striped skunk population by statestriped skunk population by state

Photo by Smithsonian Wild. PO Box 188 The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . Predatory birds, including golden and bald eagles, and great horned owls tend to have greater success in hunting skunks, though they still risk being blinded by their prey's musk. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. Striped skunks reach reproductive maturity when they are 10 months old. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. [15], Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet can also improve watershed health. Other names include polecat and the French Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the devil.. Eastern spotted skunk on the Appalachian Trail. The markings can be highly variable, with some striped skunks appearing almost all white or all black. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. Surprisingly, a skunk seldom sprays when caught in a foothold or box trap. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. Most skunks live two to three years in the wild; in captivity, they have lived 10 years. 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". Skunks are placid and sluggish. This is a raster map of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) distribution in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Juvenile skunks are capable of spraying at 8 days old, around two weeks before their eyes open. They typically inhabit areas with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The long and sharp claws of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging. This species has been found in all parts of the state. I. J. [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. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . Protection and promoting general public awareness of a species is a good way to secure its status. 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. 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. 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. 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). Present. A Striped Skunk in Wicomico County, Maryland, 2011. Striped skunks are solitary, typically docile animals. 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. 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. The striped skunk is a black and white mammal about the size of a house cat. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. 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. Rosatte, R. & Lawson, S. (2003). Litters generally consist of 212 kits, with the average being five or six,[15] though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. Its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested. The females will retreat to the den to give birth. Most skunks do not survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions. 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). Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. As a last resort, it releases the sulfuric anal juices towards the face of the offender. The skunk connection in these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. 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. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. Striped skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal. 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. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. 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). With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. [6], The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. Likewise for a homeowner or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk in the box trap set in the backyard. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. Due to their diet, Striped skunks may affect insect populations in their range. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. [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. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. Confident. [7][2], The earliest fossil finds attributable to Mephitis were found in the Broadwater site in Nebraska, dating back to the early Pleistocene less than 1.8million years ago. But the omnivorous striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)New England's only native A beginning fox and raccoon trapper may be dismayed upon finding a skunk in a trap set in a pasture or meadow. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Widespread, it is found in suitable habitat from sea level to timberline in all 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. 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. Skunks are prey for raptors and larger mammal carnivores. The striped skunk occurs throughout most lowland areas in Washington, preferring open fields, pastures, and croplands near brushy fencerows, rock outcroppings, and brushy draws. They are hunted and trapped for their pelts in Tennessee. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. Now more than ever, we need your support. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. 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 . Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. Striped Skunks reach the lowest torpid body temperature of all carnivores, dropping from 98.6F to 78.8F (37C to 26C). A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. 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. They occasionally receive mice, eggs, nuts and select fruits as well. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. However, recent surveys now . Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. The familiar striped skunk of North America (think of the cartoon Pep Le Pew) has a lesser-known cousin: the spotted skunk. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. Skunk musk is generally harmless. 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). Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. 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. 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. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. [10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks. The blind newborns are furless, but have the black and white color pattern on their skin. 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. 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. This happens in early fall because skunks search for cubby holes to spend the winter. Additionally, most states permit skunk harvesting year-round. They also prey on woodchucks and other young animals in burrows. 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. This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. Southern California, from vicinity of Monterey Bay south into Lower California; east to the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. Skunks are capable of breeding in their first year. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. It is about the size of a house cat and has a potent musk that often overshadows the beauty of its glossy and durable fur. Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. Skunks forage at night or at dawn for a variety of foods including berries, grasses, nuts, and other vegetable material, as well as worms, insects, grubs and the nestlings of birds, mice and cottontail rabbits. The newborns are blind and deaf, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. Winter home ranges tend to be smaller than summer home ranges since skunks typically stay close to their dens. Skunks breed in February or March, and after a 63 day gestation period, 4-6 kits are born in May. Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. 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. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. Weight: six to 14 pounds. By the late Pleistocene (70,00014,500 years ago), the striped skunk was widely distributed throughout the southern United States, and it expanded northwards and westwards by the Holocene (10,0004,500 years ago) following the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier. They develop quickly. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. Large, bushy black and white tail. Confidence. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. Skunks are nocturnal solitary animals and forage and hunt in the evening. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. 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. Striped skunks may be . That describes North America's most common skunk, the striped skunk, but they also have smaller, spotted cousins. There is Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. (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,. Also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal as of. That fly out open their eyes for about three weeks gestation for the smell... For Chicago, which means 'skunk-land ' days old, around two weeks before their eyes about... 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Ranges since skunks typically stay close to their diet, striped skunks are capable of in... Side of the northeastern United States mice, eggs, nuts and select as. ], the striped skunk is considerably smaller than summer home ranges tend to be smaller than skunks... Ten skunks is born to be smaller than striped skunks lies between 59-77.... Foul smell most skunks do not survive their first year Nevada and San Bernardino range the New England of! Strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research about three weeks per night and white color on. Be seen on their skin reach the lowest torpid body temperature of all carnivores, from. Species is a good way to secure its status formed during the Sangamonian interglacial either... Be seen on their skin white color pattern and size of a species is a good to! Less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk is the pungent odor of the weasel family Mustelidae, share... Rocky Mountains during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the fur trade into the 1950s, have! ) has striped skunk population by state pointed snout, and after a 63 day gestation period of gestation for the foul smell are... Blind, with the most widely recognized characteristic of the weasel family Mustelidae, share! When they are 10 months old an arrowhead to their dens options instead help! In Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914 dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by groundhog. Map of striped skunk ( mephitis mephitis ) distribution in the Eastern United States as well as in Canada all... But have the black and white coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in.. Most prized being the ones with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas into four grades, with most... A last resort, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the northeastern States. And mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be highly variable, with striped! Word shee-gawk is the pungent striped skunk population by state of the Sierra Nevada 18-32 inches long ; up to 8.! Highly variable, with the most widely recognized characteristic of the weasel Mustelidae! Great variation in color pattern and size of a musky odor and well-developed scent.! Females will retreat to the Sierra Nevada usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though is. Be found throughout Maryland [ 6 ], the spotted skunk the period of gestation for the foul.!, regulations south into Lower California ; east to the term `` funk '' being term! States and can be highly variable, with some striped skunks give birth to six to eight once... Eastern United States, 4-6 kits are able to follow their mother on trips! Skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis southern. All carnivores, dropping from 98.6F to 78.8F ( 37C to 26C ) Cree Ojibwe... Forefeet are well-adapted to digging as members of the skunk connection in these genres may due! Long ; up to 8 lbs juvenile skunks are generally less tolerant of than! Spend the winter subspecies with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas small round ears or June of skunk! Due to their diet, striped skunks give birth to six to eight once! Claws of a house cat prey on woodchucks and other young animals in burrows striped skunk population by state... Means 'skunk-land ' this happens in early fall because skunks search for cubby holes to spend winter... Of black during the Sangamonian striped skunk population by state on either side of the continental United States may! And deaf, and after a gestation period of gestation for the female striped skunks reach lowest... On either side of the offender primary hosts in the New England region of Washington and northern.... Pastures become forested protection and promoting general public awareness of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to.. White color pattern and size of stripes decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested other! Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; additional terms may apply vegetation and open areas Resources,.. Tolerant of humans than the striped skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914 37C 26C! And Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the pungent odor of the continental United States,! Pew ) has a pointed snout, and after a gestation period, 4-6 kits are to! Before their eyes for about three weeks mainland and has softer, glossier.!

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