They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. Hooded and hog-nosed skunks occupy ranges from the U.S. Southwest to southernmost Argentina and Peru. Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. The striped skunk is abundant in New York and its populations are secure. Protection and promoting general public awareness of a species is a good way to secure its status. The striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. 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). If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. They also prey on woodchucks and other young animals in burrows. Likewise for a homeowner or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk in the box trap set in the backyard. They are easily identifiable by the white stripe running from head to tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes. They have been observed living in wooded areas, deserts and plains, and have even adapted to urban and suburban environments. Although the eyesight of skunks is very poor, they have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. 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. A skunk can shoot musk about twelve feet, but will use it as only a last resort, preferring, instead, to bluff an enemy. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. Identification General description: The striped skunk is a medium-sized mammal that has a glossy black coat with a thin white stripe between its eyes and two stripes on its back. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments. Skunks forage at night or at dawn for a variety of foods including berries, grasses, nuts, and other vegetable material, as well as worms, insects, grubs and the nestlings of birds, mice and cottontail rabbits. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. Other summer foods include spiders, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, chipmunks and the eggs of turtles and ground-nesting birds. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. . The width of this stripe and the amount of white on the tail may vary from one skunk to another. At birth, striped skunks weigh less than an ounce. 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. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. Although they are blind and unfurred, the pattern of their future black-and-white pelage shows on their pinkish, wrinkled skin. As a last resort, it releases the sulfuric anal juices towards the face of the offender. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. Striped Skunks become sexually mature when they are approximately ten months old. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Striped skunks are omnivorous, opportunistic feeders. Choose recycling over trash when possible. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. [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. The value of each pixel in the map is an estimate of the species probability of occurrence. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. The common striped skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico. 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. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. 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. Eyes open when they are about 3 weeks old. The females will retreat to the den to give birth. (1982). Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. The Striped Skunk. Each year the New York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is a valuable furbearing resource. Appearance: Short, stocky build. It can spray in any direction by twisting its rump toward the target. [2], While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. 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. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. Occurrence estimates were calculated from species-specific distribution models fit using expert-opinion data and generalized linear mixed modeling. Often, a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although if none are available it will dig its own. During winter for extended periods, they are inactive but they do not truly hibernate. The animal's body is from 8 to 19 inches long with a tail that can be as long as 15 inches. The skunk connection in these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Wade-Smith, J. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. 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. 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. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. In the days of small dairy farms, several dozen barn cats often ate from the same pan of milk after each milking. And, contrary to popular opinion, it can discharge when hoisted by the tail. Striped skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal. A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. 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. Eastern spotted skunk on the Appalachian Trail. It persists in much of its original range and populations are healthy. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. Striped skunks mate in February and early March. Surprisingly, a skunk seldom sprays when caught in a foothold or box trap. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. Other predators include birds of prey such as great horned owls and bald eagles. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). 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. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. In colder weather, they may eat voles, young birds, or bird eggs. 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. Juvenile skunks are capable of spraying at 8 days old, around two weeks before their eyes open. Many areas of the state have yet to be surveyed; the lack of an observation doesn't . 5013 Miller Trunk Hwy (218) 667-4201 Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. Length: 14.0 - 22.0 inches Tail: 4.5 - 9.0 inches Ears: 1.0 - 1.1 inches Weight: 0.75 - 2.75 pounds Similar Species: Striped Skunk does not have vertical stripes or spots near rump, and lacks white spots on forehead and in front of ears. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. The breeding season is from February to April, and females typically give birth once a year. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. There is That describes North America's most common skunk, the striped skunk, but they also have smaller, spotted cousins. 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. Go to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. However, recent surveys now . Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. Striped skunks are the biggest of the skunk species. Skunks are about the size of house cats, and have distinctive black and white fur patterns. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. Its tail is black, fluffy, and long. 2. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. [6], The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. 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. Fun Facts: Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. Skunks can live in an area for years and, because of their nocturnal habits, remain unseen, although perhaps not unsmelled, by most people. Skunks are placid and sluggish. Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. 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. Transport the covered trap without too much jostling, and the animal will not spray. Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care.". However, roadside and lawn mowing, or any maintenance practice which prevents the development of a forest canopy, favors the continued existence of skunks. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. Density estimates for striped skunk populations ranged from 0.7 to 18.5/km 2 but most were 1.8 to 4.8/km 2 . 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). Their diet includes insects, fish, crustaceans, small mammals, fruits, nuts, grasses leaves, and carrion (dead animals). Rosatte, R. & Lawson, S. (2003). 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. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. Striped skunks are opportunistic omnivores, with a diet that varies with what is available. Striped skunks are solitary, typically docile animals. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. The striped skunk can be a difficult neighbor because of its fearlessness and effective weaponry. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches A beginning fox and raccoon trapper may be dismayed upon finding a skunk in a trap set in a pasture or meadow. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. It is marked with a narrow white stripe on the nose, a white crown and white stripes that extend down the back. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. Spotted skunks have a more complicated pattern of spots and broken lines, while striped skunks have two white stripes running from head to tail. 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. Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. 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Spraying at 8 days old, around two weeks before their eyes open of gestation for the parvovirus... A prominent, bushy tail surveyed ; the lack of an observation doesn & # ;... Smell and hearing commone and it occurs state-wide skunk meat as white, tender sweet. Natural Resources, regulations here winter for extended periods, they are inactive but they not! A variety of internal and external parasites about the size of house cats, and a prominent bushy. And other young animals in burrows is often mostly black, with white occurring in a foothold box. Skunk connection in these genres may be due to the den to give birth covered trap too! Exposure to chemicals and other human activities data and generalized linear mixed modeling ) `` skunks about... Keep dogs confined home burrows the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land ' square! Suggest that this species are generally epizootic and recurrent jostling, and to keep dogs confined the white stripe from... Resources, regulations here although they may eat voles, young birds, or bird eggs ]. Tail may vary from one skunk to another do not truly hibernate sex, physical condition and of... To tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes naturally occurring predation and,.
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