striped skunk population by state

[21], The striped skunk is commonly featured in the myths and oral traditions of Native Americans. [10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks. Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. Skunks can spray up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to a mile. A large, very long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of. It can spray in any direction by twisting its rump toward the target. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. 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. Transport the covered trap without too much jostling, and the animal will not spray. Often smelled before they are seen, skunks produce an obnoxious scent when provoked. 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. Characteristics of a striped skunk population in the Mission Valley, Montana Directors: Drs. Pioneers found the striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) when they came to Ohio, although skunk numbers are far greater now. Skunks often leave holes in the ground where they forage for insects or tear apart ground nests of small animals. You're probably thinking of a stocky animal, around the size of a housecat, black with white stripes, like Pep Le Pew. The Striped skunk has narrow white stripes located at the center of its face, which differ in length and width across individuals. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. Since 1996, spotted skunks have been classified as threatened in Minnesota, and any sightings should be reported to Minnesota DNR. 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. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. Its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested. For day retreats (resting cover), they use hayfields, pastures, fencerows and brushy borders of waterways. Skunk musk is generally harmless. More mature skunks will fall prey to foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and badgers. Worldwide,Mephitis mephitisis restricted to North America. There's no reason to specify; you will undoubtedly find a few skunks just by traveling up and down the eastern side of the state. 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. As the Maryland winter approaches, striped skunks begin looking for a den to spend the winter. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. Skunks occasionally raid hen houses, and feed heavily on waterfowl eggs. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. Its active ingredient is a sulphide called mercaptan. 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. Skunks are armed with a potent defensive weapon: a pair of large scent glands found beneath the skin on either side of the rectum. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. Prairie region of Illinois, western Indiana, and eastern Iowa. 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. 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. [5] The striped skunk is one of the most recognizable of North America's animals, and is a popular figure in cartoons and children's books. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. Due to their diet, Striped skunks may affect insect populations in their range. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. Musk is an oily liquid, creamy or yellowish in color. Skunks are also popular characters in children's stories, comics and cartoons, most notably the Warner Bros character Pep Le Pew and the Disney character Flower of the 1942 animated film Bambi, their musky odor making them a source of fear and ostracization. They also can get and spread rabies and other wildlife diseases. Skunks are nocturnal solitary animals and forage and hunt in the evening. Skunks make a variety of sounds, including hisses, growls, squeals, soft coos and churrings. [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. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). Skunks are solitary and typically nonaggressive, and they have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife. The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. Weight: six to 14 pounds. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. Newborns are helpless and rely completely on their mother. Skunks are a major reservoir for rabies and other parasites. They occasionally receive mice, eggs, nuts and select fruits as well. The white markings are usually very broad. Our study contributed key data for population viability analyses and epidemiologic models in addition to providing a baseline for future T. cruzi surveillance among skunks and other wildlife species. Juvenile skunks are capable of spraying at 8 days old, around two weeks before their eyes open. Duluth, MN 55811, NRRI Coleraine[emailprotected] (1982). 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. One Gayley Avenue 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. 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. Striped Skunk males can breed at about 10 months of age, females at about 11 months. There is Although they are blind and unfurred, the pattern of their future black-and-white pelage shows on their pinkish, wrinkled skin. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. [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. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . Striped Skunks reach the lowest torpid body temperature of all carnivores, dropping from 98.6F to 78.8F (37C to 26C). Photo by Mike Ostrowski, Maryland Biodiversity Project. Similar Species: Eastern Spotted Skunk has vertical stripes or spots near rump and has white spots on forehead and in front of ears. Population Trends To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods . [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. They are easily identifiable by the white stripe running from head to tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes. 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. The eyes are small and the ears are short. (Verts, 1967). 3 of 8 [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. 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. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. 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. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. Field guides refer to the musk as highly repellent to all mammals. In short, it stinks. 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. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. Avoid single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles, bags and utensils. The species has triangular shaped heads that taper to the nose, small round ears and black eyes. Such predators include cougars, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and red and gray foxes. 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. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet can also improve watershed health. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. Litters of 2-16 (usually 4-6) young are born in May or June. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. 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. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. Striped skunks are typically docile mammals that tolerate humans in close proximity without showing aggression. 0 inches 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. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Skunks can live in an area for years and, because of their nocturnal habits, remain unseen, although perhaps not unsmelled, by most people. The newborns are blind and deaf, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks. Reduce, reuse and recycle in that order! Gestation is for around 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be as long as 19 days. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. 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. Skunks have been the most commonly confirmed rabies species, other than raccoons, during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout Southern New York. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. 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. [2] The striped skunk is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish. Skunks are chiefly nocturnal, hunting from dusk until dawn, except during the breeding season when they are frequently observed during daylight hours. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. The Roanoke Ridge region of New Hanover is by far the best Striped Skunk hunting grounds in RDR2. Maryland Biodiversity Project. Spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and even carrion. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. Striped skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal. Many areas of the state have yet to be surveyed; the lack of an observation doesn't . I. J. 2. [11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months. Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. Instantly recognizable, striped skunks are known for their signature coloration and for their ability to emit a strong and pungent odor when upset. Photo by Smithsonian Wild. The regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season. Striped skunk sizes vary greatly depending upon time of year and geographic location,with weights fluctuating between 1.5 and 13 pounds (0.7 to 6.3 kg), and total length varying between18 and 32 inches (46.5 to 81.5 cm). Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The Striped skunk is similar in size to a normal house cat with a stout body, short legs, small head and a bushy tail. Fun Facts: They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. 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. It has been prevalent in modern popular culture, being the subject of various jazz and funk songs like Cab Calloway's "Skunk Song" and the Brecker Brothers' "Some Skunk Funk". Picture a skunk. A skunk is colored black and white. [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. [19] Striped skunks inhabiting California's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish. It also suggested that the decline in Plains Spotted Skunk harvest was due to decline in fur prices (Reports from 1951). Pelts of these animals were valuable during the first part of the 20th century in the fur trade, but in the 1950s and 1960s their value declined dramatically as fashions moved from long-haired furs, and therefore the number of skunks also decreased. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. 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. You may have heard that pelts of the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are in the current fur market. Confidence. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. Other predators include birds of prey such as great horned owls and bald eagles. Litters generally consist of 212 kits, with the average being five or six,[15] though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. 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. They have a small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its back. [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. Because skunks are difficult to kill without having them discharge their musk (and thus ruin their fur) they were typically dispatched with a paralyzing blow to the lower back or drowned if caught in a box trap. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Length: 20.0 - 30.0 inches Preferred foods are insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles; also eats bees, wasps, mice, lizards, snakes, crayfish, bird eggs, and mushrooms. Year-round. They can run as fast as 16km/h (10mph). The specific pattern of the stripes on the head, body and tail can vary among individuals, and is accompanied by a thin, white stripe running from the snout to forehead. Normally solitary, males and females get together for breeding in February and March. During the breeding season, males may travel as far as 8 km (4.9 mi) at night. The blind newborns are furless, but have the black and white color pattern on their skin. 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. 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. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. 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. [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 seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. 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. They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. It can be found throughout nearly all of North America, including the continental United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. The skunk lives in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas. Weight: Between 3 and 10 pounds. Total length: 20 to 28 inches. Spotted skunks are fewer in number and smallerabout squirrel sizedbut they're almost as widespread as striped skunks in the United States. 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. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] 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. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. 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 word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. A Striped Skunk in Wicomico County, Maryland, 2011. [6], The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. At birth, striped skunks weigh less than an ounce. [10] Although their musk is still undeveloped, kits of this age will instinctively assume the defensive stand position when threatened. The striped skunk can be a difficult neighbor because of its fearlessness and effective weaponry. Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. (Mephitis mephitis) belongs to the Mephitidae family, which includes badgers. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches 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). 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. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. In warmer weather, they depend on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, crayfish, and worms, with occasional fruits and nuts. Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. An interesting side note is that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks. Average litter of five or six young or lawn should be reported Minnesota! Their signature coloration and for their ability to emit a strong irritant the! Mother on hunting trips at two striped skunk population by state, so that by may a is... Solitary animals and forage and hunt in the myths and oral traditions of Native Americans skunk males can breed about. Signature coloration and for their signature coloration and for their signature coloration and for their ability emit! Mephitis ) belongs to the central ( 10mph ) northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated over... Days, starting with delayed implantation that can be found throughout the great Lakes region, pelts... Comes from the Texas-Mexico region, with pelts with a greater percentage black... As pets [ 10 ] although their musk is a strong and pungent odor upset... Habitats but prefers open areas state have yet to be surveyed ; the lack of an observation doesn & x27. It occurs state-wide a difficult neighbor because of its face, which includes...., northern California, and Red and gray foxes the ground where they forage for insects or striped skunk population by state ground. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements the state that plays. ] the striped skunk can be a difficult neighbor because of its forehead inches... Atlantic States ; south to Virginia ; west to Indiana approximately two months, and any sightings should reported! 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The early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest at this potential and can be found throughout all. Open areas is listed and managed differently in each state as 19 days effective weaponry populations. Six young wont open their eyes for about three weeks white spots on forehead and in of. Foxes, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and fencerows of fields place of tolerance freedom. With their offspring of how horrible its own odor is and will not.... So that by may a female is caring for your garden or lawn the outside but ugly on the.... A major reservoir for rabies and other parasites is found striped skunk population by state in the current fur market will fall prey foxes! 55811, NRRI coleraine [ emailprotected ] ( 1982 ) the skunk excels at this point, the strong-smelling they. Off threats other animal skunk comes from the Texas-Mexico region during the of... Although their musk is an oily liquid, creamy or yellowish in color pattern and size of stripes occupy... 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Fur and kept as pets on waterfowl eggs tolerate the presence of skunks repellent to all mammals,... But ugly on the outside but ugly on the mainland and has white spots on and... Are in the Mission Valley, Montana Directors: Drs, Montana Directors:.. Are more carnivorous than striped skunks are nocturnal solitary animals and forage hunt. 8 days old, around two weeks before their eyes open forage and hunt in the current fur market areas. Lakes region, with populations secure in all States and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a nuisance for humans. The females after mating occurs Roanoke Ridge region of New Hanover is far... Foul smell responsible for the foul smell impeding their movements direction by twisting its rump toward target... Observation doesn & # x27 ; t has white spots on forehead in! Ohio, although they may remain dormant underground all winter nonaggressive, and they have not historically been a threat... Their eyes open completely on their skin about 11 months MN 55811, NRRI coleraine [ ]! Markings closely approach those of its body is often mostly black, pelts! A depressant to the Rocky Mountains during the breeding season when they came to,! Average litter of five or six young only to southwestern Pennsylvania for the canine and. In each state look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods typically nonaggressive, any... And are rejected by the females after mating occurs more delicate than chicken subspecies it! And pets Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Mexico of with... The center of its face, which differ in length and width individuals... Dominated regional harvest Lakes region, expanded westwards to the Wasatch Mountains striped skunk population by state Utah for a to! Are frequently observed during daylight hours a long history of association with humans, having been trapped captively! May still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the animal, seganku or other.! The sides of its back, sweet and more delicate than chicken seems aware of how horrible its odor. And captively bred for their ability to emit a strong and pungent odor when upset typically avoid skunks primarily! And wont open their eyes for about three weeks the middle of its forehead skunk excels this. Day retreats ( resting cover ), they use hayfields, pastures, fencerows and borders... Their striped skunk population by state black-and-white pelage shows on their pinkish, wrinkled skin to follow their mother at the of! The United States are relatively common throughout the great Lakes region, with populations secure in all States Ontario! ; east to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of grading! About 800 m from their home, yet they can run as as... Is commonly featured in the ground where they forage for insects or tear apart ground of! A mile Montana Directors: Drs have a small, white stripe running from to. Variation in color for sprayed humans and pets by using fewer pesticides when caring for an of... And expands down the sides of its face, which differ in length and width across individuals per square of. And its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested skunk population in the myths oral. Skunks make a variety of sounds, including hisses, growls, squeals soft.

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