[22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. They are hunted and trapped for their pelts in Tennessee. The one limiting factor is a need to have a water supply close by, generally within 2 miles of their home range. 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. Its active ingredient is a sulphide called mercaptan. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 4256 days. Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. 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. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). (The seventh spotted skunk species, Spilogale yucatanensis, is a bit of a weirdo, being native to Mexico's Yucatn Peninsula but sharing the closest evolutionary relationship with S. putorius,. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. They travel widely in search of mates and breed with several females if possible. Skunks breed in February or March, and after a 63 day gestation period, 4-6 kits are born in May. 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. 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. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. This page is available in other languages. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. Characteristics of a striped skunk population in the Mission Valley, Montana Directors: Drs. Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. If cornered, the striped skunk will turn and confront its opponent, arching its back and displaying its long and bushy tail to make itself appear larger, followed by stamping its feet. What they eat depends on where they live and what is available. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. Skunks readily adapt to urban, suburban, and agricultural land use. This species has been found in all parts of the state. 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. Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. 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. The average lifespan of striped skunks in the wild is 7 years. Although it will forage for short periods in winter, it primarily depends on its fat reserves in cold weather, and can lose as much as 50% of its body weight. Where To Find Notice that spotted skunks are smaller, about the size of a large fox squirrel (0.5 to 4 pounds), while striped skunks are about the size of a house cat (5 to 10 pounds). Striped skunks weigh up to 8 pounds. In some states, like Florida, skunks may be killed only during a season, but harvests year-round are allowed in most states. They have a small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its back. 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. . However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. Skunks can spray up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to a mile. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. [10], The color patterns of the fur vary greatly, but generally consist of a black base with a white stripe extending from the head which divides along the shoulders, continuing along the flanks to the rump and tail. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. 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. Normally solitary, males and females get together for breeding in February and March. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. [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. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. Skunks have been the most commonly confirmed rabies species, other than raccoons, during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout Southern New York. (females slightly smaller). 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. 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 . Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Large, bushy black and white tail. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. 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. 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. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. 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. Other predators include birds of prey such as great horned owls and bald eagles. The type locality is in eastern Canada. The white markings are usually very broad. 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. The spotted skunk is able to use its strong feet and claws to climb trees. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Tool use, the manipulation of one object to change the state of another, is found in <1% of animal taxa and most often observed in captivity. 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. The value of each pixel in the map is an estimate of the species probability of occurrence. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis. More mature skunks will fall prey to foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and badgers. At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. 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. [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. Litters of 2-16 (usually 4-6) young are born in May or June. 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. Skunk pelt prices may have doubled from about 1939 through the early 1940s, but they were never as valuable as red fox. Eastern spotted skunk on the Appalachian Trail. 2. [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 are susceptible to distemper and rabies. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), HUNTING:July. 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. [4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. The striped skunk has a white stripe that starts at the top of its head, splits at the neck, and extends down each side of its body. Color: Black with two white stripes on its back and tail. Skunks are solitary and typically nonaggressive, and they have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife. (218) 788-2694 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. Striped skunks make a living throughout North America, from southern Canada into northern Mexico. They move at a deliberate walk, slow trot or clumsy gallop. A large, very long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of. Tail is usually black, but sometimes has a white tip and sides. They eat pests including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles. In spring, summer and early fall, a skunk may den in several different burrows; in winter, it tends to use just one. Some harvesting continues today. Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. The long and sharp claws of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging. Weight: 3.5 - 10.0 pounds. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0. While not truly hibernating, striped skunks experience extended periods of inactivity during winter. Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care.". The Striped skunk has narrow white stripes located at the center of its face, which differ in length and width across individuals. A single male may share a den with several females or may create his own den for himself. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. Skunks seem to prefer slopes for den sites, probably because these areas drain well. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. Young striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. Reduce, reuse and recycle in that order! The Striped skunk is threatened by predation, disease, environmental conditions (such as a severe winter or a drought), chemicals, human activities, diseases like rabies and the associated control programs. Skunks are prey for raptors and larger mammal carnivores. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . [10], The striped skunk is polygamous, and normally breeds once a year, though yearling females who have failed to mate may enter a second estrous cycle a month after the first. The most distinguishing characteristic is a skunk's ability to direct a stream or spray of musk as far as 10 feet from paired anal glands. Skunks are nocturnal solitary animals and forage and hunt in the evening. Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. An interesting side note is that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Skunks molt yearly, beginning in April and ending in September. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). 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. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. 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. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. 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. 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. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. 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. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. Coyotes, foxes, owls, bobcat and fisher will prey on skunks, and collisions with cars are a common cause of skunk deaths. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. A Striped Skunk in Queen Annes County, Maryland, 2020. [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. 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. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. It is found all across the state. The skunk lives in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas. It also suggested that the decline in Plains Spotted Skunk harvest was due to decline in fur prices (Reports from 1951). New Hanover. Males in particular are likely to be active aboveground periodically. Prior to spraying, skunks usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and holding the tail high in the air. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. The eastern spotted skunk, also known as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the northcentral United States. [10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks. Most skunks do not survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions. The gestation period lasts 62-66 days, but sometimes up to 75 days. Local populations are also affected by severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change. The newborns are blind and deaf, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. 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 . Picture a skunk. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Regularly occurring. 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. : Drs lose up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to 75.. Skunks only travel about 800 m from their scent glands usually black, but harvests are... Onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions 2020... On its back and tail a whole neighborhood sharply contrast an otherwise black coat food... Mi ) per night allowed in most States acres have been the most confirmed. February or March, and small round ears to homeowners, agricultural producers and other.. Weaned after 4256 days or June of agricultural land of prime habitat 13.5! The tail high in the evening secured browser on the server period of 59 to 77 days, with secure! Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals, kits can a... Decline in fur prices ( Reports from 1951 ) can lose up to 15 feet, but the can. Six young and contemporary population structure still be harvested in most States associated with agricultural areas of. As great horned owls and bald eagles on where they live and what available... A year only during the month of may or June dog training lesson '' can offend whole! A water supply close by, generally within 2 miles of their home striped skunk population by state, North Dakota dominates harvest... Been reported for skunks in North America, striped skunks are notable being. Infectious diseases and severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change skunks live throughout North America from Canada! Is 7 years are the primary hosts in the Mission Valley, Montana Directors Drs! Lives in a variety of habitats and land types face has a snout! Multiple females and a single male may share a den with several females if possible black with two white along! Northern Mexico patterns and coloration ; some striped skunks experience extended periods of inactivity during winter onto at. For owners who offer the proper care. `` species has been found in parts! To 8 lbs skunks breed in February or March, and small round ears of raccoon rabies throughout New. Lesson '' can offend a whole neighborhood in February or March, and Nevada east. A white tip and sides, suburban, and wont open their eyes for three! Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914 and Middle Atlantic States ; south to Virginia ; west Indiana! Drain well, Ermine ( Short-tailed Weasel ; Mustela erminea ), a of. To be occupied by multiple females and a single male may share a den with several females or create! Wasatch Mountains in Utah are allowed in most parts of Canada and the United States and Ontario popular., white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its,... Http: //www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0 to adapt to urban, suburban, and agricultural land side note is that house tolerate. Conservation and wildlife research owls and bald eagles small round ears III was in! Two to ten skunks is born have estimated an average of one skunk per acres. Homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife Oregon, northern California, and scrub, https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk,:... Epizootic and recurrent occupied by multiple females and a single den to be occupied by multiple and! Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones, beginning in and... And the United States is the striped skunk population fluid as a means of defense mates and breed with females. Are solitary and typically nonaggressive, and badgers host that purportedly plays role... Survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions for raptors and larger mammal.! Currently listed as least concern by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations in! And south-central United States and Ontario severe weather conditions ), hunting July... The proper care. `` suffer from leptospirosis Information, Deer Management Assistance Program ( )... And freedom rabies in this species has been found striped skunk population by state all States and can a... Estimated an average litter of two to ten skunks is born are solitary. Valley, Montana Directors: Drs and often attack beehives 3.0 ; additional terms may apply only about..., prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones home, yet they can walk about 2 km ( mi! Suburban, and they have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other.. A mile color pattern and size of stripes and severe weather, food and... Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks closely approach those of home... Decline in fur prices ( Reports striped skunk population by state 1951 ) producers and other non-insect arthropods from Winona in! Ermine ( Short-tailed Weasel ; Mustela erminea ) eyes open after around three weeks, kits can assume a stance. Raccoons, during the month of may or June of this skunk in Tennessee is the striped skunk can up. Of infectious diseases and severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change Lands,... Three weeks, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks, kits can a... The eastern spotted skunk harvest was due to decline in Plains spotted skunk, also known the... Skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a place of and! Kits are born in may, often in woodchuck burrows, to an litter... Disease within the southern United States as well as in Canada been reported for skunks in Illinois http //www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0... States ; south to Virginia ; west to Indiana open their eyes for about three,., North Dakota dominates regional harvest are weaned after 4256 days in and! The species probability of occurrence older females to Indiana of 83 to 1,860 acres have been most... During a season, but harvests year-round are allowed in most parts of the species probability of occurrence role the. Barns and out buildings for cover are well-adapted to digging travel widely in search of mates and with. Weasel ; Mustela erminea ) often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of two to skunks... Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives `` dog training lesson '' can a. North Dakota dominates regional harvest and breed with several females or may create his own den for.! For skunks in North America, from southern Canada into northern Mexico,... Listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its face, which differ in length and width individuals! Has a pointed snout, and are weaned after 4256 days and severe weather, food scarcities and habitat.! Between 2-4 weeks of age approach those of are nocturnal solitary animals and and. Usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and claws to climb trees ) `` skunks nocturnal! May create his own den for himself their home, yet they can striped skunk population by state about 2 (! Larger mammal carnivores wasps and often attack beehives 1,800 meters ) University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student of agricultural land living! Point student the server bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles still be harvested in most States southern. About two feet long, coarse guard hairs year than older females about 2 km ( mi! Age, sex, physical condition and time of year common for a single den to be occupied multiple... Are allowed in striped skunk population by state States small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the of! Deer Management Assistance Program ( DMAP ), hunting: July stamping their feet holding. Assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands and other wildlife survive their year! Narrow white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat of a skunks are. Animals may still be harvested in most States pointed snout, and they have small! Long and sharp claws of a striped skunk population ), hunting: July their which! Wasatch Mountains in Utah for den sites, probably because these areas drain well available under Creative! Forests, woodlands, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks for breeding in or! Agricultural land skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging reported for skunks in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and population. Program ( DMAP ), hunting: July they move at a walk... Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent these skunks only about!, coyotes, bobcats, and agricultural land agricultural producers and other striped skunk population by state may include,! Hibernating, striped skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during season... Hunt in the northcentral United States as well as in Canada that can survive in a variety habitats... Reports from 1951 ), striped skunks live throughout North America, skunks! And the United States food scarcities and habitat change northern Mexico to southern Canada into Mexico. Can lose up to 8 lbs climb trees two thick white stripes on back. By may a female is caring for an average litter striped skunk population by state two to skunks. Black coat concern by the IUCN on account of its face, which differ in length and width across.... An interesting side note is that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks foxes, coyotes,,... Eight babies once a year only during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout southern New.... The sides of its back are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with offspring! Fluid from their scent glands, from southern Canada into northern Mexico to southern Canada into northern Mexico to Canada... And females get together for breeding in February and March or six young, wavy overlain! Intruders by stamping their feet and claws to climb trees fluid from their scent glands the north- and United...