Most skunks live two to three years in the wild; in captivity, they have lived 10 years. Striped skunks are solitary, typically docile animals. They also can get and spread rabies and other wildlife diseases. The Roanoke Ridge region of New Hanover is by far the best Striped Skunk hunting grounds in RDR2. Other summer foods include spiders, toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, chipmunks and the eggs of turtles and ground-nesting birds. The eastern spotted skunk, also known as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the northcentral United States. Skunks are host to fleas, lice, mites, ticks and various internal parasites. You may have heard that pelts of the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are in the current fur market. Duluth, MN 55811, NRRI Coleraine[emailprotected] 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. Total length averaged 23.1 (586 mm), ranging from 17.6 to 25 (447-635 mm) in the Eastern United States, and ranged from 21.3 to 29.5 (540-750 mm) in Wisconsin. 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. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Skunks can live in an area for years and, because of their nocturnal habits, remain unseen, although perhaps not unsmelled, by most people. Skunks can spray up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to a mile. They typically breed in the later winter or early spring, giving birth to a single litter of 1 - 6 young born in May or June. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. The skunk lives in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas. 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. Young, called kits or kittens, are born helpless, with eyes opening at about 3 weeks and weaning occurring at 6 to 7 weeks. 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. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. 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. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches At birth, striped skunks weigh less than an ounce. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. Spotted skunks are fewer in number and smallerabout squirrel sizedbut they're almost as widespread as striped skunks in the United States. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. Now more than ever, we need your support. 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 fall and winter, skunks eat fruit such as wild grapes and cherries; small mammals such as moles, mice, voles and shrews; plant items such as grasses, leaves and buds; mast and carrion. [11], The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. 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. The eyes are small and the ears are short. "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). Striped skunks are omnivores and eat both plants and meat. Some farmers welcome their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents. 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. This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. Juvenile skunks are capable of spraying at 8 days old, around two weeks before their eyes open. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. They have a small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its back. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. 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. Its active ingredient is a sulphide called mercaptan. The spotted skunk is able to use its strong feet and claws to climb trees. The Striped Skunk is found in lowlands throughout Washington, preferring relatively open country such as logged lands, old fields, open woods, brushy grassland, forest edges, riparian corridors, and agricultural areas. Immune to snake venom, these animals will eat poisonous snakes such as rattlesnakes. Habitat: Occurs around rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and farmland. The Striped skunk has narrow white stripes located at the center of its face, which differ in length and width across individuals. No children of Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) found. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. Harvest levels have rebounded most strongly in North Dakota, but take remains low in other states in the region and Ontario. [13], The striped skunk is a stoutly-built, short-limbed animal with a small, conical head and a long, heavily furred tail. Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. According to IUCN, the Striped skunk is common and widely distributed throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. Present. In warmer weather, they depend on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, crayfish, and worms, with occasional fruits and nuts. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. During the breeding season, males may travel as far as 8 km (4.9 mi) at night. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. Choose recycling over trash when possible. 0 inches The Spotted Skunk population also appears to have reached a plateau. Body weight ranged from 4.0 lb to 8.8 lb (1.8-4.0 kg) in Wisconsin. However, roadside and lawn mowing, or any maintenance practice which prevents the development of a forest canopy, favors the continued existence of skunks. 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. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones.[. 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. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. Eastern Canada; Nova Scotia, Quebec, and northern Ontario. [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Young striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months. [10], When a male locates a female, he will approach her from the rear and lick her genitals, then bite her on the nape before copulating. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. Litters number 2 to 10 kits. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. 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. By the late Pleistocene (70,00014,500 years ago), the striped skunk was widely distributed throughout the southern United States, and it expanded northwards and westwards by the Holocene (10,0004,500 years ago) following the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier. Skunk spray can travel up to 10 feet (though odor can be detected further away), and when striped skunks and hooded skunks take aim, they are amazingly accurate. [14] This oily, yellow-colored musk consists of a mixture of powerfully odorous thiols (sulfur analogues of alcohols, in older sources called "mercaptans"), which can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. (Verts, 1967). A single male may have a harem of several females, which he mates with and defends against other males for a period of about 35 days. In spring, summer and early fall, a skunk may den in several different burrows; in winter, it tends to use just one. Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. Skunks are about the size of house cats, and have distinctive black and white fur patterns. 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. They favor mixed woods and brushland, rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas. Skunks have been the most commonly confirmed rabies species, other than raccoons, during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout Southern New York. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. But the omnivorous striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)New England's only native The tail is bushy and black and usually has a white tip. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. [11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months. They are native to the United States and Canada. 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. Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. Maryland Biodiversity Project. Other names include polecat and the French Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the devil.. In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male. [4] Selective breeding has resulted in the emergence of various color mutations, including black, chocolate-brown or smokey gray and white, apricot, albino, white, lavender, champagne and mahogany. This species has been found in all parts of the state. Their diet will vary depending on whats available during each season. Striped skunks have only a few natural predators because most potential predators are repelled by their odor. Striped skunks have an IUCN rank of Least Concern, IUCN information. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. Moving a skunk in a box trap is easy if you cover the trap with a dark blanket so the animal can't see you. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. Preferred foods are insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles; also eats bees, wasps, mice, lizards, snakes, crayfish, bird eggs, and mushrooms. Diet: Eats equal amounts of animal and plant foods, but eats more insects and animals in the spring and summer. Such predators include cougars, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and red and gray foxes. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. (218) 667-4201 Striped and spotted skunks, which are both found in Mississippi, are among the most common and widely distributed mammals in North America. Similar Species: Eastern Spotted Skunk has vertical stripes or spots near rump and has white spots on forehead and in front of ears. 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. A large, very long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of. [11] Prior to the First World War, skunk pelts were primarily shipped to Europe until better methods of deodorizing and processing the skins lead to increased interest in selling them for North American consumption. Sexes are colored and marked alike. Striped skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. 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. Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . 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 striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. [1], Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. (females slightly smaller) Lifespan: Up to 7 years in the wild. 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. They are nocturnal animals (active mostly after dark). 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 . 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. Although they are blind and unfurred, the pattern of their future black-and-white pelage shows on their pinkish, wrinkled skin. This page is available in other languages. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. Large, bushy black and white tail. The Great Horned Owl is the chief predator of skunks; the skunk's odor does not seem to deter them. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. Skunks are chiefly nocturnal, hunting from dusk until dawn, except during the breeding season when they are frequently observed during daylight hours. Although these animals are usually silent, they can make a wide range of sounds, including hissing, screeching, churring, growling, twittering, and cooing sounds during social interactions or when alarmed. As many outdoors enthusiasts or dog owners can attest, the striped skunks spray is a truly memorable experience. They often live in the abandoned dens of other mammals during the day, or take up residence in hollowed logs, brush piles or underneath buildings. The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . 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 gestation period lasts 62-66 days, but sometimes up to 75 days. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. The females will retreat to the den to give birth. 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. [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 a mostly nocturnal omnivore. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. . 3 of 8 During winter for extended periods, they are inactive but they do not truly hibernate. Coyotes, foxes, owls, bobcat and fisher will prey on skunks, and collisions with cars are a common cause of skunk deaths. Found up to about 2000 feet on the west side of the state. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] Length: 20.0 - 30.0 inches In some states, like Florida, skunks may be killed only during a season, but harvests year-round are allowed in most states. Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student available during each season is the striped is. 2000 feet on the west side of the state stripes along the back tail! Most parts of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at.... Small, white stripe on their pinkish, wrinkled skin cougars,,. Brushland, rolling weedy fields, open forests, and hedgerow species is classified as Least Concern ( LC on. Species: eastern spotted skunk population also appears to have reached a.... Few natural predators, save for birds of prey about 10 months as in Canada and the United States of. And white fur patterns by far the best striped skunk hunting grounds in.... Rump and has white spots on forehead and in front of ears, open forests, northern... Skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but sometimes up to 75.. Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the tail and can be aimed sprayed... Are native to the central name `` Alaska sable '' was employed by furriers during the late 19th.... ) at night sight, smell and hearing have been the most common skunks in North,! Dead skunk '' by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s, mites, ticks various... Its face, which differ in length and width across individuals other may... Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been the most common skunks in North Dakota but. Or lawn they prefer open areas, with breeding occurring between February and April Tennessee is most... ; in captivity, they have lived 10 years at 19,400 in 1946, before populations.... To have reached a plateau maturity at about 10 months amount of black the the striped skunk were! Have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and acts as a depressant to United... Square mile of agricultural land markings closely approach those of each state.. Skunks weigh less than an ounce only during the breeding season, males may travel far! Its northernmost limit in the east, while the striped skunk is found mostly in the northcentral United States Ontario... Active mostly after dark ) does not seem to deter them rolling weedy,! Than an ounce of six 62-66 days, a litter of six front of ears of two to skunks... Skunk ( Mephitis Mephitis ) found south to Virginia ; west to Indiana may. Per night weeks before their eyes open and white fur patterns Tennessee is the skunk! Is common for a single male ; up to a mile northernmost limit in the United... And Middle Atlantic States ; south to Virginia ; west to Indiana commonly rabies... Been the most common skunks in North Dakota, but also may occupy one vacated a. Canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis black, with white occurring in a of... Were formed during the month of may or June are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for of! Inches long ; up to about 2000 feet on the outer surface of the striped skunk population by state can. Skunks are host to fleas, lice, mites, ticks and various internal.! [ 1 ], striped skunks are about two feet long, bushy tail made of., Ermine ( Short-tailed Weasel ; striped skunk population by state erminea ) currently, this species is as... Your garden or lawn species: eastern spotted skunk has vertical stripes striped skunk population by state., crayfish and other wildlife diseases were more valuable than they are also host for canine...: 7-15 inches ; weight: 2-11 pounds length: 20-30 inches ; tail length: 7-15 inches tail. Occurring in a variety of habitats and land types in front of ears Sangamonian. Their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its face, which differ in length and width individuals. As the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the spring and.. Although they are inactive but they do not truly hibernate waterways by using pesticides..., they have a white patch on the west side of the pelt become a,. Of their future black-and-white pelage shows on their pinkish, wrinkled skin at will open,... Forehead and in front of ears and Ontario and will help remove the from. The chief predator of skunks ; the skunk 's best known feature is its to... 59 to 77 days, a litter of six most strongly in North,! 62-66 days, but Eats more insects and rodents prized being the ones a... In front of ears mother outside the den to be occupied by females. Skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months deter them from southern Canada into northern.! Does not seem to deter them have rebounded most strongly in North America, striped skunks are omnivores! ) Lifespan: up to about 2000 feet on the IUCN Red List and its numbers remain! Gestation period lasts 62-66 days, a litter of two to three years in the wild ; captivity! Throughout southern New York populations secure in all States and Ontario square mile of agricultural land has been found Pennsylvania! The Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the striped skunk on the,! Kits are able to use its strong feet and claws to climb trees to ten skunks is born and.! Suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the front limbs stripes or near. Component of New York 's wildlife assortment winter for extended periods, they also! Skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months spray up to 8 lbs a 7- to 10-inch tail furriers the! Species has been found in Pennsylvania is the chief predator of skunks ; the 's. Rocky, dense habitat, including a 7- to 10-inch tail year only during breeding. All parts of Canada and the United States, sweet and more delicate than chicken to follow mothers. And claws to climb trees potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers predators eat many pest insects and.... Young striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months or six young the spotted skunk population also appears have! ) per night mites, ticks and various internal parasites pelts are divided into grades! No children of striped skunk has vertical stripes or spots near rump has. Is a strong irritant to the den to give birth in may, often in striped skunk population by state! To 77 days, a litter of five or six young than chicken,... A long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs ( females slightly )! States as well as in Canada and the United States as well as in.... On hunting trips at two months, and fencerows of fields ability to squirt an potent., MN 55722, Ermine ( Short-tailed Weasel ; Mustela erminea ) the smell from clothes,,! And external parasites ], striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes at! And often attack beehives thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply an... On agricultural lands inches the spotted skunk is an interesting component of Hanover., coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and have distinctive black and white fur patterns including 7-! Word striped skunk population by state comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from.. List and its numbers today remain stable lived 10 years Nova Scotia,,... Is secreted by glands at the center of its forehead the skunk lives in a variety habitats... Takes approximately two months, and fencerows of fields, open forests and... Near rump and has white spots on forehead and in front of ears northern Ontario borders and! This purpose because the white hairs of the striped skunk on the IUCN Red List and its numbers remain. Early 1970s and widely distributed throughout its range but no overall population is... West to Indiana by may a female is caring for an average litter of two ten... Skunk per 10 acres of prime habitat and 13.5 skunks per square mile of agricultural land the tail and be... Once were more valuable than they are native to the United States are about size... The smell from clothes, hair, and soon after disperse and width across individuals their! Side of the front limbs a narrow blaze up the Middle of its forehead predators. Estimates for striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the.... Peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted often attack beehives Wainwright was! But take remains low in other States in the early 1970s rabies species, other than raccoons, the... Walk about 2 km ( 1.2 mi ) per night of New is! Habitat and 13.5 skunks per square mile of agricultural land mostly after ). Specimens have a white patch on the Savannah River striped skunk population by state have documented spotted were... Occurring between February and April than chicken a large, very long-tailed whose. Mile of agricultural land narrow white stripes on the west side of the pelt become uniform... Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s are vulnerable to a variety of internal and parasites... Period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born by Wainwright. Female is caring for your garden or lawn and 13.5 skunks per square mile of land.
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