For day retreats (resting cover), they use hayfields, pastures, fencerows and brushy borders of waterways. Striped skunks can experience delayed implantation lasting up to 19 days. Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. 2012. 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. Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. Keystone State. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. They are nocturnal animals (active mostly after dark). During the breeding season, males may travel as far as 8 km (4.9 mi) at night. 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. Within a few weeks, I have the skunk skull on my desk, a stack of articles on skunks, and a copy of The Biology of the Striped Skunk, by B. J. Vertsthe definitive textbook on the animal . Occurrence estimates were calculated from species-specific distribution models fit using expert-opinion data and generalized linear mixed modeling. A strong market for fur-trimmed cloth coats developed in the late 1930s as our country recovered from the Great Depression. Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis. 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. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. The Striped skunk has narrow white stripes located at the center of its face, which differ in length and width across individuals. During the day, they nest in the abandoned dens that other animals have lived in, or in brush piles or hollowed logs, or underneath buildings. Similar Species: Eastern Spotted Skunk has vertical stripes or spots near rump and has white spots on forehead and in front of ears. Striped skunks are omnivorous. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. The striped skunk occurs throughout most lowland areas in Washington, preferring open fields, pastures, and croplands near brushy fencerows, rock outcroppings, and brushy draws. [10], The striped skunk may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. 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 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 ). 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. Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. Males fight with each other, although they rarely discharge musk during these conflicts. The striped skunk is a cat-sized mammal with a prominent long-haired tail. 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. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. . Although a market still exists, it is not as vigorous as it once was. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] Most striped skunks do not survive their first year, succumbing to the weather or disease. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. Sexes are colored and marked alike. Since 1996, spotted skunks have been classified as threatened in Minnesota, and any sightings should be reported to Minnesota DNR. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. [22], The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. [20], The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. Spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and even carrion. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. [11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. 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. 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. This striped skunk caught a vole. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. They eat pests including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles. 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. When available, natural cavities are preferred over dug dens; dens are usually on slopes with good drainage. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. Striped skunks at the Smithsonian's National Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects. 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. At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. The blind newborns are furless, but have the black and white color pattern on their skin. May stretch the length of the back. 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. Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. 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. Mostly nocturnal and does not hibernate. It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. 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 . Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . 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. 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. Many a farmer arrived to pour the dregs of the milk strainer into the cat dish and found that one of the cats had a broad tail and a characteristic white "V" across its back. The gestation period lasts 62-66 days, but sometimes up to 75 days. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). Skunks often leave holes in the ground where they forage for insects or tear apart ground nests of small animals. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. [11], The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. Corn and nightshade fruits round out the diet of striped skunks, although vegetation such as this comprises only ten to 20 percent of their diet. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. Residential areas that have both lawns and large, mast producing shade trees often provide optimal habitat for skunks. [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 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. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. When they are 3 weeks old their eyes open; at 6 to 7 weeks weaning takes place. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 4256 days. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. A Striped Skunk in Queen Annes County, Maryland, 2020. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. 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. 5013 Miller Trunk Hwy A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. Skunks are host to fleas, lice, mites, ticks and various internal parasites. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. 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. 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. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. When threatened, it can spray its scent 10-15 feet; the smell can reach up to a mile away. Striped skunks usually prefer areas that have large dead trees. They have short legs and wide rear ends. Additionally, most states permit skunk harvesting year-round. They favor mixed woods and brushland, rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. and was listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state of California. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Weight: 3.5 - 10.0 pounds. After three weeks, their scent glands become functional; at four weeks, their eyes open; and at about two months the young are weaned and ready to leave the den for nighttime hunting forays. Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. Large, bushy black and white tail. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. Duluth, MN 55811, NRRI Coleraine[emailprotected] 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. Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Please enable scripts and reload this page. The bottoms of their feet are hairless, like those of bears or raccoons. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. Southern and western Texas, eastern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of Mexico; north into Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. Choose recycling over trash when possible. And now, this skunk group has a few more members. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover. The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . 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