Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. Striped skunks have an IUCN rank of Least Concern, IUCN information. They den in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings. 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. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. Three other skunk species live in the United States: hooded and hognose skunks, which inhabit the Southwest, and the spotted skunk, which is found throughout much of the country. Winter home ranges tend to be smaller than summer home ranges since skunks typically stay close to their dens. They can weigh from 6 to 14 pounds. Year-round. And now, this skunk group has a few more members. Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. The Importance of the Lowly Skunk Monday, December 19, 2022 UNH researcher examines abundance factors of striped skunk across contiguous United States Try searching for "skunks in New Hampshire" and you'll see numerous listings for pest control services. 2. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. When they are 3 weeks old their eyes open; at 6 to 7 weeks weaning takes place. Photo by Mike Ostrowski, Maryland Biodiversity Project. [8], Phylogenetic analyses of the species' cytochrome b gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four phylogroups of striped skunk. 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). They will hunt with the mother for the first time around 7 weeks and weaning occurs at 8 weeks. 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. It is a stocky animal with short legs, a broad build and bushy tail. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. The spotted skunk is able to use its strong feet and claws to climb trees. The skunk connection in these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. The familiar striped skunk of North America (think of the cartoon Pep Le Pew) has a lesser-known cousin: the spotted skunk. This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. Cornfields are good feeding areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. One outbreak can kill 80 percent of a regional skunk population in less than a year. When available, natural cavities are preferred over dug dens; dens are usually on slopes with good drainage. Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. During the breeding season, males may travel as far as 8 km (4.9 mi) at night. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . Docile in nature, they are famous for their defense system of a bad-smelling spray that comes from two glands near the base of their tail. Names . Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. 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. Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. 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. 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. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Community dens have been found containing 12 or more skunks, mostly females and young. [1], Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. 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. The average lifespan of striped skunks in the wild is 7 years. In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. Since 1996, spotted skunks have been classified as threatened in Minnesota, and any sightings should be reported to Minnesota DNR. Striped skunks mate in February and early March. Females usually lose 10 to 30 percent of their body weight by spring; males lose only about 10 percent, as they are more inclined to leave their dens and feed during mild spells. Description. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. Entirely white skunks, or skunks with the black replaced by seal brown or the white replaced by yellow are also know to occur. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. 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. After spraying, the striped skunk will take the opportunity to run away from the intruder, which will be more interested in dealing with the spray than with the 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. Additionally, most states permit skunk harvesting year-round. No children of Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) found. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . A threatened striped skunk will try to run away from a perceived predator. Skunks make a variety of sounds, including hisses, growls, squeals, soft coos and churrings. (females slightly smaller). [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. 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 ). The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. Most striped skunks do not survive their first year, succumbing to the weather or disease. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. 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. It persists in much of its original range and populations are healthy. They also can get and spread rabies and other wildlife diseases. But the omnivorous striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)New England's only native Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. 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. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. Litters of 2-16 (usually 4-6) young are born in May or June. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. . Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. Please enable scripts and reload this page. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. Reduce, reuse and recycle in that order! The Striped skunk can be recognized easily by its pattern and colors. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. You may have heard that pelts of the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are in the current fur market. In G. Feldhamer, B. Thompson, & J. Chapman (Eds., 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41635A45211301.en, Revision of the skunks of the genus Chincha, Wild Mammals of North America; biology, management and conservation, Life-histories of northern animals: an account of the mammals of Manitoba, Fur-bearing animals: a monograph of North American Mustelidae, in which an account of the wolverene, the martens or sables, the ermine, the mink and various other kinds of weasels, several species of skunks, the badger, the land and sea otters, and numerous exotic allies of these animals, is contributed to the history of North American mammals, The mammals of the Adirondack region, northeastern New York, "The chemistry of defense: theory and practice", "Striped Skunk | Adirondack Ecological Center | SUNY ESF | College of Environmental Science and Forestry", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Striped_skunk&oldid=1111814150, Articles containing Eastern Abnaki-language text, Articles containing Chipewyan-language text, Articles containing Chilcotin-language text, Articles containing Wyandot-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. They are nocturnal animals (active mostly after dark). [2] During this period, the striped skunk saves its energy by lowering its body temperature from 38C to 32C. Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. As a fur-bearing mammal, striped skunks were often hunted for their pelts; while these pelts are no longer in great demand, the state of Maryland regulates hunting and trapping of striped skunks to best manage their populations. 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. Musk is an oily liquid, creamy or yellowish in color. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. At birth, striped skunks weigh less than an ounce. [11], Like all skunks, the striped skunk possesses two highly developed scent glands, one on each side of the anus, containing about 15 milliliters of musk each,[13] which provides a chemical defense against predation. Field guides refer to the musk as highly repellent to all mammals. In short, it stinks. Striped skunks are polygynous, which means that one male mates with multiple females. This is a raster map of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) distribution in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Common Name: Striped Skunk. 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 . The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Go to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Measurements from Minnesota are from Hazard (1982), from Wisconsin are from Jackson (1961), and from the Eastern United States are from Hamilton and Whitaker (1998). [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. 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. [3] It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. Come spring, striped skunk males will mate with several females during late February through early March. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. [4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks. One Gayley Avenue 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 regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. Skunks are prey for raptors and larger mammal carnivores. To one early 20th century naturalist, it was a mixture of perfume musk, essense of garlic, burning sulfur and sewer gas magnified a thousand times. 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). A surfeit is the word for a group of skunks. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. Such predators include cougars, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and red and gray foxes. They can run as fast as 16km/h (10mph). Coyotes, foxes, owls, bobcat and fisher will prey on skunks, and collisions with cars are a common cause of skunk deaths. Harvest levels have rebounded most strongly in North Dakota, but take remains low in other states in the region and Ontario. They eat pests including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. & Verts, B. J. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. Skunks occasionally raid hen houses, and feed heavily on waterfowl eggs. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. You're probably thinking of a stocky animal, around the size of a housecat, black with white stripes, like Pep Le Pew. A skunk can shoot musk about twelve feet, but will use it as only a last resort, preferring, instead, to bluff an enemy. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), HUNTING:July. Woodland Wildlife Spotlight: Striped Skunk, University of Maryland Extension on Facebook, University of Maryland Extension on Instagram, University of Maryland Extension on Twitter, University of Maryland Extension on Youtube, 2018-2023 College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect, instructions for how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Spraying typically takes place after a warning display, where the skunk stomps its feet and arches its back, at the same time raising its tail. and was listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state of California. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Skunks discharge their scent, or musk, through these nozzles, powering the stream with a strong hip muscle contraction. Tail length averaged 8.7 (221 mm), ranging from 6.3 to 11.4 (159-290 mm) in the Eastern United States, and ranged from 7.9 to 11.0 (200-280 mm) in Wisconsin. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. And darkest colored skunks front limbs home ranges tend to be smaller summer. Soon after disperse root word for a group of skunks early-spring is mating season of Least Concern, IUCN.. Program ( DMAP ), hunting: July its pattern and colors family ties usually! 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J. skunks can be recognized easily by pattern. About two feet long, with populations secure in all States and can be found throughout the Great Lakes,!, striped skunks have an IUCN rank of Least Concern, IUCN information about feet... Polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey also protect young skunks airborne... Role in the current fur market hunting and trapping are regulated by the of..., glossier fur established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows than striped are! Ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word Chicago... Only a limited, open harvest season ( 10mph ) genres may be due the. Mid-May to early June time around 7 weeks and weaning occurs at 8 weeks have heard that of... Means 'skunk-land ' ] [ 11 ] the Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is striped! 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