunks make a living throughout North America, from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. 2012. [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. Litters of 2-16 (usually 4-6) young are born in May or June. Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover. (1982). Spotted skunks are fewer in number and smallerabout squirrel sizedbut they're almost as widespread as striped skunks in the United States. The spotted skunk is also called a civet cat, but this name is misleading and incorrect because this mammal is not closely related to the true civets of the Old World or to cats. Breeding information: Striped Skunks start breeding in late February and usually only have one litter annually. [4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae and bees. 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. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 4256 days. Striped Skunk. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. [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 found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. If sprayed on the eyes, this compound can cause a temporary burning sensation. But the omnivorous striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)New England's only native Striped skunks mate in February and early March. Striped skunks are largely nocturnal, medium-sized omnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae). Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. The regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season. Other mortality factors are diseases such as pneumonia, distemper, pulmonary aspergillosis, tularemia, brucellosis and rabies; highway kills, starvation and trapping. This oily musk, which is expelled through the anus, may cause temporary blindness or pain if sprayed in the potential attackers eyes. 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. According to IUCN, the Striped skunk is common and widely distributed throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. 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