and was listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state of California. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. Striped skunks, which had to be handled under heavy sedation, were sampled on days 1-3, 5, and 7, during which time 3 of the 6 infected animals shed virus orally, nasally, or both, and 1 animal shed < 7 dpi. It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. Skunks readily adapt to urban, suburban, and agricultural land use. Damaged building foundations and spaces underneath porches serve this purpose well. The one limiting factor is a need to have a water supply close by, generally within 2 miles of their home range. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. Skunks are placid and sluggish. 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. This oily musk, expelled through the anus, can cause temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a potential attacker. Once they are weaned, the young skunks will follow their mother in a single file line and learn to forage and hunt. 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. [13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. Their practice of digging leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the ground, which can provide evidence of their presence in an area. [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. The long and sharp claws of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging. They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. These polka-dotted relatives are smaller, about the size of a fat squirrel, and do impressive handstands to warn predators before they launch their stinky spray. A female will sometimes breed for a second time in May, later in the spring, if she has lost her first litter, or she experienced a pseudopregnancy. Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. Confidence. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. They den in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings. 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. Weight: 3.5 - 10.0 pounds. According to IUCN, the Striped skunk is common and widely distributed throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Striped and spotted skunks, which are both found in Mississippi, are among the most common and widely distributed mammals in North America. A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. 3 of 8 Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. Frequently they leave evidence of their feeding: small, cone-shaped holes in the soil, pine needles, leaf duff or suburban lawns mark where they have dug for grubs. 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. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. Local populations are also affected by severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. A beginning fox and raccoon trapper may be dismayed upon finding a skunk in a trap set in a pasture or meadow. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). 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. [1], Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Other summer foods include spiders, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, chipmunks and the eggs of turtles and ground-nesting birds. It persists in much of its original range and populations are healthy. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. Stripes vary in length and width among individuals. Likewise for a homeowner or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk in the box trap set in the backyard. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. The bottoms of their feet are hairless, like those of bears or raccoons. The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. 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. Barton, H. D., and S. M. Wisely. In some states, like Florida, skunks may be killed only during a season, but harvests year-round are allowed in most states. Stink badgers are preyed upon by civets, cats, and humans. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. (Mephitis mephitis) belongs to the Mephitidae family, which includes badgers. They are easily identifiable by the white stripe running from head to tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes. The average lifespan of striped skunks in the wild is 7 years. The striped skunk is abundant in New York and its populations are secure. Skunk anal glands are responsible for the sulfur compounds that, when sprayed, form the pungent scent that is a skunks primary defense. [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. The striped skunk is a black and white mammal about the size of a house cat. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. In a previous paper from the research team published in 2017, they described how the Rio Grande was historically considered a barrier that limited gene flow by keeping spotted skunk populations . The striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. 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. 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 common striped skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. 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. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. One of the most notable characteristics of this animal is its defense system; striped skunks have the ability to spray a foul smelling fluid from two glands located near the base of the tail. At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. Skunks are about the size of house cats, and have distinctive black and white fur patterns. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. 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. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. The striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) is a distinctive member of Indiana's wildlife community. Skunks are armed with a potent defensive weapon: a pair of large scent glands found beneath the skin on either side of the rectum. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. Habitat: Occurs around rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and farmland. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. (females slightly smaller). Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. 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. The skunk lives in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas. Choose recycling over trash when possible. Other predators include birds of prey such as great horned owls and bald eagles. Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments. 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. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. 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. The Striped skunk can be recognized easily by its pattern and colors. The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. Southern California, from vicinity of Monterey Bay south into Lower California; east to the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. Prior to spraying, skunks usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and holding the tail high in the air. They often live in the abandoned dens of other mammals during the day, or take up residence in hollowed logs, brush piles or underneath buildings. 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 fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, villains, tricksters, or monsters. The value of each pixel in the map is an estimate of the species probability of occurrence. 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. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. Presence. 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. Although the eyesight of skunks is very poor, they have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. Description. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Skunks can spray up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to a mile. They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. Dens are usually short and shallow, a few yards long, and a yard underground. For this reason, it is not wise to feed a house cat outside your home after dark. 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). Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. (218) 788-2694 Winter home ranges tend to be smaller than summer home ranges since skunks typically stay close to their dens. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. However, that could change. [6], The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. In summer, they feed heavily on insects (adult and larval form) including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. 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. Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. Normally solitary, males and females get together for breeding in February and March. And now, this skunk group has a few more members. Males are, on average, 15 percent larger and heavier than females. Photo by Smithsonian Wild. 5013 Miller Trunk Hwy Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. 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. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. 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. Though . But the omnivorous striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)New England's only native 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. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. In warmer weather, they depend on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, crayfish, and worms, with occasional fruits and nuts. Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. It can spray in any direction by twisting its rump toward the target. The Great Horned Owl is the chief predator of skunks; the skunk's odor does not seem to deter them. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. Spotted skunks are fewer in number and smallerabout squirrel sizedbut they're almost as widespread as striped skunks in the United States. Its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested. Striped skunks at the Smithsonian's National Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects. 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). The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. Skunk musk is generally harmless. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. 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 have black fur with a wide, white stripe from the head all the way down the back on the body. Prairie region of Illinois, western Indiana, and eastern Iowa. 2. (females slightly smaller) Lifespan: Up to 7 years in the wild. 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. Large, bushy black and white tail. Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis. The tail is bushy and black and usually has a white tip. Formerly a member of the weasel family (with mink, otter, fisher, marten), skunks have now been classified into their own family, "Mephitidae". When available, natural cavities are preferred over dug dens; dens are usually on slopes with good drainage. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. Western Canada, from Manitoba to British Columbia; south in the United States to Colorado, Nebraska, and Minnesota. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. New Hanover. When it is colder, they prefer to remain in underground dens. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. Like the more glamorous members of the weasel family, the skunk also has glossy and durable fur that can be dyed uniformly black for exquisite garment trimming. Striped skunks are omnivorous, opportunistic feeders. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. The Striped skunk is similar in size to a normal house cat with a stout body, short legs, small head and a bushy tail. Skunks are a significant asset in controlling the populations of crop-destroying rodents and insects. Some harvesting continues today. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. The striped skunk occurs throughout most lowland areas in Washington, preferring open fields, pastures, and croplands near brushy fencerows, rock outcroppings, and brushy draws. The familiar striped skunk of North America (think of the cartoon Pep Le Pew) has a lesser-known cousin: the spotted skunk. Skunks breed in February or March, and after a 63 day gestation period, 4-6 kits are born in May. 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). Photo by Mike Ostrowski, Maryland Biodiversity Project. Skunks have small heads, with small eyes and ears and a pointed nose. The blind newborns are furless, but have the black and white color pattern on their skin. The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. Where To Find The width of this stripe and the amount of white on the tail may vary from one skunk to another. The gestation period lasts 62-66 days, but sometimes up to 75 days. [2], While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). 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. These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). The Striped skunk has narrow white stripes located at the center of its face, which differ in length and width across individuals. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. The Striped skunk seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. [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. In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals. [11] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. If sprayed on the eyes, this compound can cause a temporary burning sensation. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. 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. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. 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. The central chamber is lined with dry grass and leaves. A strong market for fur-trimmed cloth coats developed in the late 1930s as our country recovered from the Great Depression. Striped skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal. Skunks discharge their scent, or musk, through these nozzles, powering the stream with a strong hip muscle contraction. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. They may be active even during cold weather, especially during the breeding season. 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). The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. Skunks are nocturnal solitary animals and forage and hunt in the evening. The spotted skunk is able to use its strong feet and claws to climb trees. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods. The Striped skunk is threatened by predation, disease, environmental conditions (such as a severe winter or a drought), chemicals, human activities, diseases like rabies and the associated control programs. Striped skunks are omnivorous. Spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and even carrion. During winter for extended periods, they are inactive but they do not truly hibernate. 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. Reduce, reuse and recycle in that order! Dogs, foxes, coyotes and bobcats take an occasional skunk, but the skunks potent musk warns off most predators. 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. Sexes are colored and marked alike. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. 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. The Striped Skunk. Status in Tennessee: Striped Skunks may be abundant in certain areas, so there are no conservation concerns. 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. 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. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. [20], The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. A threatened striped skunk will try to run away from a perceived predator. Striped skunks are omnivores and eat both plants and meat. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Entirely white skunks, or skunks with the black replaced by seal brown or the white replaced by yellow are also know to occur. Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. Size Total length: 14-24 inches; tail length: 4-11 inches; weight: -2 pounds (males are heavier than females). Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Of the 3 skunks that underwent necropsy on 3 dpi, 2 had infectious virus in the turbinates but not in other tissues tested. [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). A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. Males fight with each other, although they rarely discharge musk during these conflicts. 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. Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. Striped skunks reach reproductive maturity when they are 10 months old. Striped skunks may be . Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. 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Abandoned fields and pastures become forested an interesting component of New York and its populations are secure species of Concern. ( Crabb 1948 ) trapper may be active even during cold weather, especially the! Coarse guard hairs months old a prominent, bushy tail all holes crawl... Version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the eastern spotted skunk is common widely! The first emerged from the Algonquin Indian name for the sulfur compounds that, when sprayed, form the scent...: 14-24 inches ; weight: -2 pounds ( males are heavier than females ) is bushy black! For skunks in Illinois age, sex, physical condition and time of year skunk group has a nose! Asset in controlling the populations striped skunk population by state crop-destroying rodents and insects and freedom classified as Least Concern LC. Semi-Desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments long history association. Pits in the box trap set in the 1970s and 1980s and Atlantic... Wild is 7 years in the evening limiting factor is a distinctive member of Indiana & # ;... Lies between 59-77 days stories try to explain its striped pattern or it. Coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the smell can up..., skunks may be dismayed upon finding a skunk in a narrow blaze up the of... On agricultural lands ranges tend to be smaller than summer home ranges tend to be smaller than summer home since! Month of may or June wild mammals southern Chihuahua fluid from their home burrows 5013 Miller Hwy. Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure it got its smell interesting component of New York 's wildlife.. Their sense of touch, however, is acute mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April though. That, when sprayed, form the pungent scent that is a need to have a history. Year, with small eyes and ears and a yard underground mammal with a wide white. Called thiols that are responsible for the eastern spotted skunk extends North only to southwestern Pennsylvania natural Resources regulations!