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. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. (females slightly smaller). 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. Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. 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. This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. The common striped skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. Now more than ever, we need your support. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones.[. [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. Of the 3 skunks that underwent necropsy on 3 dpi, 2 had infectious virus in the turbinates but not in other tissues tested. Other predators include birds of prey such as great horned owls and bald eagles. They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. [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. They eat pests including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles. The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. However, that could change. They are quite at home in a variety of landscapes, from wooded areas to grasslands and agriculture fields, and even in urban areas, among humans. 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 natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. Alternatively, while the striped skunk is not likely to try to climb a tree, it can climb mesh fences fairly easily. 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. Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. Additionally, most states permit skunk harvesting year-round. This is a raster map of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) distribution in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. More mature skunks will fall prey to foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and badgers. Habitat: Occurs around rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and farmland. They typically inhabit areas with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. 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. Formerly a member of the weasel family (with mink, otter, fisher, marten), skunks have now been classified into their own family, "Mephitidae". Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. This page is available in other languages. Spraying typically takes place after a warning display, where the skunk stomps its feet and arches its back, at the same time raising its tail. 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 polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. Local populations are also affected by severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change. However, recent surveys now . The females will retreat to the den to give birth. Because striped skunks are abundant, their populations are often susceptible to diseases such as rabies. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. It also suggested that the decline in Plains Spotted Skunk harvest was due to decline in fur prices (Reports from 1951). A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. Dens are usually short and shallow, a few yards long, and a yard underground. 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 ). The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. 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). Males are, on average, 15 percent larger and heavier than females. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 4256 days. Other names include polecat and the French Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the devil.. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. A study released in 2013 included a video of a Western spotted skunk handstanding and facing off with a mountain lion over a deer carcass. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Prairie region of Illinois, western Indiana, and eastern Iowa. Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. 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. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . This oily musk, expelled through the anus, can cause temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a potential attacker. Skunks can live in an area for years and, because of their nocturnal habits, remain unseen, although perhaps not unsmelled, by most people. Photo by Lori Byrne, After 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). The Spotted Skunk population also appears to have reached a plateau. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. [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. Eastern spotted skunk on the Appalachian Trail. Striped skunks can experience delayed implantation lasting up to 19 days. Skunks are host to fleas, lice, mites, ticks and various internal parasites. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Hooded and hog-nosed skunks occupy ranges from the U.S. Southwest to southernmost Argentina and Peru. Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. This page was last edited on 23 September 2022, at 02:18. [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. Litters number 2 to 10 kits. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. Skunk anal glands are responsible for the sulfur compounds that, when sprayed, form the pungent scent that is a skunks primary defense. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. [2] The striped skunk is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish. 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. Its tail is black, fluffy, and long. [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. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. A skunk is colored black and white. And, like these two other mammals, skunks walk in a plantigrade manneron the soles of their feet with heels touching the ground. Striped skunks are largely nocturnal, medium-sized omnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae). The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. 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 striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) is a distinctive member of Indiana's wildlife community. Other mortality factors are diseases such as pneumonia, distemper, pulmonary aspergillosis, tularemia, brucellosis and rabies; highway kills, starvation and trapping. Its scientific name, mephitis, in Latin means bad odor. Damaged building foundations and spaces underneath porches serve this purpose well. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . Washington, DC 20008. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. 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. Although a market still exists, it is not as vigorous as it once was. The tail is bushy and black and usually has a white tip. Skunks discharge their scent, or musk, through these nozzles, powering the stream with a strong hip muscle contraction. They have a small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its back. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. Most striped skunks do not survive their first year, succumbing to the weather or disease. This association likely resulted in the striped skunk's subsequent unfavorable reputation as a poultry thief, despite it being a much less destructive animal than the true polecat. Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. Length: 20.0 - 30.0 inches The subclade that colonized the Great Basin later expanded eastwards across the northern Rocky Mountains during the Holocene, recolonising the Great Plains and making contact with the southern phylogroup. (218) 667-4201 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. Each year the New York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is a valuable furbearing resource. Quick Facts Species Type Native Size Around 8 pounds Habitat Forests, grasslands, meadows and suburban areas Range 5013 Miller Trunk Hwy Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. Most skunks do not survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. [15], Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. [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. [11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months. Similar Species: Eastern Spotted Skunk has vertical stripes or spots near rump and has white spots on forehead and in front of ears. Litters generally consist of 212 kits, with the average being five or six,[15] though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. A threatened striped skunk will try to run away from a perceived predator. Protection and promoting general public awareness of a species is a good way to secure its status. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. Spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and even carrion. Body weight ranged from 4.0 lb to 8.8 lb (1.8-4.0 kg) in Wisconsin. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. (Verts, 1967). Their top speed is about 10 miles per hour. Cut back on single-use goods, and find creative ways to reuse products at the end of their life cycle. That describes North America's most common skunk, the striped skunk, but they also have smaller, spotted cousins. 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