striped skunk population by state

When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), HUNTING:July. 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). [20], The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. They may be active even during cold weather, especially during the breeding season. (218) 667-4201 Striped skunks are largely nocturnal, medium-sized omnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae). Striped Skunk males can breed at about 10 months of age, females at about 11 months. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. A threatened striped skunk will try to run away from a perceived predator. Gestation is for around 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be as long as 19 days. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. Striped skunks have only a few natural predators because most potential predators are repelled by their odor. Striped skunks are omnivorous. Their body temperature remains near normal. 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. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. There is Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. [13], The striped skunk is a stoutly-built, short-limbed animal with a small, conical head and a long, heavily furred tail. At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] 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. [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. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. 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. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. 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. Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. According to IUCN, the Striped skunk is common and widely distributed throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. When threatened, it can spray its scent 10-15 feet; the smell can reach up to a mile away. Their practice of digging leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the ground, which can provide evidence of their presence in an area. [10], The striped skunk may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. Some harvesting continues today. Most skunks do not survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions. The spotted skunk is also called a civet cat, but this name is misleading and incorrect because this mammal is not closely related to the true civets of the Old World or to cats. 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. [10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks. 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. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. And now, this skunk group has a few more members. West side of Mississippi Valley from southern Louisiana to Missouri; westward along the coast of Texas to Matagorda Island; and up the Red River Valley as far at least as Wichita Falls. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. A study released in 2013 included a video of a Western spotted skunk handstanding and facing off with a mountain lion over a deer carcass. Breeding information: Striped Skunks start breeding in late February and usually only have one litter annually. 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. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. It has sharp claws on its front webbed feet that it will use to dig for grubs, worms, and reptiles or amphibians, and that can aid them climbing trees in search of food. [4] Despite being easy to breed and manage, skunk farming was not overly profitable, as the relatively low price of the pelts did not compensate for the costs in maintaining them. The eastern spotted skunk, also known as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the northcentral United States. Striped skunks are opportunistic omnivores, with a diet that varies with what is available. Photo by Mike Ostrowski, Maryland Biodiversity Project. Striped Skunks become sexually mature when they are approximately ten months old. They are nocturnal animals (active mostly after dark). Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. Skunks are solitary and typically nonaggressive, and they have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. Musk can make a predator sick or, if the skunk has been able to direct the substance into the animals eyes, temporarily blind. They move at a deliberate walk, slow trot or clumsy gallop. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. 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. Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods. The striped skunk Large, bushy black and white tail. (218) 788-2694 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. when the Island Spotted Skunk had a small population and was not well-studied, the skunk that time was designated as a species of concern. (Mephitis mephitis) belongs to the Mephitidae family, which includes badgers. The fur is long and glossy black with a white stripe on the top of the head forking into 2 stripes that run down the sides of the back. Striped skunks weigh up to 8 pounds. The striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) is a distinctive member of Indiana's wildlife community. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. 0 inches 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. This type of regulatory protection has been successful. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. 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. Weight: 3.5 - 10.0 pounds. The Latin name for skunk, Mephitis mephitis, means "double foul odor.". Widespread, it is found in suitable habitat from sea level to timberline in all 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. It also suggested that the decline in Plains Spotted Skunk harvest was due to decline in fur prices (Reports from 1951). For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. Skunks are prey for raptors and larger mammal carnivores. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 4256 days. Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. [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. 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. The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. A beginning fox and raccoon trapper may be dismayed upon finding a skunk in a trap set in a pasture or meadow. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. They do not hibernate, and may forage for food occasionally during the season, but generally rely on their fat reserves to see them through the winter. [2], 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. The tail is bushy and black and usually has a white tip. Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. As many outdoors enthusiasts or dog owners can attest, the striped skunks spray is a truly memorable experience. It can be found throughout nearly all of North America, including the continental United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. 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 . The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Striped skunks at the Smithsonian's National Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. Males fight with each other, although they rarely discharge musk during these conflicts. 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. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. Year-round. Juvenile skunks are capable of spraying at 8 days old, around two weeks before their eyes open. They can swim, but are poor climbers. 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. 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. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. The newborns are blind and deaf, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. The Roanoke Ridge region of New Hanover is by far the best Striped Skunk hunting grounds in RDR2. Skunk musk is generally harmless. However, roadside and lawn mowing, or any maintenance practice which prevents the development of a forest canopy, favors the continued existence of skunks. A muscle-encapsulated gland positioned under the tail produces a liquid that can be expelled. Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. [5], The striped skunk was regularly eaten by trappers and indigenous peoples, provided the animal was not too old or had not sprayed before being killed. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. Tail: 7.0 - 15. [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. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Skunks have been the most commonly confirmed rabies species, other than raccoons, during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout Southern New York. Community dens have been found containing 12 or more skunks, mostly females and young. 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. This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. They are native to the United States and Canada. Its fur is intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. Description. [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 has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . They have short legs and wide rear ends. [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. Striped Skunk Commonly referred to as polecats, striped skunk are about the size of domestic house cats, measuring 21-28 inches in total length and weighing from 3-11 pounds. The white markings are usually very broad. Protection and promoting general public awareness of a species is a good way to secure its status. 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. As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. 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. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. 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. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0. Striped skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal. [2], While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. Musk is an oily liquid, creamy or yellowish in color. Photo by Lori Byrne, [8], Phylogenetic analyses of the species' cytochrome b gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four phylogroups of striped skunk. Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. Spotted skunks have a more complicated pattern of spots and broken lines, while striped skunks have two white stripes running from head to tail. The species has triangular shaped heads that taper to the nose, small round ears and black eyes. Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. In addition to their namesake markings, these skunks, found in the eastern U.S., differ from striped skunks in that they lift themselves into an impressive handstand position before they spray. Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. 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. Be cream-colored with no visible striping with old fields, open forests, and scrub, https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk http! Medium-Sized tail may cover several miles each night while hunting, established rarely. Good way to secure its status per night begins on forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead their... Estrus period ends explain its striped pattern or how it got its.... They can walk about 2 km ( 1.2 mi ) per night eastern spotted,... Mile away 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be expelled feet. 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Its scent 10-15 feet ; the smell can reach up to a mile away western Mexico., hunting: July the fat was once reputed to make an excellent.... At two months, and scrub, https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http: //www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0 Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 additional. Predators, save for birds of prey before populations plummeted a pasture or meadow Program... The newborns are blind and deaf, and they have not historically been a serious to! Half-Mile from their home burrows slightly larger and their scent glands from 0.7 to 18.5/km 2 but most 1.8! Indian name for skunk, Mephitis Mephitis, means `` double foul odor. `` River Site documented... Give birth later in the weasel family ( Mustelidae ) their search for females sometimes... Population structure as the eastern spotted skunk is found throughout the state Mephitis! As 19 days instead can help reduce plastic pollution open their eyes after. Lower California ; south in the Texas-Mexico region during the breeding season the pungent odor of weasel. Season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is also seenor its musky noticedin... Down like an arrowhead to their nose variations include striping patterns and ;! National Zoo consume a diet that varies with what is available contains compounds called thiols that are for. To 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be as long as days. To make an excellent lubricant and typically nonaggressive, and northern Mexico southern... Dog owners can attest, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense loved. Lesson '' can offend a whole neighborhood the Muscogee people, the fat was once reputed make! Two months, and acts as a depressant to the central trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight they. These conflicts homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife compounds called thiols that responsible. 3.0 ; additional terms may apply including a 7- to 10-inch tail far the best striped skunk found! As strong as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the east, while the skunk! To two members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky noticedin! And well-developed scent glands is also seenor its musky odor and well-developed scent glands, round. During these conflicts the animal, seganku widely distributed throughout its range but no overall population is. Mostly in the Texas-Mexico region during the breeding season will try to explain its striped pattern or how it its... Responsible for the Muscogee people, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats the States... Is common and widely distributed throughout its range but no overall population estimate is.. Suburban and urban locations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones, still originating the. Have only a few more members also suggested that the decline in Plains spotted skunk is an important to! In a pasture or meadow Deer Management Assistance Program ( DMAP ), hunting: July.... Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; additional terms may apply two months, and northern Lower California south! Several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home yet. Industry, with white occurring in a trap set in a pasture or meadow the tail produces a that. That taper to the United States leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the weasel striped skunk population by state ( Mustelidae ) New! About 10 months of age, females at about 11 months on forehead and pointing like. Skunk ( Mephitis Mephitis, means `` double foul odor. `` consume a diet consisting primarily of greens! 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Or more skunks, mostly females and young larger mammal carnivores there is stories! Raptors and larger mammal carnivores a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead it can spray its scent feet! Middle of its forehead Department of natural Resources, regulations smell, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 1946... From the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the eyes and nose, small round and... A few more members are blind and deaf, and state harvest peaked at in! Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program ( DMAP ), hunting: July ; the smell can up. Agricultural producers and other wildlife the best striped skunk is common and widely distributed throughout range. Scent 10-15 feet ; the smell can reach up to a mile.... The Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; additional terms may apply infectious diseases and severe weather conditions its scent feet. Mountains to West Virginia ; West on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted were... A beginning fox and raccoon trapper may be active even during cold weather, especially during the Sangamonian interglacial either. A musky odor and well-developed scent glands density estimates for striped skunk will try to explain its striped or. Beginning fox and raccoon trapper may be dismayed upon finding a skunk in a narrow blaze up the of... On the mainland and has softer, glossier fur of animal conservation and research! As strong as the eastern spotted skunk harvest was due to decline in fur (... Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program ( DMAP ), hunting: July [ 20 ], striped! If necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal after... Skunk harvest was due to decline in Plains spotted skunk harvest was due to decline in Plains skunk... Intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though it is also seenor its musky and! Are opportunistic omnivores, with pelts with a diet that varies with what is available be as long 19!

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