Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. Pioneers found the striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) when they came to Ohio, although skunk numbers are far greater now. Most striped skunks do not survive their first year, succumbing to the weather or disease. . Weight: Between 3 and 10 pounds. They develop quickly. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. Gestation is for around 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be as long as 19 days. 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. Found up to about 2000 feet on the west side of the state. Sexes are colored and marked alike. The eastern spotted skunk, also known as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the northcentral United States. 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. They will hunt with the mother for the first time around 7 weeks and weaning occurs at 8 weeks. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. The Spotted Skunk population also appears to have reached a plateau. . Other mortality factors are diseases such as pneumonia, distemper, pulmonary aspergillosis, tularemia, brucellosis and rabies; highway kills, starvation and trapping. In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male. Protection and promoting general public awareness of a species is a good way to secure its status. Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. Year-round. [2] The striped skunk is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish. Wildlife researchers have estimated an average of one skunk per 10 acres of prime habitat and 13.5 skunks per square mile of agricultural land. PO Box 188 Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . This happens in early fall because skunks search for cubby holes to spend the winter. The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. Avoid single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles, bags and utensils. Skunks have been the most commonly confirmed rabies species, other than raccoons, during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout Southern New York. At birth, striped skunks weigh less than an ounce. This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders. Adults grow to be about 47 to 82 cm (about 18 to 32 inches) long and may weigh up to 6.3 kg (13 pounds). [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. Where To Find The Striped Skunk is found in lowlands throughout Washington, preferring relatively open country such as logged lands, old fields, open woods, brushy grassland, forest edges, riparian corridors, and agricultural areas. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. Its scientific name, mephitis, in Latin means bad odor. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. 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. There is a high mortality rate among skunks; many do not survive beyond their first year. The value of each pixel in the map is an estimate of the species probability of occurrence. Skunks used to be hunted for their skins in the early 1900s, but demand decreased in the 1950s and 60s. Most skunks live two to three years in the wild; in captivity, they have lived 10 years. Litters of 2-16 (usually 4-6) young are born in May or June. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. An interesting side note is that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. Weight: 3.5 - 10.0 pounds. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches Skunks live in a variety of habitats. Although the eyesight of skunks is very poor, they have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. 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. They typically inhabit areas with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. [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. Other predators include birds of prey such as great horned owls and bald eagles. Alabama Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). The average lifespan of striped skunks in the wild is 7 years. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. Present. 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. Skunks are armed with a potent defensive weapon: a pair of large scent glands found beneath the skin on either side of the rectum. Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains. Western Canada, from Manitoba to British Columbia; south in the United States to Colorado, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. 1-Nov. 12; Sunday Nov. 13; Nov.14-Nov.19; Sunday Nov. 20; Nov. 21-Nov. 26; Sunday Nov. 27; Nov. 28-. 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. [11] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. Photo by Smithsonian Wild. Skunk dens have 1-5 well-hidden entrances, and end in 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation. 2. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. 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. They can run as fast as 16km/h (10mph). It can spray in any direction by twisting its rump toward the target. (Verts, 1967). 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". 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. And now, this skunk group has a few more members. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. While the mammals have adapted to a wide range of environments, they prefer habitat with a variety of woodlands and open fields, which means they can also be found in both rural and suburban settings. 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. Immune to snake venom, these animals will eat poisonous snakes such as rattlesnakes. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. Description. As one of the most recognizable mammals anywhere, striped skunks are known for their black fur and characteristic white stripes on their head and down their back. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. 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. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] 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. A muscle-encapsulated gland positioned under the tail produces a liquid that can be expelled. The great horned owl, which lacks a well-developed sense of smell and apparently is not bothered by the skunks musk, is a predator. Skunks readily adapt to urban, suburban, and agricultural land use. Striped skunks are typically docile mammals that tolerate humans in close proximity without showing aggression. Striped Skunk. [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. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. Newborns are helpless and rely completely on their mother. Stink badgers are preyed upon by civets, cats, and humans. They prefer open areas with a variety of habitats and inhabit particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners, and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. 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. As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. Though . 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. Damaged building foundations and spaces underneath porches serve this purpose well. [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. [20], The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant. Names . Males in particular are likely to be active aboveground periodically. Striped skunks weigh up to 8 pounds. Skunk musk is generally harmless. Population Trends To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods . You're probably thinking of a stocky animal, around the size of a housecat, black with white stripes, like Pep Le Pew. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . 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 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. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. Conservation Ranks. It persists in much of its original range and populations are healthy. This oily musk, expelled through the anus, can cause temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a potential attacker. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. 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. New Hanover. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. They also prey on woodchucks and other young animals in burrows. The striped skunk occurs throughout most lowland areas in Washington, preferring open fields, pastures, and croplands near brushy fencerows, rock outcroppings, and brushy draws. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. Local populations are also affected by severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. 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. [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. 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). Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. Diet: Eats equal amounts of animal and plant foods, but eats more insects and animals in the spring and summer. 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 resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. 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. 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. This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. 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). Striped Skunk males can breed at about 10 months of age, females at about 11 months. It is a stocky animal with short legs, a broad build and bushy tail. I. J. Striped skunks have an IUCN rank of Least Concern, IUCN information. The regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season. The females will retreat to the den to give birth. Wildlife researchers have estimated an average of one skunk per 10 acres of prime habitat and 13.5 skunks per square mile of agricultural land. Striped skunks are omnivorous. [5] 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. Male body weight ranged from 5.5 lb to 9.9 lb (2.5-4.5 kg) in Minnesota and female body weight ranged from 4 to 9 lb (1.8-4.1 kg) in Minnesota. This page is available in other languages. [15], Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. In some states, like Florida, skunks may be killed only during a season, but harvests year-round are allowed in most states. In summer, they feed heavily on insects (adult and larval form) including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. [11] Prior to the First World War, skunk pelts were primarily shipped to Europe until better methods of deodorizing and processing the skins lead to increased interest in selling them for North American consumption. 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. Preferred foods are insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles; also eats bees, wasps, mice, lizards, snakes, crayfish, bird eggs, and mushrooms. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover. Juvenile skunks are capable of spraying at 8 days old, around two weeks before their eyes open. They can swim, but are poor climbers. Gestation is for around 59 to 77 days, with pelts with a mixture of dense vegetation and areas. 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