Striped skunks have black fur with a wide, white stripe from the head all the way down the back on the body. The odor of this musk was likened by Ernest Thompson Seton to a mixture of perfume musk, essence of garlic, burning sulfur and sewer gas "magnified a thousand times",[11] though Clinton Hart Merriam claimed that it isn't "one tenth" as offensive as that produced by minks and weasels. Wade-Smith, J. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. Avoid single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles, bags and utensils. This species has been found in all parts of 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 . They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. 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 . [11] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. (females slightly smaller) Lifespan: Up to 7 years in the wild. 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. Description. In spring, summer and early fall, a skunk may den in several different burrows; in winter, it tends to use just one. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. Striped skunks at the Smithsonian's National Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects. Their practice of digging leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the ground, which can provide evidence of their presence in an area. The advantage that these birds have over their terrestrial counterparts is that, because they have no sense of smell, they are unaffected by the striped skunks last means of defense: its spray. 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. They can run as fast as 16km/h (10mph). . Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. 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. Photo by Lori Byrne, (females slightly smaller). Some harvesting continues today. [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Males fight with each other, although they rarely discharge musk during these conflicts. Their diet will vary depending on whats available during each season. More mature skunks will fall prey to foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and badgers. Skunks have been the most commonly confirmed rabies species, other than raccoons, during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout Southern New York. Weight: 3.5 - 10.0 pounds. The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. The Striped skunk is similar in size to a normal house cat with a stout body, short legs, small head and a bushy tail. Quick Facts Species Type Native Size Around 8 pounds Habitat Forests, grasslands, meadows and suburban areas Range Striped skunks are omnivorous. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Confidence. They may be active even during cold weather, especially during the breeding season. Each year the New York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is a valuable furbearing resource. The striped skunk is a black and white mammal about the size of a house cat. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), HUNTING:July. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0. 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. If threatened, a skunk drums its forefeet on the ground, snarls, arches its back and raises its tail. "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). Duluth, MN 55811, NRRI Coleraine[emailprotected] Additionally, most states permit skunk harvesting year-round. Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. The Striped skunk can be recognized easily by its pattern and colors. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves. 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. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. A muscle-encapsulated gland positioned under the tail produces a liquid that can be expelled. Striped Skunk. [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 population of both Striped and Spotted Skunks is very unstable and subject to violent fluctuations in any given area" (Reports from 1951:17). Size Total length: 14-24 inches; tail length: 4-11 inches; weight: -2 pounds (males are heavier than females). [10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks. Maryland Biodiversity Project. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. Population. 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. 3 of 8 Tail: 7.0 - 15. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. Their diet is primarily insectivorous during the spring and summer seasons when grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, bees and other arthropods are abundant, then switches to a carnivorous diet during colder months. Weight: Between 3 and 10 pounds. 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. The common striped skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico. Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. Appearance: Short, stocky build. In some states, like Florida, skunks may be killed only during a season, but harvests year-round are allowed in most states. It can spray in any direction by twisting its rump toward the target. (1982). Found up to about 2000 feet on the west side of the state. 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. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 4256 days. The females will retreat to the den to give birth. 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. Life Expectancy Approximately 2-4 years Preferred Habitat Skunks use a variety of habitat types, preferring woodlands, semi-open farmland, and old abandoned fields. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. 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. Eastern spotted skunk on the Appalachian Trail. [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. 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. This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. When threatened, it can spray its scent 10-15 feet; the smell can reach up to a mile away. Where To Find But the omnivorous striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)New England's only native These polka-dotted relatives are smaller, about the size of a fat squirrel, and do impressive handstands to warn predators before they launch their stinky spray. Alternatively, while the striped skunk is not likely to try to climb a tree, it can climb mesh fences fairly easily. 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. Other summer foods include spiders, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, chipmunks and the eggs of turtles and ground-nesting birds. In the days of small dairy farms, several dozen barn cats often ate from the same pan of milk after each milking. It typically has a broad patch on the back of its head, and a V-shaped mark over its shoulders, which forms stripes that continue along the animals back and often unite at the base of its tail. 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