They travel widely in search of mates and breed with several females if possible. Presence. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. Gestation is for around 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be as long as 19 days. [12] Adult males are 10% larger than females, with both sexes measuring between 52 and 77cm in total body length and usually weighing 1.84.5kg (4.09.9lb), though some may weigh 5.5kg (12lb). 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). 3 of 8 Cornfields are good feeding areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles. [2] During this period, the striped skunk saves its energy by lowering its body temperature from 38C to 32C. The spotted skunk is able to use its strong feet and claws to climb trees. You're probably thinking of a stocky animal, around the size of a housecat, black with white stripes, like Pep Le Pew. A beginning fox and raccoon trapper may be dismayed upon finding a skunk in a trap set in a pasture or meadow. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. One outbreak can kill 80 percent of a regional skunk population in less than a year. Due to their diet, Striped skunks may affect insect populations in their range. Rosatte, R. & Lawson, S. (2003). 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. They have a small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its back. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . Its active ingredient is a sulphide called mercaptan. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. The population of both Striped and Spotted Skunks is very unstable and subject to violent fluctuations in any given area" (Reports from 1951:17). Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. 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. Predatory birds, including golden and bald eagles, and great horned owls tend to have greater success in hunting skunks, though they still risk being blinded by their prey's musk. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. Reduce, reuse and recycle in that order! Now more than ever, we need your support. Striped skunks have an IUCN rank of Least Concern, IUCN information. In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male. 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. Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains. Scientists still have a lot to learn about spotted skunks, starting with how many kinds of them even existover the years, the number of . Weight: six to 14 pounds. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. [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. Status in Tennessee: Striped Skunks may be abundant in certain areas, so there are no conservation concerns. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. If cornered, the striped skunk will turn and confront its opponent, arching its back and displaying its long and bushy tail to make itself appear larger, followed by stamping its feet. It is found all across the state. Southern California, from vicinity of Monterey Bay south into Lower California; east to the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range. [11], The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The Spotted Skunk population also appears to have reached a plateau. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . 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. (1982). Males fight with each other, although they rarely discharge musk during these conflicts. [1], Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. Avoid single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles, bags and utensils. Striped Skunk Commonly referred to as polecats, striped skunk are about the size of domestic house cats, measuring 21-28 inches in total length and weighing from 3-11 pounds. Male tail length ranged from 8.7 to 11.0 (220-280 mm) in Minnesota, and female tail length ranged from 7.9 to 10.4 (200-265 mm) in Minnesota. (218) 667-4201 Striped skunks make a living throughout North America, from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. [2], Striped skunks are known to use their sharp claws to tear apart rotting logs to find grubs, dig in the soil for insects, and pin down prey. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. The Latin name for skunk, Mephitis mephitis, means "double foul odor.". But the omnivorous striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)New England's only native Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. 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. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. Keystone State. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. 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. Coyotes, foxes, owls, bobcat and fisher will prey on skunks, and collisions with cars are a common cause of skunk deaths. 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. Captive breeding of skunks proved relatively simple when compared to mink and marten farming, as skunks are easier to tame and have less specialized dietary needs. After 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. This oily musk, which is expelled through the anus, may cause temporary blindness or pain if sprayed in the potential attackers eyes. Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. In Kansas, the striped skunk is recognized as a leading rabies vector, often accounting for 80 percent of more of the animals that test positive for the disease each year. Surprisingly, a skunk seldom sprays when caught in a foothold or box trap. Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. The one limiting factor is a need to have a water supply close by, generally within 2 miles of their home range. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. The Striped skunk seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. Year-round. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. The regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season. Photo by Smithsonian Wild. Their top speed is about 10 miles per hour. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. The gestation period lasts 62-66 days, but sometimes up to 75 days. Some farmers welcome their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents. 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. And, contrary to popular opinion, it can discharge when hoisted by the tail. . 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. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. Where To Find Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. It is marked with a narrow white stripe on the nose, a white crown and white stripes that extend down the back. 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. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. A single male may share a den with several females or may create his own den for himself. Mostly nocturnal and does not hibernate. Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. [18] In the winter and spring months, the striped skunk will supplement its diet with vertebrates such as white-footed mice, voles, eggs and the chicks of ground nesting birds. The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. Skunks can spray up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to a mile. A free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. Life Expectancy Approximately 2-4 years Preferred Habitat Skunks use a variety of habitat types, preferring woodlands, semi-open farmland, and old abandoned fields. 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). A Striped Skunk in Wicomico County, Maryland, 2011. Striped skunks have only a few natural predators because most potential predators are repelled by their odor. Spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and even carrion. [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. They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. 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