[4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. & Verts, B. J. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. 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. I. J. [21], The striped skunk is commonly featured in the myths and oral traditions of Native Americans. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. Quick Facts Species Type Native Size Around 8 pounds Habitat Forests, grasslands, meadows and suburban areas Range It has been prevalent in modern popular culture, being the subject of various jazz and funk songs like Cab Calloway's "Skunk Song" and the Brecker Brothers' "Some Skunk Funk". However, recent surveys now . 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 striped skunk is actually a very successful species, with a range that occupies a large portion of North America, including southern Canada, northern Mexico, and most of the United States. 3 of 8 They also prey on woodchucks and other young animals in burrows. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), HUNTING:July. Size Total length: 14-24 inches; tail length: 4-11 inches; weight: -2 pounds (males are heavier than females). What they eat depends on where they live and what is available. 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. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. [15], Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. 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. The central chamber is lined with dry grass and leaves. Prior to spraying, skunks usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and holding the tail high in the air. When it is colder, they prefer to remain in underground dens. Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. [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 striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Coyotes, foxes, owls, bobcat and fisher will prey on skunks, and collisions with cars are a common cause of skunk deaths. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones.[. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the most common skunk in Texas and North America. [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. 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. Cornfields are good feeding areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles. [14] This oily, yellow-colored musk consists of a mixture of powerfully odorous thiols (sulfur analogues of alcohols, in older sources called "mercaptans"), which can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. The bottoms of their feet are hairless, like those of bears or raccoons. New Hanover. They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. Likewise for a homeowner or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk in the box trap set in the backyard. Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet can also improve watershed health. Here, we report the observation of tentative tool use in a wild striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), captured by a trail camera in the front yard of a hobby naturalist who shared the photographs on social media. 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. Eastern spotted skunk The striped skunk is a cat-sized mammal with a prominent long-haired tail. [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. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. Scientists still have a lot to learn about spotted skunks, starting with how many kinds of them even existover the years, the number of . Common Name: Striped Skunk. 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. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. Weight: six to 14 pounds. Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. Striped skunks usually prefer areas that have large dead trees. As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. They typically breed in the later winter or early spring, giving birth to a single litter of 1 - 6 young born in May or June. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. [10], The striped skunk may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. Maryland Biodiversity Project. As an opportunistic feeder, it will fill its diet with a variety of insects, small mammals, eggs, and occasional plants. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. 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. Formerly a member of the weasel family (with mink, otter, fisher, marten), skunks have now been classified into their own family, "Mephitidae". 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. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. Often smelled before they are seen, skunks produce an obnoxious scent when provoked. The most distinguishing characteristic is a skunk's ability to direct a stream or spray of musk as far as 10 feet from paired anal glands. Weight: 3.5 - 10.0 pounds. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. 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. As the Maryland winter approaches, striped skunks begin looking for a den to spend the winter. To a chemist, the spray consists of of four carbon and hydrogen compounds called thiols. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. Reproduction. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. They have been observed living in wooded areas, deserts and plains, and have even adapted to urban and suburban environments. A free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. Rosatte, R. & Lawson, S. (2003). A strong market for fur-trimmed cloth coats developed in the late 1930s as our country recovered from the Great Depression. 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. 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. Preferred foods are insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles; also eats bees, wasps, mice, lizards, snakes, crayfish, bird eggs, and mushrooms. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. Confident. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. Striped skunks mate in February and early March. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. Diet: Eats equal amounts of animal and plant foods, but eats more insects and animals in the spring and summer. For this reason, it is not wise to feed a house cat outside your home after dark. Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. Striped skunks are typically docile mammals that tolerate humans in close proximity without showing aggression. They can live up to 10 years in human care. . 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. Residential areas that have both lawns and large, mast producing shade trees often provide optimal habitat for skunks. They are hunted and trapped for their pelts in Tennessee. Males in particular are likely to be active aboveground periodically. This striped skunk caught a vole. The advantage that these birds have over their terrestrial counterparts is that, because they have no sense of smell, they are unaffected by the striped skunks last means of defense: its spray. The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. May stretch the length of the back. More mature skunks will fall prey to foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and badgers. 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. Large, bushy black and white tail. [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. A skunk can shoot musk about twelve feet, but will use it as only a last resort, preferring, instead, to bluff an enemy. Striped Skunk males can breed at about 10 months of age, females at about 11 months. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. Hooded and hog-nosed skunks occupy ranges from the U.S. Southwest to southernmost Argentina and Peru. They move at a deliberate walk, slow trot or clumsy gallop. Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). It can spray in any direction by twisting its rump toward the target. However, that could change. The Striped skunk can be recognized easily by its pattern and colors. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. Striped and spotted skunks, which are both found in Mississippi, are among the most common and widely distributed mammals in North America. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. Of the 3 skunks that underwent necropsy on 3 dpi, 2 had infectious virus in the turbinates but not in other tissues tested. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. The breeding season is from February to April, and females typically give birth once a year. They will hunt with the mother for the first time around 7 weeks and weaning occurs at 8 weeks. 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