Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. 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 . Their sense of touch, however, is acute. The skunk lives in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas. The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. Their diet is primarily insectivorous during the spring and summer seasons when grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, bees and other arthropods are abundant, then switches to a carnivorous diet during colder months. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. Each year the New York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is a valuable furbearing resource. Tail: 7.0 - 15. 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. A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. 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. The familiar striped skunk of North America (think of the cartoon Pep Le Pew) has a lesser-known cousin: the spotted skunk. This page is available in other languages. 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. Skunk musk is generally harmless. They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. Appearance: Short, stocky build. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones.[. 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. Reduce, reuse and recycle in that order! In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. 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. What they eat depends on where they live and what is available. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. [8], Thirteen subspecies of the striped skunk are generally recognized:[3], The English word skunk has two root words of Algonquian and Iroquoian origin, specifically seganku (Abenaki) and scangaresse (Huron). Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. This species has been found in all parts of the state. Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). The striped skunk Skunks have been the most commonly confirmed rabies species, other than raccoons, during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout Southern New York. Perhaps the value of skunk musk to the perfume industry, combined with the commercial use of their pelts, caused early legislators to give skunks special consideration. The striped skunk is abundant in New York and its populations are secure. 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. Striped skunks are found throughout Florida, except the Keys, and can be found in both natural and residential areas. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. A large, very long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of. Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. (females slightly smaller). For reference, spotted skunks typically weigh less than 2 . Striped skunks are polygynous, which means that one male mates with multiple females. However, that could change. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. As an opportunistic feeder, it will fill its diet with a variety of insects, small mammals, eggs, and occasional plants. Habitat: Occurs around rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and farmland. Washington, DC 20008. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. Regularity. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. [11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months. [11], The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century. 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. Its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested. The central chamber is lined with dry grass and leaves. Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. Some harvesting continues today. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. Stripes vary in length and width among individuals. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. It also suggested that the decline in Plains Spotted Skunk harvest was due to decline in fur prices (Reports from 1951). Worldwide,Mephitis mephitisis restricted to North America. This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. Nevertheless, raising skunks was considered good practice for amateur fur farmers wishing to later move on to more valuable furbearers like martens, sable, mink and silver foxes. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Names . Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. PO Box 188 The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is a skunk of the genus Mephitis that occurs across much of North America, including southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. Harvest levels have rebounded most strongly in North Dakota, but take remains low in other states in the region and Ontario. Most skunks do not survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. 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. One of the most notable characteristics of this animal is its defense system; striped skunks have the ability to spray a foul smelling fluid from two glands located near the base of the tail. Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. After mating, the female no longer associates with the male and becomes aggressive towards him through vocalizing, stamping her feet and sometimes fighting. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. 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. Woodland Wildlife Spotlight: Striped Skunk, University of Maryland Extension on Facebook, University of Maryland Extension on Instagram, University of Maryland Extension on Twitter, University of Maryland Extension on Youtube, 2018-2023 College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect, instructions for how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Due to their diet, Striped skunks may affect insect populations in their range. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. Striped skunks are opportunistic omnivores, with a diet that varies with what is available. Some farmers welcome their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents. 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