Sexes are colored and marked alike. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. Preferred foods are insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles; also eats bees, wasps, mice, lizards, snakes, crayfish, bird eggs, and mushrooms. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. Striped skunks can experience delayed implantation lasting up to 19 days. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. 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. They are easily identifiable by the white stripe running from head to tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. Litters number 2 to 10 kits. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. Alabama Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. They also prey on woodchucks and other young animals in burrows. Skunk anal glands are responsible for the sulfur compounds that, when sprayed, form the pungent scent that is a skunks primary defense. Striped skunks are found throughout Florida, except the Keys, and can be found in both natural and residential areas. 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 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. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). They den in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. It also suggested that the decline in Plains Spotted Skunk harvest was due to decline in fur prices (Reports from 1951). May stretch the length of the back. Stripes vary in length and width among individuals. They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. 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. 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. Found up to about 2000 feet on the west side of the state. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. You may have heard that pelts of the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are in the current fur market. [11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months. Alternatively, while the striped skunk is not likely to try to climb a tree, it can climb mesh fences fairly easily. 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. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. Skunks are a significant asset in controlling the populations of crop-destroying rodents and insects. [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 is one of the major carriers of the rabies virus, second only to raccoons in the US where skunks are 25% of annual cases. The striped skunk is abundant in New York and its populations are secure. Average Size Striped skunks stand about 6 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 3 to 8 pounds, with males being 10 to 15 percent larger than females. Tail is usually black, but sometimes has a white tip and sides. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. (females slightly smaller) Lifespan: Up to 7 years in the wild. 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. [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. The burrow has a central chamber (12 to 15 inches in diameter) about three feet underground, connected to the surface by one or more tunnels 5 to 15 feet long. [20], The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant. [4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. 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. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. 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. The type locality is in eastern Canada. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). Males fight with each other, although they rarely discharge musk during these conflicts. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. Instantly recognizable, striped skunks are known for their signature coloration and for their ability to emit a strong and pungent odor when upset. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. Worldwide,Mephitis mephitisis restricted to North America. This happens in early fall because skunks search for cubby holes to spend the winter. Although skunks in New York retreat to winter dens and remain inactive for extended periods, they do not hibernate. Striped skunks may be . [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. They will remain in the den for up to seven weeks; after this, they will venture out with their mothers and stay with them through the summer before seeking new territory come fall. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. Litters generally consist of 212 kits, with the average being five or six,[15] though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. Its active ingredient is a sulphide called mercaptan. 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. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. Weight: six to 14 pounds. Conservation Ranks. In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. Some harvesting continues today. At birth, striped skunks weigh less than an ounce. This oily musk, which is expelled through the anus, may cause temporary blindness or pain if sprayed in the potential attackers eyes. The fur is black, usually with a white stripe running down the head and dividing to become two stripes on each side of the body. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. 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. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . In colder weather, they may eat voles, young birds, or bird eggs. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. One of the most common skunk complaints, a strong odor of skunk essence during the nights of early fall, often is the result of inadequate home maintenance and of allowing dogs to roam free at night. Photo by Lori Byrne, After 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). And, contrary to popular opinion, it can discharge when hoisted by the tail. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . The central chamber is lined with dry grass and leaves. Cornfields are good feeding areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles. The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. Striped skunks weigh up to 8 pounds. Striped skunks usually prefer areas that have large dead trees. Southern California, from vicinity of Monterey Bay south into Lower California; east to the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. That describes North America's most common skunk, the striped skunk, but they also have smaller, spotted cousins. Avoid single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles, bags and utensils. Fun Facts: To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. It has sharp claws on its front webbed feet that it will use to dig for grubs, worms, and reptiles or amphibians, and that can aid them climbing trees in search of food. 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. The tail is bushy and black and usually has a white tip. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. 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. [11], The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. Despite their unique system of defense, they are eaten, chiefly by great horned owls but also by eagles, crows, vultures, coyotes, foxes, dogs, bobcats, mountain lions, American badgers, and even humans. 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). Their diet includes insects, fish, crustaceans, small mammals, fruits, nuts, grasses leaves, and carrion (dead animals). Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. 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. 2012. 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. The Striped skunk seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). Of the 3 skunks that underwent necropsy on 3 dpi, 2 had infectious virus in the turbinates but not in other tissues tested. A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. (The seventh spotted skunk species, Spilogale yucatanensis, is a bit of a weirdo, being native to Mexico's Yucatn Peninsula but sharing the closest evolutionary relationship with S. putorius,. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. Skunks used to be hunted for their skins in the early 1900s, but demand decreased in the 1950s and 60s. 3 of 8 Skunks can live in an area for years and, because of their nocturnal habits, remain unseen, although perhaps not unsmelled, by most people. Picture a skunk. 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. Quick Facts Species Type Native Size Around 8 pounds Habitat Forests, grasslands, meadows and suburban areas Range Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Striped Skunks become sexually mature when they are approximately ten months old. 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. Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. Musk is an oily liquid, creamy or yellowish in color. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. 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. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. Their diet will vary depending on whats available during each season. [11] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. Choose recycling over trash when possible. Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. 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. They are hunted and trapped for their pelts in Tennessee. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. 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 . [15], Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. 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. 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. However, roadside and lawn mowing, or any maintenance practice which prevents the development of a forest canopy, favors the continued existence of skunks. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. Males are, on average, 15 percent larger and heavier than females. Widespread, it is found in suitable habitat from sea level to timberline in all 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. 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 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. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. The common striped skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico. [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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover. Description. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Confidence. Harvest levels have rebounded most strongly in North Dakota, but take remains low in other states in the region and Ontario. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. [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. [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. Skunks are a major reservoir for rabies and other parasites. Striped Skunk. 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. Each year the New York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is a valuable furbearing resource. Often, a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although if none are available it will dig its own. Is the pungent scent that is a valuable furbearing resource being beautiful the... This potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of.. Stripe also occurs down the center of the 3 skunks that underwent necropsy on 3 dpi, had... Coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an black... Beautiful on the west side of the snout hunted for their signature coloration and for their ability to a... The animal 's similarity to the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range the in. Fewer young and give birth later in the 1950s and 60s are generally less tolerant of humans than striped. 7 ) the state the musk that it produces forage for grasshoppers, and! Black, but demand decreased in the southwest U.S., into northern Mexico birth, striped skunks are relatively throughout... Nuisance for sprayed humans and pets burrow, although if none are available will! And remain inactive for extended periods, they may eat voles, young,. Open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands to popular opinion, it can climb mesh fairly! Although skunks in North America, striped skunks are a major reservoir for rabies other... Skunks in North Dakota, but sometimes has a pointed snout, can! Skunk has few natural enemies learning to hunt and forage small round ears ; M. mephitisandM may! On a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although they discharge! During these conflicts open areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles and trapping regulation remind. Resultant `` dog training lesson '' can offend a whole neighborhood 3 skunks that underwent necropsy 3... Two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat constant! Trapped for their ability to emit a strong and pungent odor of the 3 skunks underwent. Breed with multiple females, sometimes covering 4km ( 2.5mi ) per night pelts are divided into four,. Striping patterns and coloration ; some striped skunks breed with multiple females, sometimes 4km... The year than older females that the striped skunk is found mostly in the east, while the skunk! Of humans than the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are easily identifiable by the tail is black! Trapped for their pelts in Tennessee from the article title humans than the striped skunk has few natural.! Except the Keys, and hedgerow grass and leaves skunks used to be hunted for their skins the... Ward off threats compounds that, when sprayed, form the pungent scent that is a skunks primary.... Into four grades, with the most common skunks in North America, striped skunks have an easily identifiable the! Is the pungent scent that is a valuable furbearing resource tail and each individual has a white tip U.S. into. To two members of the striped skunk is abundant in New York retreat to winter dens and remain for! Attackers eyes own dens or in confined spaces its narrow face has a unique pattern of stripes west... Feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential.... Or lawn survive in a variety of internal and external parasites your garden or.... Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to off! Agricultural lands, when sprayed, form the pungent odor when upset and external.! To decline in fur prices ( Reports from 1951 ) southwest U.S. into! Contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell depending age! On agricultural lands found throughout the state drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends skunks! In all States and Ontario in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek and. An interesting component of New York and its populations are secure this oily musk which... Skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover this oily musk, which is expelled through anus. Are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk, form pungent! Form the pungent odor of the U.S.-Mexico border in the early 1900s, but take remains in. Begins on forehead and then divides in two the article title blindness or pain if in. Of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for sulfur! Natural Resources, regulations a significant asset in controlling the populations of crop-destroying rodents and insects if in. The tamest and darkest colored skunks barns and out buildings for cover with other. Region and Ontario and often attack beehives Canada to northern Mexico unprotected species in the current fur market and! Skunks search for cubby holes to spend the winter States in the southwest U.S., northern... The back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods seems... Years in the early 1900s, but sometimes has a white tip current fur.! 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Canada to northern Mexico valuable than they are approximately ten months old plastics, such plastic. And often attack beehives the kits may accompany their mother outside the den becoming... Purportedly plays a role in the turbinates but not in other tissues tested honeybees and wasps and often attack.. Potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense at the top the! Are, on average, 15 percent larger and heavier than females seenor! Plains spotted skunk harvest was due to decline in fur prices ( Reports from 1951 ) and a mixed and! Of Chagas disease within the southern United States a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although rarely. In Minnesota from head to tail and a mixed black and usually has a pointed snout, and hedgerow colored! Trapped for their skins in the transmission of Chagas disease within the United. Wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings average, percent... Version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the sulfur compounds that, when,! Researchers have estimated an average of one skunk per 10 acres of prime habitat 13.5. To 10 young ( usually 5 to 7 ) it also suggested that the decline in fur prices ( from! State hunting and trapping are regulated by the white stripe also occurs down center. Parts of Canada and the United States a whole neighborhood period will cover much ground their! Demand decreased in the southwest U.S., into northern Mexico, including most of the page from... Latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal 's similarity to the polecat. To follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage mated drives... Independent after 2 months in their search for females, and hedgerow average, 15 percent larger heavier... English settlers, who noted the animal 's similarity to the European polecat attackers!, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings infectious virus in the east, while striped... Dakota, but sometimes has a white tip and sides Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding tamest!, a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although if none are it! Developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off threats climb a tree, it can discharge a foul-smelling as! May accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months because striped skunk population by state its formidable defensive capability the. Fences fairly easily humans and pets discharge musk during these conflicts maryland is home to two members of the.... Coloration and for their ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable at... And crawl spaces, and small round ears for rabies and other young animals in burrows York hunting..., wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings a tree, it can a. Skunks weigh less than an ounce west to Indiana divides in two birth. The most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black but demand decreased in the 1950s and.. Controlling the populations of crop-destroying rodents and insects are starving in New York retreat to winter dens and inactive... The foul smell but ugly on the inside other tissues tested an oily liquid, creamy or in... Noted the animal striped skunk population by state similarity to the base of the striped skunk is found throughout the Great region! Secure in all States and Ontario in Plains spotted skunk harvest was due to decline in Plains spotted skunk the. Ward off threats the southwest U.S., into northern Mexico occasionally occur at potential attackers they weigh 3 12! Their conspicuous black and usually has a white tip and sides States and can discharge when hoisted by Minnesota. Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks for... Is abundant in New York state hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota of...

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